Capturing from VHS

[BrianMcGee]

Hi

Haven't done this in a year or two, and had it working perfectly before, so I must be doing something daft.

VHS Scart Out to RCA In on front of Canopus ADVC110
Firewire out from back of Canopus ADVC110 to Windows XP PC
Exsate DV Capture running on Windows XP PC
Preview window is plain black. Will always get blue preview window if video stopped (my VHS Player does that)

But it's black. I've changed all the cables. What is it?

[DB83]

Does the 110 have a toggle switch on the top to change source from Digital to Analogue ?

And

Is the ADVC powered up ?

[BrianMcGee]

Hi

Yes, it's powered by the firewire cable from the PC (the light is on), and it is set to Analog Input

[DB83]

So when you powered the unit, did XP report that a digital device was present - give you an option screen ?

Not familiar with that software so check the input sources on that. Also try WinDV as an alternative.

[BrianMcGee]

Yes, when I powered on the unit, XP suggested to capture video from the DV device with MovieMaker.

I've tried both MovieMaker and ExSate and both show the black screen preview so I expect WinDV probably would too. I suppose I should try it for completeness but I've a feeling the issue is elsewhere.

[DB83]

Well let's also assume that you did not plug the yellow video RCA cable in to the white audio RCA on the ADVC

[DB83]

Another thought. Is the scart cable a full cable connector or one of these metal adapters with scart on one end and RCA on the other with a switch in between ?. The switch could have been flicked to 'input' instead of 'output'

[BrianMcGee]

Yellow in Yellow and White in White

And yes, it's one of the metal adapters and I've flicked the switch both ways. I've also tried a full cable connector, still black preview.

[DB83]

Any way you can test that the scart is actually outputing a video signal ? Do you have a scart on a tv you can connect this to with a standard scart cable ?

[BrianMcGee]

Not without a lot of hassle. But I've tried three scart cables, so if none are outputting a video signal then there's something very wrong with the VHS player all of a sudden

[DB83]

Do you get sound ?

[BrianMcGee]

Very odd - now getting occasional picture, stopping and starting, and sound is loud buzzing distortion.....

[DB83]

I know you said the unit is powered by the cable but do you have an external power adapter for it ?

[BrianMcGee]

I'm sure I do somewhere - I know I bought one years ago. Is there a chance this relates to the power? I've captured 100+ hours of video on gear a few years back and never used it? I'll certainly look for it if it could help at all.

[BrianMcGee]

Meant to say - on *this gear. Identical setup.

[DB83]

Despite the 'hassle' I would still make sure that everything is fine at the VCR end. Who knows. You might have damaged the scart connection on it.

[BrianMcGee]

Appreciate your help, but 'hassle' is something of a major understatement, involving hours of pulling things apart which far outstrip the importance of the video capture. So I'd rather eliminate all other possibilities first!

[BrianMcGee]

Going to try capturing to another computer first incase the firewire port is shagged

[DB83]

No problem. I am just concerned that from your description there is clearly some weakness in the signal. It is equally possible that your firewire port is not giving sufficient power to allow the ADVC to function properly so, yes, explore that avenue first.

[BrianMcGee]

I've got my hands on another TV and the video is not outputting to that either, getting 'No signal' on the TV, so the Video Player may be fcuked. However, the manual for the video player says I have to tune TV stations and talks about the RF cable that I obviously don't need. Should Scart from VHS into RCA on AV input on standard plasma TV cause the picture to appear?

[DB83]

The remote to the tv should have a input source (or equivalent) button. You then set that to Line(X) or AV(X) where X is the number of the connection of the Tv not the number of the AV output of the VCR.

Of course you must also ensure that the VCR is outputing on the correct Line so you will have a similar button on that remote which you set as output.

[BrianMcGee]

Have done that, still no signal at all.

[DB83]

Dare I say that it is soo easy to tie your head in knots with the various AV/Line numbers. Check your VCR manual. What about a scart to scart cable VCR to TV ?

[BrianMcGee]

VCR has one output which is 'AV1', scart is connected, then RCA are connected to 'AV' input on TV. TV shows No Signal. Have connected camcorder to same input on TV to test that the TV input works. So my VCR is dead?

[BrianMcGee]

Scart to Scart VCR to TV won't help because I've no scart input on my ADVC110! I need to test that Scart to RCA works.

[DB83]

Scart to scart is only intended to test the output on the VCR. Eliminate the possibility that is is fooked first.

Are you certain about the VCR ?. Most have two scarts and one is wired for input.

[BrianMcGee]

VCR has two scarts and one is wired for input. The other is 'input/output'. I have tried both but all recent tests are with the 'input/output' one as I'm outputting. So it has just one output scart socket which I'm using. Will hunt for scart to scart cable now.

[BrianMcGee]

Aha...... scart to scart works perfectly. WTF... Any idea then where the issue might be? It's not the scart output of the VCR after all?

[DB83]

I'm outa here now for tonight. Getting late. I am concerned that if the VCR has been un-plugged it has 'powered down' and gone back to a set up mode.

Then we are in a classic chicken 'n egg situation. You can not see the output because the VCR has not been internally set to output on that scart. In that situation you have to connect it to a tv with a coax. Tune the tv to the channel and check the VCRs settings.

[BrianMcGee]

Thanks for all your help. The scart output is working, but only when connected to a scart the other end. Don't have a coax, don't watch TV, the TV is just a monitor. No idea where to go next but thanks for all your help