Sabrent Capture Card: No Signal from S-Video

[PleaseSendHelp]

EDIT: S-Video cable was damaged, tried another & it works however the image from my VCR is constantly scrolling downward & amcap gives me an error: http://s28.postimg.org/6pj0yrh25/Composite.png No scrolling or any other issues occur when the VCR is hooked up to my television. VCR is JVC HR-S3500U.

I did install a new graphics card before these issues. Don't know if that's related but I doubt it because my Hi8 camcorder has no issues with the capture card or gpu.

Any thoughts?

[Brad]

It says 640x480 at 25Hz. Mixing NTSC frame size with PAL rates could be the issue. Set it to the same resolution but at 29.97 fps and see what happens. If the VCR is from the US.

[PleaseSendHelp]

I don't know how to change fps settings. The VCR is from Canada & I get the 'best' results with NTSC in amcap: Scrolling in stop mode, but while playing a tape it's very jittery with the colour going & coming randomly. Pal settings show the video completely scrambled in black & white, so I'm guessing it's not an issue with NTSC vs PAL. I've tried every possible combination of settings in amcap + the VCR's menu with no success. Very confused (though I am not overly experienced in this area).

[PleaseSendHelp]

Interestingly, I just tried running my Hi8 camcorder through the input of the VCR to the capture card & the image showed up completely fine without any issues on amcap... Yet when I unplug the camcorder & the image returns back to the VCR itself, it continues to scroll.

[hech54]

Is this a PAL tape in a Canadian (NTSC) VCR?

[PleaseSendHelp]

Is this a PAL tape in a Canadian (NTSC) VCR?

No, & even when there's no tape in the VCR, the screen still scrolls endlessly.

[hech54]

I'd try another capture software.....see if DScaler recognizes the card.

[PleaseSendHelp]

Same thing happens with DScaler.

[hech54]

Macrovision - http://www.mediacollege.com/video/editing/macrovision/
or defective VCR.

[hech54]

I have the Philips clone version of your VCR, but PAL of course and added TBC.

[PleaseSendHelp]

Macrovision - http://www.mediacollege.com/video/editing/macrovision/
or defective VCR.

Do you think I'd have the same problem if I got a DVD recorder & went that method for digitizing tapes?

[hech54]

If you are talking about factory-recorded Hollywood made VHS tapes......no. Macrovision is Macrovision.

[Brad]

He showed that the VCR-generated blue screen itself displays incorrectly. That wouldn't be Macrovision.

But VCR menu screens don't seem to comply with the typical video standards, so this issue could be completely separate from the problem with tape playback. These cheap capture devices just can't handle sources with unstable timebase, it seems.

At 3:00 this guy shows it:

[hech54]

I haven't actually experienced Macrovision myself in many many years....and have never experienced it during capturing....only ever saw it in action back in the "old days" with my Philips DVD recorder.
Could this VCR he has be one of those quasi S-VHS models.....what did they call that again?....I forget.
Oh yea....S-VHS "ET" maybe?


EDIT: Nope...mine says ET too....DUH.

[PleaseSendHelp]

That's what my tape looks like as well through the Sabrent. I still wonder why running my hi8 camcorder through the VCR shows the picture fine?

I guess I'll look for a different capture device or find a used DVD recorder.

Thanks for the responses.

[Brad]

The Hi8 camcorder may have a TBC that's turned on, or may simply be a more stable recording.