HELP! Analog capture - discoloration/slight flickering

[marsmayhem]

I hope someone can help.

I'm capturing off a VCR, and everything is fine except for one thing that I haven't figured out how to fix.

When I look at the captured footage, I notice, on areas with little motion in the background, that there's some uneveness in the coloring, like a slight flickering in the background. It doesn't look like interlace marks - I'm deinterlacing the picture and it's still there.
A slight flickering effect, that's probably the best way to describe it.

I tried using a SIMA Video CopyMaster because I thought perhaps I needed to stabilize the signal, but that doesn't help. Nor does tracking on the VCR.

The image is otherwise fine. Anyone have any ideas how I can get rid of this nagging botheration? Or is this just the nature of analog capture?

Thanks for any help

[deadpac]

try swapping the field oder, some capture cards capture using the wrong field first.

If you're using Vdub there is a Swap Fields line that can be checked.

[marsmayhem]

I'm using ATI MMC 7.6, with Stinky's RegTool and capping to MPEG1 VCD directly- I get the same thing even when capping HUFFYUV AVI. I don't see a place where I can set the field order.

Normally when field order is wrong, any motion in a scene is jerky, and my motion scenes are smooth.

Any other suggestions out there?

[Barnabas]

Sounds like some AC noise getting into the capture to me. I have 4 capture devices here, and one of them does exactly that same thing. you can try disconnecting some AC "bricks" you don't need, as that helps here a bit.

[marsmayhem]

My VCR is hooked up to a surge protector. Would that filter the noise out? I assume by brick you mean a power device, like a VCR?

[Barnabas]

That will help, but not eliminate the noise, and I mean a power supply or "brick".

[marsmayhem]

Barnabase,

Would it help if I removed the bricks and put them into another socket, or is the problem the fact that they're connected to my computer in the first place, and that is what is causing the noise?

Will it totally remove the problem, or will there still be some flickering?

Thanks for you help so far

[Barnabas]

I would unplug any that you don't *really* need to capture with. That's what I have to do here.

[marsmayhem]

I tried your suggestion, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I unplugged the cable modem, the speakers, the USB hub. No more bricks, but I still see the slight discoloration/flicker in the background.

Could it be my VCR - it's a multisystem 6-Head Sony SLV-ED95?

Could it be my videotapes? Doesn't seem to matter which tape I stick in it though...

[Barnabas]

Could be your VCR or tapes. Try it from TV and see if that helps. It could even be your card. I just bought a new card so I can get rid of the problem (I hope).