VHS Capture Question

[pohpoh]

Hello, ALl,

I am working on capturing a large bucnh fo videos using a WINTV PCI card and I am having a bit of a problem. It seems sometimes my captures are fine, but sometimes I get a weird problems..

First ever once in awhile a tape will be off because the chracters motion becomes a little jittery, I notice this when I have preview mode set during the capture. Now midn you the whole screem doesn't shake just some of the motion from time to time.. Its really annoying because some tapes won't do this.. Anyways have this problem? Anyways way to fix it? SOmeone told me pull the contrast down..

Just so you all know I am running a Penitum 4 with XP 2.4 GHZ.. 512 Megs Ram..
Capturing with Virtual Dub to DIVX, 640 x 480 siz. 4000 KBS..

Any kind of hitns woul dbe excellent

[dvdrake]

Hi.

Actualy most TV capture cards like that do that when preview mode is on.

It's in general a problem with DirectX.

Try re-installing your directx (ver 8.0 at least).

Also try to set your wintv preview mode to OVERLAY instead of Primary.

With TV Cards such as wintv there is always a battle for system resources.

Considering that both your Capture card and direct X are trying to access the computer systems CPU and hard drive at the same time for simultaneous record and play.

It does not take much to cause jitters in the video. Some programs running in the back ground such as antiviruses, agendas, e.t.c. will cause the same problems.

However TV cards such as yours do have better quality video than more professional VCC's such as ATI's rage or radeon VCC's.

Note: The higher the resolution you go the more jitter you will get if some
program is taking priority over your video capturing.

Also if you are running windows 98, 2000, or XP you should set your Windows virtual memory to 2000 mb, and your computer file system to
Network server. Fixing window's Virtual memory removes the need for windows to constantly manage it's virtual memory and improoves system performance greatly.

Normaly windows virtual memory should be between 2 and 3 X your computers RAM memory. However a 1000mb or 2000mb fixed virtual memory does a great job.

Enjoy.

[Sonic21]

It sounds as though you may have problems relating to the Sync obtained from the tapes.

Search forum to see other posts on VHS and similar topics.

Here is one
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=125507

[pohpoh]

Thanks for the advice! I did kinda solve my problem though.. I found that if I just ignore the preview flickering and capture anyways they captures come out fine.. I also set my Virtual Memory at 2000mb liek you said.. what shoudl the limit be? I set it for 4000mb.. dunno doubling seemed like the thing to do..

Anyways so I solved that problem BUT now I have a frame dropping problem..

Read this: http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=382072#382072

ANd two questions for ya.. ISn't Direct X a part of XP? SHould I just install a new copy? ?

And I foudn the Virtual Memory thingy, but I couldn't find the Network Server thingy, what does that do? and where do I find that?

Thanks Again for the Advise!!!

Hi.

Actualy most TV capture cards like that do that when preview mode is on.

It's in general a problem with DirectX.

Try re-installing your directx (ver 8.0 at least).

Also try to set your wintv preview mode to OVERLAY instead of Primary.

With TV Cards such as wintv there is always a battle for system resources.

Considering that both your Capture card and direct X are trying to access the computer systems CPU and hard drive at the same time for simultaneous record and play.

It does not take much to cause jitters in the video. Some programs running in the back ground such as antiviruses, agendas, e.t.c. will cause the same problems.

However TV cards such as yours do have better quality video than more professional VCC's such as ATI's rage or radeon VCC's.

Note: The higher the resolution you go the more jitter you will get if some
program is taking priority over your video capturing.

Also if you are running windows 98, 2000, or XP you should set your Windows virtual memory to 2000 mb, and your computer file system to
Network server. Fixing window's Virtual memory removes the need for windows to constantly manage it's virtual memory and improoves system performance greatly.

Normaly windows virtual memory should be between 2 and 3 X your computers RAM memory. However a 1000mb or 2000mb fixed virtual memory does a great job.

Enjoy.

[painkiller]

Forgive me for barging in, but I have a related question.
I can't help but notice that no one has mentioned that the source recorded speed may (or may not?) be a function of the jitter seen?

I have been wondering about attempting to transfer a lot of my vhs recorded stuff over to a hard drive, then convert to either vcd/svcd or dvd.

With my trials so far, using VirtualDub, I have found that I have no trouble with video quality - if and only if I have recorded onto vhs at the fastest speed (SP).

But if the vhs has video at LP (4hr) or EP (6 to 8hr) then I get an awful lot of jitter.

At least this is what I have been experiencing.

I'd really like to think it may yet be possible to transfer a lot of my vhs video, but am beginning to think my answer may require buying a digital vidcam (with passthru) in order to do that.

Confirmation anyone?

Thanks.

[hwoodwar]

Painkiller:

I personally see no evidence that jitter seen, is a function of recorded speed. I have created 25-30 VCDs and CVDs in the last three weeks (I have plenty of time, as I was laid off.) All of these were captures (at 352 x 480 resolution) from a VCR to an ATI AIW Radeon 7500 using VirtualDub, TMPGenc and VCDEasy. Approximately 2/3 of these were recorded EP (6hr mode) and the others were prerecorded originals at SP (2hr mode.) Of these 25-30 VCDs and CVDs I only noticed one VCD that actually has some jitter in it. Sometimes I do notice jitter in the VirtualDub preview mode, but I tend to ignore it.

I am very picky about the tracking on the VCR. I'll generally do a test record for about 15min and watch the number of dropped frames and the autotracking icon on the VCR. After about 10 dropped frames I start to manually adjust the tracking and retry. This always results in less dropped frames and less jitter in the VirtualDub preview window.

I do have a robust system, same general specs as pohpoh with two 7200rpm 120gig hard drives.

[painkiller]

Thanks for your experience, HWOODWAR, I appreciate it.

Perhaps I should have said that the jitter I have been noticing is in the preview screen. It bothered me so - I chose to stop trying to cap those tapes at all (for now).

Maybe I should try it, ignore or leave off the preview, and see what result I get when I convert it with TMPGEnc.

Thanks again.