U.K Users help

[tonymac]

Does anyone know of a vcr which has svideo out available in the UK? I have been trying to use a scart convertor on my vcr to capture through svideo, but get no signal. The thing works through my TV however, which is puzzling. I believe that my vcr is not giving out svideo through the scart so want to try a new one.

[theDruid]

I have been trying to use a scart convertor on my vcr to capture through svideo, but get no signal. The thing works through my TV however, which is puzzling.

What do you mean by this exactly tonymac?

Do you have an S-VIDEO input on your TV? Have you tested the signal coming from the scart convertor with this?

Have you tried Composite - I've actually found I get better results this way than with S-VIDEO anyway, although I know it's theoretically not as good for capture.

It sounds stupid, but does your scart convertor have a switch to change between input / output? Mine does, and you obviously have to have the switch in the right place for it to work!

I'd be retiscent to go out and buy a new VCR until you're absolutely certain that your problem does not lie elsewhere. You'll kick yourself if you spend several beer tokens on a new machine only to find this doesn't solve your issues!

cheers,
mcdruid.

[tonymac]

The adaptor does have a switch, correctly set, and I have svideo in on my telly and on my capture card. The composite works fine but result is horrible.

[theDruid]

I'm getting a bit confused here; you've said:

I have svideo in on my telly and on my capture card.

but also

The thing works through my TV however, which is puzzling. I believe that my vcr is not giving out svideo through the scart so want to try a new one.

So, if you connect the S-VIDEO from the scart adaptor to the S-VIDEO input on the TV, does it work or not?

If it does, then it would seem it's a problem with your capture card, and/or settings on the PC.

I know it must seem like I'm asking really stupid questions, but I often find the answer's right under your nose, but it's hard to see the wood for the trees after a few hours of banging your head against a brick a wall. (How many mixed metaphors was that?!)

cheers,
mcdruid.

[dlb]

Are you changing the video source from composite to s-video on your capture software. What software are you using ?

dlb.

[RabidDog]

try maplins (hi-de-hi) they have all the converters you need. I have a box that allows 3 scart in, 1 scart out and two sets of phono type sockets. everything you need is in there and unlike pcworld the staff do know something!

[theDruid]

I think he's already got a scart adaptor.

There's no point buying new hardware if all he needs to do is change the settings on the PC (as per dlb's post).

& P.S.

try maplins ... unlike pcworld the staff do know something!

You're luckier than me with the staff in your local Maplin's then!

[tonymac]

The software is set to svideo. The card is a hardware mpeg2 and works fine from my camcorder. When I play the tape on vcr using this adaptor and the svideo in on the tv, no problem. The Navis capture software tells me it cannot detect vertical sync signal. It could be that the tv is a bit more "forgiving" and does not need a true signal to display. I just don't know. However I can't find a vcr with svideo out here. I understand they are the norm in the U.S.

[theDruid]

can you try any different software?

is your card compatible with VirtualDub or iuVCR etc..?

[tonymac]

No, sadly, the Navis Pro is very limited as to software. Some users have had success with one other program but I can't get it to work.

[theDruid]

Well - to go back to RabidDog's suggestion, Maplin do indeed have dozens of adaptors, processors etc..

You could try one of their 'video signal cleaners' and try to improve the composite signal perhaps?

Alternatively, a new capture card could be a lot cheaper than any of this - you can get BT8x8-based cards for £5-£10 on eBay etc.. and these work fine with most of the free software.

Of course, if you're willing to spend more, you could get better quality.

I'd be tempted to go that way rather than invest in a new VCR - you've no guarantee your software won't say exactly the same thing with a new VCR with its own S-Video out.

Someone who understands the way S-VIDEO works better than I do may be able to help you more.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[spiderman2k1]

JVC have S-VIDEO get your self S-VHS-ET let's you use regular VHS tape's in record on to S-VHS. Aslo Panansonic S-VHS-ET will have S-VIDEO. And I think Sharp S-VHS-ET will have S-VIDEO. I have a friend that live's in then UK that has a JVC S-VHS ET VCR and he told me it has S-VIDEO