Problems capturing VHS-C from a VCR

[sdreon]

I am in the process of converting all of my VHS-C camcorder tapes to DVD. I put the VHS-C tape into an adaptor and play it in my VCR which is connected to the Plextor PX-M402U which is connected to my PC via USB 2.0. For the most part, everything is working great.

I have noticed occasionally that the video will flicker or have some drop out or fuzziness. If you play the tape straight from the camcorder you do not see it and if you plug the VCR to a TV you do not see it. It is only happening when I take the output of the VCR and run it into the Plextor.

any ideas?

[offline]

Since your post has not been answered yet I will take a stab at it.
Your problem is a common one. A TBC (time based corrector) or video Enhancer may assist to clean up the signal. These problems are often
the result of a macrovision enabled device picking up errors on
the video tape. You need to bypass or disable the macrovision.

[sdreon]

Thanks.

Any idea why it would occur when I take the video output from the VCR but not when I take the video output from the VHS-C camcorder?

[offline]

Yes, many VCR's are more sensitive to macrovision and general
signal errors (Macrovision is nothing but a copy protection method
using signal errors). Older camcorders are often more stable and
some come without macrovision all together.

Also it is almost always the
case that a recorded video will play back better on the
device it was recorded from -> other devices can show errors
and often the tracking needs to be adjusted. This is caused
by the variation in the helical scan and recording methods
by analog cam and video recorders (the drum/head technology)

[sdreon]

Excellent information. I thank you.

And that says a lot coming from a St. Louis Blues fan to a Red Wings fan. We are suppose to hate each other.

[spiderman2k1]

can you take a screen shot of the problem so I can see. I would say a TBC would fix the problem. I have one in my E80 and fixed alot of problem with some tape's being hard to copy. The one is the Panasonic seem's good. for basic problem's

[offline]

You are most welcome sdreon. For what it is worth, I do not hate
the St. Louis Blues. RWC means something else in this forum and
it is not sport related. I am also from Australia.. a fair distance
from St. Louis.