Trouble viewing or recording VHS tapes via ATI AIW 9600 XT

[dzachau]

I have been noticing there is some picture instability at the top of the pciture when playing VHS tapes on my computer via my AIW 9600 XT and a VCR. The instability subsequently shows up on any recording of the tape. My VHS player is attached to the ATI card via the ATI purple adapter composite video input. The problem is frustrating and is intermittant. The picture can be great, and then I notice the top 1/4 or so starts to "flutter" and lose picture. It almost resembles a tracking problem. I have noticed the problem with two new vhs players and I have no trouble with TV or DVD playback, only VHS tapes. Any thoughts or ideas on what the problem may be?? I am running a Pentium 4 with 1.5 gig of RAM in Windows XP Professional.

[lordsmurf]

Certain timing sync errors cause digital equipment to go beserk. A TBC or good VCR, or even just good wires, can make this go away.

[dzachau]

What wires do you recommend?? What is "TBC"?

[FOO]

Certain timing sync errors cause digital equipment to go beserk

I just love precise , informative comments.


Yeah, get platinum wires and make sure they point toward the north pole
while you're at it.
.

[thecoalman]

Certain timing sync errors cause digital equipment to go beserk

I just love precise , informative comments.


Yeah, get platinum wires and make sure they point toward the north pole
while you're at it.
.

Take a look here at my page www.nepadigital.com/mv

[dzachau]

Certain timing sync errors cause digital equipment to go beserk

I just love precise , informative comments.


Yeah, get platinum wires and make sure they point toward the north pole
while you're at it.
.

Take a look here at my page www.nepadigital.com/mv

The problem as illustrated on your web page is exactly my problem; both for home made videos and viewing commercial. I am more concerned with home-made videos. My goal is to burn them onto DVD so I don't lose more family memories to tape deterioration. What is the best way to reduce tape errors and deterioration from becoming visible when viewing via an ATI AIW video card??

[xxgriff]

some "distortions" along the edges of a VHS to digital via ATI is normal. I usually crop the area when i edit. I have run into issues with old tapes (family/home videos) where due to age, etc the WDM capture interprets the vairied signal strength as macrovision (copy protection), and i get color fluctuations, and what appear to be tracking errors.

the capture settings will also affect the quality, just as tape, VCR and cables used.

[dzachau]

Thanks very much for the helpful feedback! If I primarily wanted to capture home video via my VCR for later burning to a DVD, is there a capture card that would not be prone the same picture quality artifacts as the ATI AIW cards??

[thecoalman]

There's plenty of other cards and devices but you can use your ATI. A TBC should fix it, everyone that I "talked" to that tried a TBC that had the same issue was very happy with it. Most even said there captures (the parts that were good) were better than before. For a decent capture card your probably going to pay the same price as a TBC. The ATI AIW works great if you get it working properly.


look up datavideo 1000

[dzachau]

Thanks much Coalman! I will purchase the Datavideo tbc-1000 and see if it does the trick!!

[thecoalman]

Thanks much Coalman! I will purchase the Datavideo tbc-1000 and see if it does the trick!!

Just don't go bitching at me if it doesn't, it's just a suggestion. You may want to explore cheaper alternatives first, Sima makes a few products too that may work. They can be purchased locally at many electronic stores, make sure to pick one with a liberal return policy in case it doesn't.

[dzachau]

Coalman wrote:"Just don't go bitching at me if it doesn't, it's just a suggestion."

Thanks again Coalman! I hear you, and will not be complaining if my problem persists. Also, learned my lesson on doubleposts! I should have read the rules more carefully. Anyway, thanks for your help and for sharing your knowledge.

[presto]

After experiencing the same problem with my ATI AIW Radeon 7500 I bought a Dazzle DVC 150 for around $150.00. It solved the problem completely. I have a love hate with the program that comes with it (Pinnacle Studio 9) but it has worked flawlessly for capture.

(The Dazzle DVD 150 is a box that connects via USB. It does not use your current capture card. It captures Mpg only so it isn't for everyone)

[dzachau]

Thanks Presto! OK, so to get the "best bang for my buck" the question now is: Do I plunk down $ for a TBC, or go down to my local computer store and pick up one of those USB or Firewire connected Video editor "boxes" to transform my home movies onto DVD??? What other opinions are out there on using the ATI card with a TBC versus going for a device like the Dazzle DVC 150 to get old home movies burned onto DVDs?

[lordsmurf]

No matter what capture card you buy, if you are capturing anything that is not direct-from-broadcast (meaning tapes, laserdiscs, etc), you WILL EVENTUALLY be pushed into a situation where a TBC is needed.

The ATI AIW and LSI JVC is not my only capture card/device, not by a longshot. No matter the capture device, some sources will simply require TBC. End of story. That's all she wrote.

The problem is not the capture, it's the signal, combined with the fact that EVERY SINGLE DIGITAL VIDEO DEVICE out there is more picky about what it transfers and digitizes.

Thought I'd throw that out there before you start buying cards, which is not really the fix. It may be the fix for a few tapes, but it won't be anywhere near as flawless as a true TBC. The problem is bad signal. The fix is to fix the signal, not shoot the messenger (capture card).

[dzachau]

Thanks! That makes lots of sense!!