VHS to DVD-R

[dudeman316]

I want to convert some of my Old VHS to DVD. (Obiviously LOL) I run into a problem though, My Capture card has the 3 RCA jack hookups (red, yellow & white), but my VCR only has 2 RCA jacks (Yellow & White). What can I do to assure I get better sound???

[CaZeek]

Well if your VCR is only outputting mono, I'd say get a better VCR. You can get a nice high-end S-VHS VCR, but if you're not looking to spend any money, I think at least some $20 VCR with stereo output jacks would help

[rgs_uk]

Dudeman, the red input is usually for right audio track, the white for the left audio track and yellow is for video.

If all your tapes are home-recorded on that VCR, then you can transfer OK from that machine. It is mono only and only plays the 'linear' soundtrack. The linear track works in a similar way to a recording on audio cassette. It is not great quality due to the slow speed of the tape in a VCR.

The other type of audio system used in home VCRs is called HiFi. This is stereo and better quality. If you have commercial VHS tapes to copy or you have tapes that have been recorded on a HiFi VCR then you really do need to find a HiFi VCR to play them on.

However, if you do want to proceed with your existing VCR, there are two ways to do it. You could use an audio mixer between the VCR and capture card, feeding the one VCR track to both inputs on the card. Alternatively you can capture so that the sound goes only onto the left track and then convert the audio on your PC. So the mono sound goes onto left and right. You can do this with VirtualDub.

There are also 'Y' connector adaptors on the market which let you split one audio output to two inputs. However I've heard those can cause serious problems on some equipment due to them effectively connecting two separate parts of the sound system (left and right) together. So I would avoid that.

[hsugawar]

You could use an audio mixer between the VCR and capture card, feeding the one VCR track to both inputs on the card.

A mixer? What do you want to mix?

There are also 'Y' connector adaptors on the market which let you split one audio output to two inputs. However I've heard those can cause serious problems on some equipment due to them effectively connecting two separate parts of the sound system (left and right) together. So I would avoid that.

All you want to do is to split your VCR's monaural audio output to 2 stereo channels and a "Y splitter cable" is the most practical solution. What are "serious problems"? Get some basic electronics knowledge and do not spread superstition.

dudeman316, even if you are suspicious, such a Y splitter cable costs only $4 and why don't you try?

hiro

[rgs_uk]

Did you ever use a mixer? It can be used to pan one input to two outputs... Left and right. Thus solving the above problem.

I have owned audio equipment that has quite specifically said in the instruction book 'do not use a Y connector' for the reasons I have given.

'Serious problems' = damaging the equipment. Yes a Y connector costs a couple of pounds, but replacement equipment costs more.

[babyboo]

splitting audio output (1 to 2) which is what the OP wants to do, is quite different from joining audio channels together. A "Y" cable is quite effective for his needs. A mixer would be a good choice if he was going the other way which he is not.

[dudeman316]

Well if your VCR is only outputting mono, I'd say get a better VCR. You can get a nice high-end S-VHS VCR, but if you're not looking to spend any money, I think at least some $20 VCR with stereo output jacks would help

OK these other folks have went over my head, & I appreciate all the info. But how do I know if a VCR is a S-VHS???

[BSR]

It'll say S-VHS. And usually has an Svideo cable connection on it.

Y cable should also be OK for what you want to do.

[dudeman316]

Thanks for all the valuable info. I will try the Y cable 1st then work my way if needed. Thanks all & Merry Christmas to all!!!

[dudeman316]

I got A "Y" cable, only 1 problem, the vlume is very low, I have turned up Line IN Recording volume to max as well as Line IN standard Play Control Volume. How can I improve the sound volume?? Do i need a better Sound Card??? Any & all recommendations & advice please. TIA!

[BSR]

What if you remove the Y cable and only hook up 1 of the audio lines, is it still low.

If it is, might want to check recording levels under volume settings. Double click the speaker in the taskbar and check the "line in" under recording. Might have to hit
"Options->Properties->Recording->OK"
to see it.(but this is in Win2K, Win98 might be different.)

[tdan]

Another option is to simply capture to the left or right channel, and then use a program like Goldwave or Audacity to duplicate the captured channel to the other one.

EDIT: Sorry rgs_uk, just noticed that you already suggested something similar.

[dudeman316]

What if you remove the Y cable and only hook up 1 of the audio lines, is it still low.

If it is, might want to check recording levels under volume settings. Double click the speaker in the taskbar and check the "line in" under recording. Might have to hit
"Options->Properties->Recording->OK"
to see it.(but this is in Win2K, Win98 might be different.)

I have done all this, nothing. Any ideas?? Could it be my sound card??

[BSR]

When it just plays on the computer screen from the VHS and you are not recording it, but just watching it, does it sound OK.
If so, then I would say your sound card is OK and it's just some setting that needs to be tweaked for recording.

Also, post what programs and settings you are using to do the capturing. Maybe someone here is familiar with that program and might be able to shed some light on the issue.

[dudeman316]

When it just plays on the computer screen from the VHS and you are not recording it, but just watching it, does it sound OK.
If so, then I would say your sound card is OK and it's just some setting that needs to be tweaked for recording.

Also, post what programs and settings you are using to do the capturing. Maybe someone here is familiar with that program and might be able to shed some light on the issue.

BSR, the volume is still terrible during playback. I am using a PCI V-Stream 2388x Video Capture card along with V-Stream's PVR Plus. My Sound card is a SB Live Value.

Here are my settings in PVR Plus:

[dudeman316]

Here are my Audio control Settings:

[BSR]

Not familiar with this program, and your settings all look ok.(Does the Record Master have to be selected also?)

If your playback doesn't sound good, then your captures aren't going to sound good. Don't even bother capturing until you can get the playback issue resolved. This is obviously the source of the problem.

If no one else responds with any suggestions, I would try to use a different program for capturing, like Virtualdub, VirtualVCR, or iuVCR. Maybe they use their own default settings, just a thought.

Sorry couldn't help.
Edit - also recheck all your connections and make sure things are hooked up correctly, like to line in and not auxiliary input and such. It doesn't hurt.

[babyboo]

Maybe you have a bad Line-in port on your card?

Couple of things to try if you haven't already (but you probably have)
...try selecting AUX on your record properties
...try selecting AUX on both your record properties AND select AUX as your input on your PVR Setup
...check your card ports to see if there is an AUX inpu (other than the line in) and try the above again

Just my 2 cents worth

Oh...BTW...I am just curious...your Audio Format on the Setup screen shows 44100 hertz "0" bits...what is that??? I always record in 16bits...0 bits would make me think it isn't recording an audio stream but you say that the volume is low so it must be recording something. Also you will need 48000 hertz for your captures to be DVD compliant.

[dudeman316]

I tried the Aux thing, I get no sound at all. I also switched from my SB LIve Value to my Onboard sound (it stinks) & the sound did improve some. So I am thinking I need a new Sound card. Any other thoughts?? Any suggestions for a card too? Also I need one that wont have interference in it from other devices ( I hear my drivers & stuff through my onboard sound)

[tdan]

I was getting bad sound and it turned out that the Line In level was way to high and I was getting tons of clipping. Try turning down the record level on the Line In. Mine is at 25% and when I open the captures in Audacity, the highest peaks are just below max.

If you open your capture in a sound editor and see nothing but lines running top to botton on the graph, then your record level is too high.

[dudeman316]

I was getting bad sound and it turned out that the Line In level was way to high and I was getting tons of clipping. Try turning down the record level on the Line In. Mine is at 25% and when I open the captures in Audacity, the highest peaks are just below max.

If you open your capture in a sound editor and see nothing but lines running top to botton on the graph, then your record level is too high.

Is this what you mean?

[BSR]

Think he meant the record level, not the playback level.

[dudeman316]

well i didn't capture the correct screen capture but is that what is ment?


While we are on this subject with the sound issue, can some please recommend a good sound card for the price range of $50-$70.

[BSR]

well i didn't capture the correct screen capture but is that what is ment?

Yes I do believe so.

While we are on this subject with the sound issue, can some please recommend a good sound card for the price range of $50-$70.

Sorry, I don't use a capture card. I either use my audio input on the motherboard, or more frequently, my DV cam passthrough.

[tdan]

Is this what you mean?

Yes, on the record control. That level works for me, you may need to adjust for your own system.

[boggen]

use same card you are using but with the platnium drive and love it. and i don't use the drive just use the basic connection on the card itself on the back of the pc.

instead of using the windows speaker / record / sound level... try use the creative volumn control, and in there it may say, "what you here" or possibly have a lower settings that what is on your windows volumn control of what you posted early in this post.

make sure other volumn in settings in creative mixer are set to mute except the line in you want.

make sure ya have latest updates from www.soundblaster.com for ya soundcard.

another note. since ya only use one line, (left or right) move the balance to just that side (left or right)

2nd, goto your control panel speaker and volumn and change so you only have stero speakers, not surround or any other garbage, but 2 speakers nothing more.

another way to test ya volumn level that you are getting in is to goto. start, program files, accesserios, multimedia, sound recorder.
it is a simple generic recorder for sound to test out your sound level. simple but effective.

if ya going to spend 50 70 bucks on a sound card, and you have alot of vhs tapes ya puting to dvd, suggest spending it on a vcr with left / right out jacks on it.

if you use the sound blaster live card, and guessing you are using a mini 8 jack (headset jack) to rca cable, i'am further guessing the cable itself is a mini 8 jack on one end, and other 2 rca connectors. don't try to put a Y to join the 2 rca connecters then plug other side of Y to vcr.

it maybe sending a "joint stero" single using one rca out / in. instead of sending 2 singles, that actully have a left and right connecter, its sending all the sound in one single (wire basicly). its less quailty audio, but left and right are in it. just hook up the Y adapter (mini jack) head set connecter to line in on sound blaster card, and just the RIGHt or RED to vcr. if ya lucky and the vcr is sending out a Joing single you will get left and right audio. (check it with sound recorder mention above)

if ya sound is low using the Y adator, try not using it, and just hook up red / Right side to the pc, and see the levels, if good. then possible bad cable, bad Y adaptor, or just not enogh signel strenth.

also make sure your not trying to run 30 foot of cable between pc and vcr, put the vcr beside pc and use a short 6 foot cable

i have learned from me mistakes

[padillaj3]

Hey dudeman316, are you the same dudeman that retired from KC?
judging by your avatar I'd say you are.

If you are, it's nice to see you're still around

[dudeman316]

padillaj3, that is I

And by the way all. I fixed my little sound problem. I ditched my PCI capture card & went to Walmart & got a ADS Tech DVD Xpress USB capture device. It works really great for me. No audio issues. Software isn't the best but hey, it is working.