A few questions regarding my capture set-up.

[gsh]

Previously I have been just using a standalone DVD recoder to transfer my old tapes, but I have now invested in a DataVideo DAC100 and a JVC HR-S6965 (PAL land) to try and get better results.
I am using WinDV to capture/import to my pc running XP Pro SP1 - dedicated pc, only my video/audio/image programs on it.
Capturing to dedicated 160GB HD. Connection from the vcr to DAC is via scart - rca connectors - all the vcrs just have scart sockets or rf out.
First off, the JVC seems to work better without any of the filters/BEST etc - with it all switched off, no dropped frames, but on I get a load of dropped frames - the DAC (or WinDV) seems to be compensating, so no synch issues, just jumps forward to the next "good" capture. Not something I want on my finished clips, and I would like to make use of the filters if they can improve my captures.
Is this an issue with my pc? It's not the fastest in the world, P4 1.7 and only 256mb - I am getting another 256mb ram anyway, but is the P4 adequate?
Next question - the JVC plays NTSC tapes too - a feature I will make a lot of use of. They play back wonderfully on the TV. However, I cannot get playback to capture to my pc. With the DAC in NTSC mode, there is no image at all - black screen. Stopping the vcr results in a severely blocky menu screen in the capture window. My highly developed powers of deduction figure this is because the JVC is actually doing an NTSC-PAL conversion (the "NTSC-PAL" that popped up on the TV screen may have been a clue) - switching the DAC to PAL gives me a perfect menu screen, but when the tape starts playing for capture it freezes in the capture window and that's it. I hooked up my very old LG AC959NI to test things out - this also has NTSC playback. DAC in NTSC mode and I get a perfect image in the capture window - in black and white!
Is there a way round this, or am I going to have to buy a US model vcr to capture my NTSC tapes?
One final question (for now).
I already realise that one vcr will not provide the best playback all the time - some of the tapes I have tested play back significantly better on my LG and old JVC than the 6965. To that end I'm wondering if there's anything detrimental to hooking all the vcrs up to a multiple scart box, so I don't have to keep unplugging/plugging in leads. Can this have an effect on the quality of the signal into the DAC?
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers.

[gsh]

Well, after a lot of messing around I have come to a few conclusions -
the 6965 is no use with the DAC -unless the tape is perfect and BEST and stabiliser are off, the DAC will lock down at bad signal points and restart capturing after the dropped frames. This doesn't happen on the LG or the old jvc (as long as the tracking is off). It seems that to get the best out of this combination of vcr and capture device I need a TBC so the signal is stable before it gets to the DAC.
I managed to capture NTSC with the JVC, but this was also in black and white. It takes a lot of fiddling around with re-booting the DAC and (it seems) first starting a capture in WMM, then exiting that and starting WinDV (again with all the image stabilisers switched off). However it seems that any pc use will freeze the capture window (just opening a folder caused this) This black and white business has me stumped though - the output from both vcrs to my tv when playing NTSC tapes is in colour, so where is the problem, the cables, the DAC or the PC?
Interestingly enough, it appears that it doesn't matter too much which setting the DAC is on, PAL/NTSC, even in manual mode, as the NTSC capture is disp[layed and captured exactly the same.
I'm getting either an ATI AIW 7500 or 8500 to see if this has any effect - perhaps I will be able to make use of the image stabilisers and BEST capturing that way.
Anyone have any suggestions?

[KenJ57]

I use a DAC-100 and capture perfectly from both S-VHS and HI-8 NTSC. The PAL/NTSC switch only changes the setup level between 0 and 7.5 IRE. Setting it to the wrong position will cause video that is washed out or too dark.

I'm not at all familiar with your JVC model. My HR-S7800U has the Digipure TBC/NR filters Auto/Edit/Soft/Sharp, Video Calibration, Video Stabilizer and R3 edge enhancement. I found out in these forums that the Digital R3 circuitry made my videos look worse. R3 is used only for watching TV and not for capturing.

Check out lordsmurf's web site www.digitalfaq.com for extensive info. You should be getting good results with your equipment.

[disturbed1]

Just turn off the video stabilizer. I have never been able to capture from my JVC VCRs with that option enabled.

My DC30 Pro, DVCII, and BT878 based cards all drop frames when it's enabled.

The other options are for picture "enhancement". I run mine in edit mode, and use a Vidicraft Detailer. Much better results.

[gsh]

Thanks for the replies.
I have decided the JVC is no good for me - haven't been able to get a clean capture via the DAC at all. SO that's going on eBay!
I received a Panasonic NV-SV121EB yesterday and just did my first test capture. It appears perfect, no trace of the "skipping" from one signal to the other that the other units had. I'll try a few other less perfect tapes this afternoon to try out the TBC/DNR functions, but initial impression is very good.
I'm pretty sure the DAC does not recognise PAL60 (playing back NTSC tapes on a PAL vcr) -I get a perfect image, but b&w. I am emailing DataVideo just to be sure, but I think I'll need either a US vcr or a different capture method for my NTSC tapes. I did get an AIW 7500, but unfortunately after one day it died (black screen in the preview/overlay window, with any tape at all), so that's going back for replacement. I don't know what happened, or whether it was the false MV problem, but nothing got it working again so it's going back. I'm ordering an 8500DV today so that should be here tomorrow so I can give that a go too.
Having another option can't hurt, and hopefully it will get rid of the NTSC problem too.

[thecoalman]

I'm ordering an 8500DV today so that should be here tomorrow so I can give that a go too.
.

That's the the ATI capture card with the firewire ports correct? I'd do some searching around the forums here, most people end up having to disable the firewire port to get it to work correctly.

[gsh]

[ I'd do some searching around the forums here, most people end up having to disable the firewire port to get it to work correctly.

Thanks for the tip - I don't need the fw port as I have 3 already, so it'll get disabled before installation.

[edDV]

[ I'd do some searching around the forums here, most people end up having to disable the firewire port to get it to work correctly.

Thanks for the tip - I don't need the fw port as I have 3 already, so it'll get disabled before installation.

There is a dip switch on the PCB that will disable the firewire port.

[gsh]

Can you give me a better indication of where this dip switch is please? I couldn't find it so installed the card anyway and now have no output to my monitor - I can't think of any reason for this (except a dead card, obviously) so any help would be welcome.
Cheers

[edDV]

All here:
Forum search "8500DV"
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=270310&highlight=8500dv

[gsh]

Thanks, just checked the connectors and it looks to me like one of the receivers for the dv plug on the card is damaged - guess that's the problem with the display.
I can't believe how difficult it's been to get a working ATI AIW card (and this one was not bought on eBay)

EDIT>>>
Scratch that - disabled the fw port and it works now. Thanks for the tip or I'd never have worked it out.
Now to see if I can set the card up and get some test captures!

[thecoalman]

Scratch that - disabled the fw port and it works now. Thanks for the tip or I'd never have worked it out.
Now to see if I can set the card up and get some test captures!

The crystal ball knows all.