Capturing Analog Video with Hollywood Dazzle DV Bridge

[vanceen]

This question is a little long and complex, so please bear with me.

I'm trying to capture VHS using the Hollywood Dazzle DV bridge. To get the signal to the bridge, I'm using a SCART to RCA adaptor, i.e. a SCART plug with a video output to an RCA jack, and stereo audio to two RCA jacks. (My VCR doesn't have an SVHS output.) The SCART adaptor has an Input/Output switch, which is set to Input. I'm plugging the RCA jacks into the DV bridge. I've checked out this setup by playing some tapes through my TV, and it works OK.

I'm attempting to capture the video with a variety of software, but mainly SF VideoFactory 2.0b. (I've also tried MainActor 3.5 and MGI 4, with the same results described below.)

Some tapes (let's call them type 1) come through OK except that the color signal gets lost; they are captured in black and white.

Other tapes (type 2) come through with no audio and highly pixellated (big blocks), but with color. On this second variety, I've found that if I power off the DV bridge by backing the power connector out and then reconnecting it, the signal comes through fine. Color, audio, everything. If I fast forward the VCR and re-start it, I have to repeat the powering down process.

I am an American living in the UK, so I have a collection of both NTSC and PAL tapes. I think, but I'm not certain, that the type 1 tapes (no color) are all NTSC and the type 2 tapes are all PAL. The VCR I'm using (Philips VR600)is supposed to be able to play back NTSC, so that shouldn't be the problem.

Can you offer any help, please?

[vanceen]

I should have mentioned that I've captured PAL DV from my Sony camcorder with no problems at all.