set up or card issue

[pierced100]

Win XP SP2
512 ram
p4 3.2 processor
Mercury tv card 7130
Geforce FX 5200

I am very new to this so may be making a newbie mistake. I have searched the posts and can't really find an answer

I am trying to capture some home VHS videos (UK PAL). I want to capture the videos and then burn to DVD. I am ok with converting and burning but I am having struggling capturing.

They do not have to be expert quality so I am looking for the easiest method.

When the capture program starts up I can only get a black and white picture in the video preview window? I have tried a few capture programs (don't laugh I said I want the easy option) such as windows movie maker and ulead. I have also tried virtual dub. Depending on the capture program tried when I press record one of two things happen either it carried on recording in black and white or the video preview screen goes black and I can on longer see the video?

Could it be the way I have set it up? I have tried 2 different VCR's but they only have scart out options. I have a switchable scart plug (input and output) in the VCR. The scart plug has both s-video and composite options plus L and R audio connections.

I have tried 2 different VCR's and 2 sets of cables. I have tried both composite and s-video. I have tried various capture programs.

What am I doing wrong?

[thecoalman]

B&W video will show up if you have selected the wrong TV signal type in the cards configuration. It's probably selected as NTSC when you are trying to capture PAL.

[pierced100]

No I did choose the correct PAL option

[mikiem]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=104433

[pierced100]

Thanks for that. I tried the doom guide and it did not work. Mu current status is

Ulead dvd movie factory 3.0= Black white picture
Windows movie maker = No picture
VirtualVCR = No picture. No matter what settings I use

I have since found out the chipset on the card is SAA7130HL

[The_Doman]

Win XP SP2
Could it be the way I have set it up? I have tried 2 different VCR's but they only have scart out options. I have a switchable scart plug (input and output) in the VCR. The scart plug has both s-video and composite options plus L and R audio connections.

Yes!
How did you connect it to the TV-card?
With Composite or S-video?
Normal VCR's (non S-VHS) only have composite out.
When you use a S-Video connection when there is only a Composite signal available the result will be a Black and White picture.

[pierced100]

The 2 VCR's I have tried only have one scart socket and it is both input and output. Into the scart on the VCR I have plugged a switchable scart plug and I have set the scart plug to output. To the scart plug I can either
connect s-video or composite. I also have to connect the left and right
audio. I have tried both s-video and composite and they both give the same results.

Could it be going through scart that is the issue? I have now tried 2 VCR's, 2 scart plugs, 2 sets of cables (both composite and s-video) and tried the card in 2 PC's.

Is there any different drivers I could try in device manager or would that be pointless and bartking up the wrong street?

Also I notice on a lot of programs I tried automatically choose PAL_B Isn't the UK PAL_I? I did buy the card in the UK.

I still think it is something stupid I have done wrong

This is what is currently happening

Windows movie maker gives me a toally black picture. It says I am using Merucry TV Card WDM Video Capture but I can't seem to get it off PAL_B?

VirtualVCR has gone from giving me a black and white pitcture to no picture at all? This is also defaulting to PAL_B? I have tried very option going.

I reinstalled the capture (TVR) program that came with the card and that is giving me a black and white picture. It also says I am using Merucry TV Card WDM Video Capture. This automacticaly chose UK options and does not give me much options on the video settings.

From now on I will only try with the composite cable

[mikiem]

Does the TV Tuner part work? If that's B & W as well, I would think that eliminates cable/vcr prob. If it works as it should, I'd think that means software & card are OK.

[pierced100]

Never thought about that. I only bought the card for the capture. I try it will see what happens

[pierced100]

Thanks for that. I only get B&W with the TV tuner. So it must be the card at fault?