I need confirmation on this

[kidmegabit]

I have read several previous posts and need an answer today whether my setup is wrong and I should return this vcr/dvd unit I have. My vcr is just VHS and I read here that it needs to be S-VHS because the S-Video output is for DVD only, on my unit. However I also read that if it's for DVD only, I should be able to capture from the playing dvd but that doesn't work either. Right now, I'm truly disapponted in the whole capturing procedure. I'm not a computer newbie, I moderate at another computer help site and I'm the lead pc tech where I work. This capturing idea though is a whole new world for me.

My setup is below:
Computer:
Windows XP Pro
AMD Athlon XP2400+
Geforce 6200 video card/256mb ram onboard/8x
Gigabyte motherboard
1gb ram
40gb WD and 200GB WD
On board 5.1 channel sound
My capture card is a:
Hauppauge WinTV-PVR150
VCR/DVD is:
Emerson brand
and TV is a Sanyo 2004 model; with video inputs, though no outputs.

Please help me get this straightened out. My daughter has volunteered me to capture a vhs tape of a WalMart event and I need to get this sorted out this week.
Thanks in advance for any and all help.

[lordsmurf]

. However I also read that if it's for DVD only, I should be able to capture from the playing dvd but that doesn't work either.

Either you misread that.
Or somebody is a moron spewing crap.
Which it was, it was wrong.

S-VIDEO is a usually-better method of transferring video signals, as it separates (hence the "s") chroma and luma. Composite (the yellow wire) is both of them together.

You don't "need" to use s-video unless s-video is all that is on the device. Most devices have a choice of coax, composite, s-video, SCART, component, etc. Maybe not ALL of those, but a couple of them at very least.

The VHS VCR is not as good as a S-VHS unit with filters/TBC/s-video. But it works. Again, just not as good. S-VHS units can play/record S-VHS or VHS. And VHS can only do VHS.

Hope that clears it up.

Though, be it noted, that I have no idea what you're trying to do here.

[kidmegabit]

Thanks for the answer. What I'm trying to do is: capture vhs tapes/home made from my tv to my computer via the wintv card I recently installed. I can capture tv programs all day long but capturing from played vcr tapes or dvd's gives me a black screen and no video.

My vcr has composite video and S-Video out. When I try capturing from the tv while a vhs tape is playing all I get is what is being fed through the satellite cable on the tv. The capture card's software; Wintv2000 will only show the movie that is fed through the satellite. Not from the vcr or dvd.

One more question. On my setup of the WinTV2000 it said to make sure input from was set to Antenna if I didn't have cable. But setting this up this way, it only captures the tv programs. How should I set this up if I want it to capture from the vcr then? I don't want to capture dvd's, just vhs.

[ulapines]

You need to setup WinTV to capture from s-video input, not cable or antenna

[kidmegabit]

Thanks, I just tried that but that didn't work either. The svideo is for dvd player only according to the manual of the vcr/dvd.

[gadgetguy]

If I understand you correctly, you have a combo VCR/DVD unit with seperate controls and seperate outputs for the VCR and the DVD, and the svideo connection only works with the DVD output. (There is a unit like this at my church.) You need to connect the composite video output on the VCR to a composite video input on the capture card. This may mean disconnecting it from the TV to do so.

[kidmegabit]

Below is a photo of my card. It does have composite video in as I didn't realize this before, I didn't hook it up that way. How I have it all connected is this:
Coaxial cable to coaxial cable input on card, coming from the vcr. Then the s-video cable to s-video input also coming from the vcr/dvd unit. Sound via sound connection from vcr/dvd to capture card.

[/img]

How am I supposed to have it all connected?

I should tell you the tv is connected from the vcr/dvd via video RCA cables. No coaxial cable connected.

[gadgetguy]

Coaxial cable to coaxial cable input on card, coming from the vcr. Then the s-video cable to s-video input also coming from the vcr/dvd unit. Sound via sound connection from vcr/dvd to capture card.

Keep in mind that I'm guessing about your VCR/DVD combo unit, but that looks correct to be able to capture through the tuner, assuming you tune it to the correct channel (usually 3 or 4). However, the results are usually less than optimal when capturing from VHS. If in addition to the above you also connect the composite video out from VCR to composite video in on the card, then you should be able to select the composite input for your recording and get a better picture, just make sure you have selected the proper audio input in your recording software. Also if your VCR/DVD combo unit has separate audio outputs, make sure you have them connected to the correct outputs. That's probably the best you can do with your current hardware, but for non-commercial tapes it should work fine.

[ebenton]

Just a wild-ass guess here. If it's not something simple like tuning to channel 3 or 4, perhaps having *both* coax and s-video connected at the same time is confusing either the video card or the VHS player. Sounds unlikely, but try connecting just one or the other.

[kidmegabit]

Below is a photo of the back of my dvd/vcr unit. I have the audio fine, I can hear sound when capturing tv and when capturing a movie from the tv sound is there. I'll now have to wait until I can get a longer composite video cable, perhaps tomorrow. Something I was concerned about also is, how good of quality is capturing from composite rather than svideo?

[ebenton]

The video quality of a VHS tape is not as good as a DVD, so the quality when captured via composite video should be about as good as the original VHS tape. You certainly can't make it any *better* than the original.

[kidmegabit]

Okay here's another problem I didn't forsee until looking at the back of the vcr/dvd just now. My son in law hooked this up for me, but the way he has it connected to the tv he used RCA cables and those are taking up the componsite outputs I need for the capture card. My tv has svideo in, my vcr/dvd has svideo out. So could I hook the tv up using the svideo of both and still get a picture on the tv? I need those composite outputs on the vcr/dvd player for the capture card.

[ebenton]

The yellow video out is OK for both DVD and VCR. The S-video is only good for DVD.
If you only ever want to watch DVDs on your TV, you could hookup the S-video to the TV. You would not be able to see VHS tapes on your TV.
Otherwise, you could use a "Y" adapter for the video out jack and connect one half of the "Y" to the TV and the other half to the capture card. There would be some potential loss of signal strength to both devices.
You could also get an A/B switch box for RCA cables and hook the DVD/VCR out put to the switch box input and connect one switch box output to the TV and the other to the capture card. There would be less potential signal strength loss this way.
You could also connect the coax output to the TV coax input, and the yellow video out to the capture card only. This should allow the TV to view both tape and DVD, but if you don't like the picture quality, it might not be an option.

[gadgetguy]

As I stated earlier you may have to disconnect the TV to use the composite connection. You won't be able to watch VHS through the S-video connection, but it should work fine for the DVD. For the VHS you should be able to watch through the antenna out connection if you move it from the capture card to the TV. DVD output usually does not come out the antenna output and it's possible they also don't allow the VHS through it either, but you could try. (The antenna connection may be just a passthrough but you never know.)

Edit:ebenton, you type faster than me

[Nelson37]

OK, here is the deal.

Your main issue is actually connecting the cables from the DVD/VHS to the capture card. Second issue is switching the card software to capture from the appropriate connection. Should be a selection for Capture Source, Input Type, or some such.

S-video should work for both DVD and VHS, try it without the composite cable connected at all, if no success then go to composite and remove the S-video. You may have to change a menu selection on the DVD unit to activate the S-video output. It is not a big deal, on most players the S-video connection gives a slight improvement, on some it makes it worse.
Either is preferable to Coax thru the tuner.

Note that S-video and SVHS are related, but not the same thing.

[kidmegabit]

Okay I knew what I was thinking wasn't right for some reason, until you two posted. I guess I forgot that the s-video was for the dvd only. I'm so frustrated I keep forgeting about the things I already stated before. LOL Anyway, I can see about a "Y" adapter tomorrow. The switch box? Where would I find one of those and would it be better than the "Y" adapter? I've checked here in my stash of cables and with my son in law and neither of us has that adapter. Oh well off to the store tomorrow after work and I'll see if Wally World has either one.

Thanks to all of you who helped me figure out what I needed. Your help is appreciated very much to this dvd/vcr/capture/tv illiteriate person.

[gadgetguy]

To reiterate what ebenton said "There would be some potential loss of signal strength to both devices. " when using a Y splitter.
There is also some potential loss using an AB box because there is some loss at every connection point, but this should be very negligable. And better than the Y splitter.

[kidmegabit]

Nelson you were posting while I was typing. No, the s-video on the vcr/dvd states it is for DVD only. And I tried hooking it up that way and I got no video on the tv at all. I also know the difference between SVHS and S-Video. I had read a post or two in here after a search that I would need SVHS to accomplish what I was trying to do but the post was a few years old and that may have been a problem only at that time. As I said, I can't connect the tv via the S-Video out on the vcr because it's for dvd only, and the other other recourse I have now is either switch box or y adapter, I think at any rate.
I think I'll get one of each and see which one works better, then take back the one that doesn't work. I have to get this set up this week in order to practice before I actually capture that Walmart video to save to dvds. I can't bring home the unit that made the vhs because it belongs to Walmart or I would just use that and input straight to the computer.

Edit: someone is always posting while I'm typing. LOL Thanks gadgetguy for clearing that bit up for me. I'll get the box tomorrow if I can find one around here.

[kidmegabit]

Is this what I need? Philips High Definition Switching Center.

Connects up to four audio/video components
Connects any of the following: DVD player or recorder, CD player/recorder, TV, VCR, satellite reciever, all video games, camera, camcorder, cable box, receiver.

[gadgetguy]

It's overkill and will probably be more confusing to hook up, but it will work.

[kidmegabit]

Ok, I'll look to see what they have to offer, that is the only one I saw on the website that even remotely looked like what I needed. I'll be at the store tomorrow so I can look at all they have to offer.

[kidmegabit]

Well, that didn't work. I bought that unit I posted a photo of and tryed hookng it up but got no video to tv. I am really getting frustrated with this, this shouldn't be that hard to configure. There has to be a way to connect my tv/vcr/dvd and the capture card. I mean people do it every day in this video capture world, why can't I?

And the "Y" adapter I couldn't even find one of those at WalMart.

I did find a different vcr/dvd at circuit city but I'm not sure this will improve my situation or not. It's a Samsung Combo with S-VHS. I looked at the back of it and it seems to have more composite connectors than mine has. A total of four. So, maybe buying this unit and using it instead of the one I have would be better??? Got to get this setup before the weekend. I did promise Walmart I would transfer thier video to dvds.

[ulapines]

Try to disconnect your VCR composite video output from the TV and
connect it to your capture card instead.
If you have picture on the TV from this output you should also be able to
capture from it.
You need to set WinTV to capture from composite input.
If that works use the y adapter, its a very common type of adapter
and also cheap.

[kidmegabit]

Thanks ulapines, I will get an adapter this week. I checked at Walmart two days ago and the only adapter they have is for audio.

Could someone post a photo or link to a video Y adapter so I know for sure what I'm supposed to buy?

[Nelson37]

If you have the opportunity to swap out your unit, that might be a better way to go.

I have used y-cables on audio without any issues but on video it definitely degraded the signal.

Many units should have both the composite and the S-video outputs active at the same time. My sat box does this, so I use the S-video to the capture card and the composite to the TV (which is all it will accept anyway), then two y-cables on the audio channels so both TV and capture card were active.

On my old cable hookup, I used an amp/splitter to also run coax to the cable box and direct to the TV, this way I could tune non-premium channels on the TV while recording a different channel on the capture card. Definitely increased domestic tranquility.

[kidmegabit]

The problem with using the S-video is: It's for the DVD player only. It will not capture VHS; I've tried it, no video capture using the S-Video with it hooked from the VCR/DVD to the capture card.

If you'll look at the photo I posted of the back of my vcr/dvd player, you'll see to the left bottom of this photo that it says:

S-Video Out Jack:connect an optional S-Video cable here through the S-Video in of the television. (DVD Only)

Another unit I looked at said it had S-VHS but the connections on the back I thought I saw more options for connecting; however, after looking closer, on the manufacturer's website, the unit had the same options for connecting as my own unit.

[kidmegabit]

I guess I had a brain freeze when setting up that switch box but something just now dawned on me. The reason I wasn't getting anything at all was because everything had been disconnected prior to my setting this up. All units were down because I had to buy some furniture to put my units in/on. Upon hooking all the cables up, I neglected to set the VCR/DVD to channel 3........duh!!
Now that is working correctly and I was watching tv last night, I'm trying to understand how to set up the switch box. On the back of this switch box are four (4) In's, and one (1) Out. Which would I connect the VCR composite cables up to? The in or the out? According to the instructions that came with this box, one can set up to four devices on it. I just need the video to the capture card and the tv or and the VCR. ???

[greymalkin]

...

[kidmegabit]

EH?

[gadgetguy]

To use that switchbox for your application you will use it backwards. This should work fine for the composite connections. Hook the composite video out from the combo unit to the composite out of the swiitchbox, then from the composite connector Input1 on the switchbox go to the composite in connector on the capture card. From composite connector Input2 on the switchbox go to the composite in connector of the TV. Select "1" to capture video to the computer, or select "2" to watch it on TV.

Edit: You should be able to follow the same path with the audio connections too.