Interference when capturing from VHS

[equinox]

Hey all,

For years I've been capturing video from VHS without worrying about the quality, but now since I'm starting to care more, i was wondering if there is any way to get rid of the redish, diagonal lines that scroll up and down the screen while capturing from my VCR. This happens with all my VCRs. I get the lines when capturing from Composite using RCA cables (cheap and expensive ones), and also when I use coaxial cables and tune the capture card's tuner to the VCR's frequency. When capturing directly from a TV channel, using the card's TV tuner, there are no lines, and I get a great picture.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

[Nexzus]

Have you checked whether a more expensive VCR might solve the problem? Maybe the one you have has cheap play heads.

Also, have you determined whether or not there are any EMF (electro-magnectic-fields) that may be causing the problems? It could be any number of things in your house, it could also be a business/industry in your area that could be emitting strong EMF fields. Do you live next door to a nucluear reactor

Since you say the cards TV tuner works fine, it sound like the VCR is most likely the culprit.

[equinox]

I've tried it with a few VCR's that I have and I get the same problem with all of them. One is a 14 year old Panasonic that cost AUS$1400 (back then), another is a Sony 277AS model, that cost about AUS$600 (1 year ago), It's got 6 heads, and it's the most expenisve Sony consumer VCR I could find. The third is a really bad Akai thing with 1 head and its 6 years old. (Really bad picture quality) I get the same problem with all those.

As for the position of my house, I'm about 2km from a lite Industrial area (No Nuclear Reactors ) but I live about 500m from some high power transmission power lines, which seem to interfere with TV reception for the whole area.

I've only used 1m cables to connect the VCR to my capture card, so they don't run accross my house.

Oh, and when I said I get a 'great' picture when capturing from my capture card's tuner, I mean great considering the reception I get here. I live about 30km from the city.

[equinox]

Could it be my monitor that's giving off the interference, because it interferes with the TVs in my room, causing the same sort of lines on them.

[TurboRunner]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2002-01-05 20:45:14, equinox wrote:
Could it be my monitor that's giving off the interference, because it interferes with the TVs in my room, causing the same sort of lines on them.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>
You might have something there. Maybe start capturing disconnect you monitor so it has no power going to it at all and maybe even move it away from you computer. wait for 5-10Minutes then bring the monitor back and connect it back up stop the capture then see if it worked.

Another thing do you have speakers near your computer maybe the magnetic field from the speakers are interfering might try and move those away when you move your monitor away.
{use headphones if you need to hear what your capturing)

Also it might pay to have your Television off aswell.

Another thing make sure you power cables from you computer or vcr are no crossing or near the A/V Cables as i notice that can interfere when i play a tape on my tv.

Just some ideas.
TurboRunner

[equinox]

Thanx TurboRunner, I'll try that later.

[Digitizer]

Your capturing unit should be completely separate from all other equipment, especially TV's and probably other VCR's too. Only one way connection to your capturing card. That solved my problem, but it was driving me up the wall before that.

[Biper]

I think I know what the problem is. It has something to do with "INTERLACE". Read this guide it will help you to get rid of those lines.
http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/vhs_capture.html

contact me if you want more help:
ICQ: 10228747

[Shabubu]

Sorry, but interlace lines aren't red... or diagonal. Can you get hold of shielded cables ??

[equinox]

I've tried shielded cables and they're no improvment.

[equinox]

Thanx for your help guys, but nothing seems to work.

[djb]

could be a ground loop problem. look for solutions here:

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/groundloop/index.html

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: djb on 2002-01-10 09:51:59 ]</font>

[Bud]

One way I corrected my problem was to switch to a S-VHS Recorder, picked up a JVC at Curcit City for about 150.00, I am using a PV233 Card, the Capture is great via the S-VHS, of course it's only a standard VCd setting, PV233 won't capture anything but the standard VCD. Something to try....

Bud