Question about capturing with Canopus ADVC110

[Endzone]

I've been working on this project of converting my old VHS tapes (1989-1993) to Digital Video formats. I've bought a new computer, new programs and I'm on a huge learning curve, so please forgive me this has already been discussed. I've been able to easily capture video from the Canopus using programs like Windows Movie Maker, Roxio, etc. I could not capture using the Edius software that came with the ADVC110 because Windows XP says there's a problem with the software and wont run it.

My questions is this:

No matter what program I use to capture, there is a distorted line at the bottom of all captured video. This line seems to be in an area that isn't even displayed on my TV or old video camera. It seems that Canopus is scanning lines that weren't even recorded on the tapes. I'm pretty sure the video I'm getting from the Canopus ADVC110 is 720 X 480 lines of NTSC video. Here's a example of what I'm talking about. It may be hard to see, but there is a small distorted line at the bottom of this home video. I'm certain the problem is not in the tape. Any ideas? Thanks.

[schematic2]

The lines you speak of are normal and will not be seen on a television as they are masked from view....

[Endzone]

The lines you speak of are normal and will not be seen on a television as they are masked from view....

Thanks for your reply. I didn't expect to hear from anybody for a while. Well that's good to know. I haven't tried burning a DVD yet. But, I have played some clips with Windows Media Player, and the line is there. I guess this means when I email clips to people the line will be there? I haven't really gotten to the stage of editing and authoring yet.

[Cole]

Endzone; this is called the Overscan. What I tend to do is when I have captured the video (I have a Canopus ADVC50) I then mask this overscan in the video encode stage (using TMPGEnc Plus), then author the DVD.

Indeed, this line won't show either way when viewed on a television, but it will show if playing back on a PC.

https://www.videohelp.com/glossary?O#Overscan

[Endzone]

Cole thanks for the info. I will have to get that software. Thanks for posting the link.

EZ

[edDV]

The distorted lines you see at the bottom of a VHS frame result from the head switch on the recording and playback VCR. The switch occurs in the overscan area but before the vertical sync pulse. This also happens with analog VHS and 8mm camcorder captures. You don't see this on a TV because of overscan. Many computer media players also add masking to hide the edge garbage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overscan

[edDV]

I just found this overscan test slide. I'm finding this very useful for setting dual monitor TV out modes.
http://www.tigerdave.com/test_patterns.htm

Save the pattern and display as a full screen still.

[Cole]

Just as an aside; I was converting an early 70s television production and while watching the capture on the PC screen (WinDV) the microphone boom kept dropping into view. What saved it from embarrassment from when it was broadcast was that the boom never dropped below the overscan area.

[vhelp]

What saved it from embarrassment from when it was broadcast was that the boom never dropped below the overscan area.

This reminds me of when I discovered that the tv series, Star Trek: Enterprise is actually shot
in 4:3 and not 16:9 (or was in first season or two) and was matted (top/bottom) though I would
not have discovered this is it weren't for the extra pixels that some of the analog capture cards
(includes the ADVC series) reveal. In fact, it was my advc-100 that lead me to this find. You
see, when I was capturing one of the episodes, during editing, I could see the remaining of the
video from the sides past the overscan. I guess they didn't think to realize that we might be
able to see there 4:3 -to- 16:9 via matted borders. But *I* did!! Shame on them for
slipping like that. Oh well.., we all make those mistakes, hehe..

-vhelp 4550