Capturing with Hauppauge HVR-1600 using s-video: granular picture

[Skysis]

Hello, I'm pretty new at this, so I hope this wasn't discussed before. I'm trying to convert my VHS tapes to a digital format by capturing with the Hauppauge HVR-1600. I'm using an WinTV7 for software, and hardware is a no-brang RCA to S-Video cable with a Sony SLV 940HF (RCA and coax outputs only). The S-Video setup performs quite well vs. a coax. However, the picture often has granular artifacts (looks like it's seen through a mesh or pixellated) in areas of strong brightness. This is not limited to a single video tape. I eventually troubleshot this to the cable, as I can see this effect even more pronouncedly on both of our TV's, with the mesh effect affecting the entire picture.

The only other option would be to use another VCR, but I don't have access to one.

So my question is whether or not this truly is the cable or the VCR? And if it is the cable, should I use something specific? I've also seen that people make their own RCA-to-S-video cables with a 470 micro-Farad capacitor--should I go that route? Or should I try the Dayton Audio SVC2 RCA jack to S-Video plug converter whose manufacturer is promising wonders?

Thanks for any help.

[edDV]

Hello, I'm pretty new at this, so I hope this wasn't discussed before. I'm trying to convert my VHS tapes to a digital format by capturing with the Hauppauge HVR-1600. I'm using an WinTV7 for software, and hardware is a no-brang RCA to S-Video cable with a Sony SLV 940HF (RCA and coax outputs only). The S-Video setup performs quite well vs. a coax. However, the picture often has granular artifacts (looks like it's seen through a mesh or pixellated) in areas of strong brightness. This is not limited to a single video tape. I eventually troubleshot this to the cable, as I can see this effect even more pronouncedly on both of our TV's, with the mesh effect affecting the entire picture.

The only other option would be to use another VCR, but I don't have access to one.

So my question is whether or not this truly is the cable or the VCR? And if it is the cable, should I use something specific? I've also seen that people make their own RCA-to-S-video cables with a 470 micro-Farad capacitor--should I go that route? Or should I try the Dayton Audio SVC2 RCA jack to S-Video plug converter whose manufacturer is promising wonders?

Thanks for any help.

The problem is

RCA to S-Video cable

This is a no no.

When you split composite into Y and C without an active Y/C splitter, the result is luma contamination of the chroma*. Use a composite RCA to RCA (yellow) cable instead. Use the yellow adapter that came with the HVR-1600 and select composite input in WinTV7.

In this picture, the composite adapter is grey in color. Mine was yellow.



* this type of S-Video to composite cable is intended to be used in the other direction. Y/C S-Video out can be summed to composite but it doesn't work the other way around. Y/C must be separated with bandpass filters or with a comb filter.

[Skysis]

Thanks for the advice. My adapter was gray, like in the picture. Unfortunately it made things worse. The picture was "meshy" as before, but now the color is gone, everything's in black and white. When I go back to the RCA/S-video cable (it was meant for a laptop from what I read), the color returns, but the mesh remains.

Anything wrong with my settings in WinTV 7? Anywhere else?

[edDV]

Thanks for the advice. My adapter was gray, like in the picture. Unfortunately it made things worse. The picture was "meshy" as before, but now the color is gone, everything's in black and white. When I go back to the RCA/S-video cable (it was meant for a laptop from what I read), the color returns, but the mesh remains.

Anything wrong with my settings in WinTV 7? Anywhere else?

You need to select composite input in WinTV setup. That will take the composite input pins and route to the comb filter for Y/C separation before A/D.

[jagabo]

That connector doesn't convert composite video to s-video. It simply connects the composite signal to the luma pin of the s-video connector (that's why you get a b/w picture with s-video capture -- there's nothing on the chroma pin). All you have to do is tell WinTV that the source is composite. It will then use a proper comb filter circuit to separate luma and chroma.

[edDV]

In Hauppauge WinTV7 device setup you set the composite input here...


You can move the external inputs to desired position in the channel queue here.

Select composite input in Find Channel.



Make sure you are using the current v2.3d driver/WinTV7 version.

Hauppauge has finally got WinTV7 working adequately after two years.

[edDV]

Once everything is set up, you choose composite in Find Channel (right click on screen).

[Skysis]

Switching to composite did the trick. Thanks a lot guys!

Skysis