unable to display color using NTCS 443 video input

[brendan]

I have a aver tv studio card [bt878] and running the latest version of btwincap drivers on win2Ksp2. I have no problems displaying/capturing PAL vhs videos -- but I have a ntcs video that I need to copy. Playing it on my VCR connected to my TV confirms that it is definitely a color video, and the TV onscreen display says its NTSC 443 sterio format. If I use virtualdub or amcap or other capture programs, no matter what format I select (I've tried every variation of NTSC, PAL and SECAM) and every NTSC/PAL resolution and made sure color_enable was checked - but it still only displays in black and white. Not sure what frame rate ntcs 443 is but I've tried the usual 30 and 25 and even tried capture rather than just display and of-course this too was black and white. I'm now at a loss as to what to try next but I really need to convert this ntcs video to VCD and time is running out -- any ideas on how to get color???? Any help or suggestions appreciated - thanks.

[kitty]

"Normal" (US) NTSC used 3.58 MHz as the color carrier frequenct - your video uses 4.43 MHz and was probably recorded in a country using that format.

Your capture card may not know or be able to be set to recognize this. It's a mostly PAL/NTSC358 world.

If you can get some ime with a universal VCR (anything in to anything out) you can rerecord it. They used to cost about $1000 but I hear they are coming down in price. A professional transcription company may have one & only charge for their service.

[athrak]

I had exactly the same problem - The only way i could fix it was using a different VCR - but even on the second VCR, while i set the input to NTSC, I'd still get half a screen, and a black and white display - my TV turner comes with a ocuntry setup program - once i changed it to US (I live in Australia), it worked fine. The other VCR i have is a cheap $180 one. Most of the VCR's in Australia that can do pal and NTSC are only around $200 if that - mine was $180...

[brendan]

thanks for your help ... I found the old vcr manual and found out that you can override the ntcs 443 setting to use ntcs358 or pal60 if that is preferred, so I did this and all ok. Also found out the the b787 cards do not support ntcs 443, so this is the only option .... just thought i'd post if in case others in the future get the same problem. thanks again

[Anonymous65]

The 4.43MHz NTSC is called Quasi-PAL. Many European PAL VCR's can play back NTSC video tape, but it will only change the color carrier from 3.58 to 4.43MHz and convert the color to PAL. HOWEVER, the VCR does NOT change the number of lines and frames of the NTSC video. So, the scanning is NTSC, but the color is PAL. Many Euopean TV's can scan at both 50 and 60 Hz, so the Quasi-PAL signal will look like a normal color picture on most TV's. However, Quasi-PAL is not a standard, just a "cheap" way of playing NTSC video tape on a PAL TV set without the expensive line/frame conversion circuits. Brazil and Argentina use a similar mix of frame rates and color carriers in PAL and NTSC.