Hissing noise in captured vhs video

[somebodeez]

Hello everyone. Thankyou for having me here. What a wonderful source of information here! I am overwhelmed

I am wanting to capture vhs video from my vcr to my computer and convert to divx using Virtual Dub. I've found my "sweet spot" as fars as screensize goes (not dropping frames ect). Now all I need to do is figure out how to fix my audio problem.

I keep getting a constant hissing noise in my captured video.
I've tried various tapes and this happens with all of them. I've tried various volume levels in my Line-In slider but that doesn't make any difference.

I have done searches in this forum but have not been able to find any posts that has addressed this particular problem. (most audio problems here appear to be sync issues - mine is in sync - knock on wood that it stays that way, BG)
I can find nothing about this on my video and audio card manufacturer's websites.

I have
Windows XP
512 memory
ATI All In Wonder Radeon 8500DV capture card (updated driver)
Mad Dog Multimedia Predator 5.1 PCI 6 channel sound card (updated driver and I am only using 2 speakers)
Capturing from VHS VCR (with stereo) , line-in using Virtual Dub v1.4.9

TIA for any help.

[DVWannaB]

This does not totally answer your question, but in the past when I had audio probs with my VirtualDub cap, I use Cool Edit to normalize and reduce all noise in my audio. If you want it, just do a search on the 'net and try it for free for 30 days.

[gll99]

A few thoughts:

Is the hiss more pronounced in the right or left channel? You may not be able to tell unless you do some fresh caps with the slider a bit left or right.

I adjusted my "Record LINE_IN" (not play) so that it favors the right side a bit and the same slider is only slightly over half volume. Sometimes the problem is mainly in 1 channel.

Make sure your cables are properly shielded. (No cheapies).

Check your sound card options to remove any enhanced settings they can cause distortions.

[bbb]

Record sound at 44 kHz (not at 48 kHz). See if that reduces/eliminates the hiss.

Line in should be set no higher than the middle setting. Lower it to see if that reduces the hiss.

Is your VCD Hi-Fi?

[somebodeez]

This does not totally answer your question, but in the past when I had audio probs with my VirtualDub cap, I use Cool Edit to normalize and reduce all noise in my audio. If you want it, just do a search on the 'net and try it for free for 30 days.

Thanks - I'd really rather not have to aquire another program and go through another learning process if I don't have to. I'll save your suggestion as a last resort. Again - thank you


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few thoughts:

Is the hiss more pronounced in the right or left channel? You may not be able to tell unless you do some fresh caps with the slider a bit left or right.

I adjusted my "Record LINE_IN" (not play) so that it favors the right side a bit and the same slider is only slightly over half volume. Sometimes the problem is mainly in 1 channel.

Make sure your cables are properly shielded. (No cheapies).

Check your sound card options to remove any enhanced settings they can cause distortions.

I can't tell....
I'm using the cables that came with the ATI Radeon 8500 DV card.
I have the sound card's optional sound effects turned off. However, delving deeper into the sound card's options, I see that there is even more volume sliders for this & that so I'm going to play with those and see what happens. (sliders for "Front Left", "Front Right", "Center", "Sub Woofer", "Rear left", "Rear Right") and I also see it says "Line-In and Rear Speaker Output share the same jack" and "Microphone and sub woofer share the same jack" Maybe there is something there I should be adjusting?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Record sound at 44 kHz (not at 48 kHz). See if that reduces/eliminates the hiss.

Line in should be set no higher than the middle setting. Lower it to see if that reduces the hiss.

Is your VCD Hi-Fi?

Have tried 44khz - no difference and have also adjusted Line-In volume to various settings - no difference except that my volume over all in the capture went way down.
I think you probably were asking about my vcr - it's a Sharp 4-head Hi-Fi Stereo/Sharp Super Picture.

Thankyou everyone for taking the time to offer your suggestions! If you can think of anymore, please keep 'em coming. I sure do appreciate it very much.

[bbb]

Yes, I meant Hi Fi VCR/VHS player.

Are you sure that lowering the line in settings do nothing for the hiss? Are you saying that reducing the line in doesn't even reduce the volume of the hiss? If so, it could be bad computer speakers.

I have dealt with cheap speakers giving off a constant buzz even though I moved them far away from any sources of electromagnetic interference. Try headphones or other speakers to see if that reduces/eliminates the hiss. Play some WAV files or MP3s or DVDs and listen in the quiet parts to see if the hiss is present.

Also, describe the hiss again in more detail. Is it a constant hiss as in an audio tape recording? Or is it more intermitant and snaps, crackles, pops (this indicates a hardware or driver issue)? Or does it buzz? Or does it whine in a high pitch sound?

Another possibility is due to the source machine. I've lived in a area with poorly grounded electric sockets, it made my VCR show visual distortions. I thought that my VCR was damaged. When i moved to a better area, my VCR played fine. It could also be that your VCR needs replacing. VCRs go bad if heavily utilized (or if they are poorly manufactured). Listen to your tapes on your VCR and pay attention to the quiet scenes to see if hiss is present on the VCR to TV setup. Then, try using a different VCR to see if the hiss goes away. Also, try adjusting the VCR tracking.

[somebodeez]

Yes - it's a constant hiss, just like with an audio cassette tape.
No buzzing, snaps, crackles or pops - just a constant hiss on all vhs tapes that I try.
Lowering the Line-in volume lowers the sound of everything, including hiss.
Hiss not there when I play other sound files such as WAVS or MP3s.

[CryptKeeper]

try cleaning the playback heads
both audio and video

see if it still does it

and don't be too trusty when it displays "auto-cleaning heads"

tho be sure to use an authorized cleaning agent
and use cotton swabs to clean the heads

[DonnaJ]

I'm not sure if this will help.

I was having a horrendous problem with hissing/static/whatever noise in my end product. The noise was there during any light colour in the video and most prominent during the loud sections of the movie.

I finally discovered (after eliminating each process step-by-step) that the noise was created when the input volume was too high when capturing the movie. I reduced the input volume from 80% down to 50%.

I no longer have to suffer with that irritating noise.

Donna
.25 above newbie

[gf]

I don't know if this help but. If you do have a HI-FI vhs vcr than it sounds like you are playing a linear (non hi-fi) tape. Or it is not a HI-FI machine. A standard vcr's audio track has as much dynamic range as a cassette player with the dolby noise reduction OFF. Hope this helps.

Steve

[Trik]

C-media 8738 has problems with recording sound.

I can't use my onboard C-Media for recording or for timelapse or it gives off hiss.
Using it for just watching TV works though.
It has something with them not being full duplex.

See here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151382&highlight=CMedia+Issues

and here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=155046

[somebodeez]

C-media 8738 has problems with recording sound.

I can't use my onboard C-Media for recording or for timelapse or it gives off hiss.
Using it for just watching TV works though.
It has something with them not being full duplex.

See here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151382&highlight=CMedia+Issues

and here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=155046

Aha! I'm thinkin' this may be my problem as nothing else I've tried has worked.
Am going to try swapping sound cards from my other computer.

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOO very much EVERYONE for all of your help!!