PowerVCRII and Noise

[CbSnakeCB]

I use PowerVCRII for most of my captures but when capturing there will be lines that pop up from time to time across the screen. This happens no matter what the video settings are. Im capturing from directv satelite by plugging the rca cables into the composite slot and the noise into the line in on my sound card, but the thing is i get this noise that hums through the whole capture and doesnt go away, its there even when i watch tv im not sure if its my sound card or something else. The noise is in every program i use so i know its a hardware issue. any help would be appreciated thanks

[shackyc]

I've heard some people say that moving power lines away from the capture card and sound card helps. In general, keep the power cords away from everything, as far as possible.

[lchiu7]

I've heard some people say that moving power lines away from the capture card and sound card helps. In general, keep the power cords away from everything, as far as possible.

I have no problems with the picture quality (I did go and get decent quality antenna cable) but the sound is not so good with occasional static in the background. Sounds find live. Thought it might be my sound card but a recording of the TV sound directly using the basic Recorder application in Windows gives good quality.

Larry

[gll99]

Hums can be caused by RF inteference leaks due to the nearness of electrical / electronic devices (even within or at the back of your pc).
Low quality audio video cables with poor shielding are another cause. Even a high color settings in the originating signal can cause a buzz. I receive a digital signal through a cable decoder box and notice an occasional buzz on my tv sets when there is a high concentration of certain red signals. Setting too high a volume in your capture settings (or adding special booster effects to your line-in) will magnify noise. Set it only 1/2 or slightly more with no mixer enhancements.

[lchiu7]

Hums can be caused by RF inteference leaks due to the nearness of electrical / electronic devices (even within or at the back of your pc).
Low quality audio video cables with poor shielding are another cause. Even a high color settings in the originating signal can cause a buzz. I receive a digital signal through a cable decoder box and notice an occasional buzz on my tv sets when there is a high concentration of certain red signals. Setting too high a volume in your capture settings (or adding special booster effects to your line-in) will magnify noise. Set it only 1/2 or slightly more with no mixer enhancements.

I would have thought so also. But to prove otherwise, I started the tuner app (sound fed from the tuner into the line in on the tuner card) and recorded the sound using both Windows Recorder and Cooledit. The sound records perfectly at various rates of compression - no crackle etc. - just some hiss when I use 8 bit. So the cables must be okay. Only thing I can think of now is either 1) when capturing video it impacts the sound or 2) the card is faulty somehow. Note I have even tried capturing with no preview so there is no video displayed on the screen - same problem

[shackyc]

Are you using PowerVCRII to record? I found a problem when trying some of the other registry fixes for PowerVCRII and noticed the record volume seemed to change. I had lower record volumes before which now seem to be corrected. I posted a lot of details in the IOMagic forums, although I haven't determined if this really fixes anything yet (just my own observations).

[lchiu7]

Are you using PowerVCRII to record? I found a problem when trying some of the other registry fixes for PowerVCRII and noticed the record volume seemed to change. I had lower record volumes before which now seem to be corrected. I posted a lot of details in the IOMagic forums, although I haven't determined if this really fixes anything yet (just my own observations).

I am now since it's the only app that records both channels. But I do notice the level it records at is quite low though I suspect there might be a registry hack somewhere to fix that. My main complaint now is the background crackle in the sound which occurs no matter what capture app I use or which WDM drivers (Hauppauge, sourceforge.net and others)

[shackyc]

Maybe it's an IRQ conflict. Is you WDM Audio Capture driver using an IRQ that another device is using? The other device may be causing the the audio capture driver to not work optimally.

[lchiu7]

Maybe it's an IRQ conflict. Is you WDM Audio Capture driver using an IRQ that another device is using? The other device may be causing the the audio capture driver to not work optimally.

It's possible. If I go to System and look at the Sound Video and Game Controllers, there are two for the WinTV card. One is Conexant's BtPCI WDM Video Capture and the other is Conexant's BtPCI WDM Audio Capture.

The video capture is installed okay where as the Audio capture driver has no drivers installed with a message saying This Device isn't using any resources since it has a problem. The same message also occurs when using the Hauppauge drivers i.e. Video is okay, Audio is not. Maybe I have a bad card?

[shackyc]

Ichiu7, you have a driver problem. I'd say the fact that you still get sound means that there must be a driver already installed that is interferring with your current drivers. Try hunting for the other drivers to see if they may be causing the problem and remove them. Since you get some sound from your capture card, I think you capture card may be okay.