Is visible analog interference common on capture cards?

[SLK001]

I fear that your problems exist INSIDE your machine - well beyond the Noise Filters.

[junkmalle]

Switch your display card from DVI to analog RGB?

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1312630#1312630

Unexpected but worked for that guy.

[justinluck]

Yes, I have a CRT, so I don't have that option. Interesting find though. You would think that DVI would have less interference problems because it is digital? Or...I think I remember reading somewhere that DVI can be digital OR analog. Is this true? But doesn't DVI stand for Digital Video Interface?

[junkmalle]

Yes, I have a CRT, so I don't have that option. Interesting find though. You would think that DVI would have less interference problems because it is digital? Or...I think I remember reading somewhere that DVI can be digital OR analog. Is this true? But doesn't DVI stand for Digital Video Interface?

The DVI connector has both digital and analog sections. Maybe his DVI cable wasn't well shielded. Or maybe his monitor was generating more noise when running digitally.

Try a cap with your monitor cable disconnected at the back of the computer. That's not a solution but it's something you can test...

[SLK001]

Try a cap with your monitor cable disconnected at the back of the computer. That's not a solution but it's something you can test...

Why not just turn the monitor off?

[junkmalle]

Try a cap with your monitor cable disconnected at the back of the computer. That's not a solution but it's something you can test...

Why not just turn the monitor off?

The noise could be leaking from the cable.

[SLK001]

True, but with it off, there is no load from the monitor, so the current sent over the cables is very low - thus much less leakage field. Also, the monitor is a huge magnetic EMI generator that would be reduced to zero if it were off.

Definitely many experiments for the home scientist in each of us!

[vhelp]

TGIF

The user could set up the computer for a "timed" capture, and when all is well
and ready, can turn off everything - non-issential to the test system..
run the test capture, and when done, cna review captured source.

This is a good test to see if the monitor and/or cables to it are causing
the interference.

-vhelp 3365

[edDV]

Update:

I went to BestBuy last night and bought a $59 Dynex powerstrip that claims 2520 joule surge suppression, an output of 15 amps 1875 Watts, and comes with an EMI/RFI Noise Filter.

To my chagrin, this did not help

There was a Monster Cable Power Protector that claims Clean Power Stage 1 v2.0, whatever that means, for $79. I don't know if this would be better, but I feel like Monster Cable tends to overcharge for their products and that this Dynex is probably of similar build quality.

What do you guys think?

I haven't been reading this thread in detail but there is no reason to expect that a surge supressor or any cable will fix power ground problems.

Either power everything from the same circuit breaker or fix the house wiring (very expensive). For traditional fixes, look up "Hum Buck" transformers or spend the bucks on fiberoptics or wireless technology to bypass the power issues.

[vhelp]

Here is something for you all to digest..

In my currect setup, I have another pc near by my capture pc.
When ever I turn on the my capture pc, (I capture from my vcr)
and view my tv's picture, the tv picture is clean. *BUT* as
soon as I turn on my other pc (near my capture pc) I start to
see a glitch of noise (like static) ..then, when its booting,
and you see the dos window first, (before windows) the signal
is clean. *BUT* once my Window 98 is up and running, the noise
comes back ...and stays noisy throughout, until i turn off
the pc.
.
This noise is present during my capturing, even in my ADVC-100
but only because its something external.. rather than internal
like a pci capture card.
.
So, this is something new, in addition to my old and (separate)
still current, Line Noise.

I thought it worth mentioning here, on account of the topic
of noise.., and also because its odd, that when my other pc
is booting up, and is still in DOS mode, the noise dissapears,
(until it boots into windows)

It seems that windows is activating something in the chipset
or motherboard, or instruction that cause a high rate/speed,
which results in noise, later down in the chain of things.

Something to ponder.

-vhelp 3368

[redwudz]

vhelp, one thing that might be changing after DOS finishes is the video card and monitor changing resolutions to what the OS has set. At least my monitor goes through two or three switches. The monitor or the video card could be putting out harmonics on some resolutions. Trying different resolutions and refresh rates would put that idea to rest, though. Or probably just booting into safe mode?

[vhelp]

Hi redwudz

I might try your suggestion. (right now, I'm in the a tool
development) Anyways.

My other pc is hooked up to a 2 port, KV-switch by IView.. so that I
can switch between the two pc, thus shairing an LCD monitor:

* ctrl+ctrl+1 = other pc = noisy causer
* ctrl+ctrl+2 = capture pc = clean. doesn't produce "external" noise.

This saves me the hassel of an old PC tube monitor (in storage now)
now eliminating other wires and external interferences

But, the "other" pc's refresh rate could still be causing noise
because it is still outputing its refrech rate. I'll look into it
later, if I can find the time. Thanks.

-vhelp 3369

[justinluck]

Well I now know that the interference bars have something to do with the card itself. The 550pro, when installed in the same computer, in the same PCI slot, produces a clean picture with none of these moving bars.

It is very frustrating to say the least because the Fusion would be a perfect capture card if it weren't for these interference bars. And the 550pro that I recently purchased is incompatible with all of the capture software I have tried.

[vhelp]

It is very frustrating to say the least because the Fusion would
be a perfect capture card if it weren't for these interference bars.

Funny how I used to say the same thing about my ATI-TV Wonder card..
and many others.

fwiw, my DC10+ card was the only card that could capture w/out any noise.
It was the cleanest card ever. But, every other pci (and AGP) capture
card exhibited Line Noise. I have several motherboard makes in between
throughout my experience.
.
When I got the ADVC-100 and plugged it in, it was ZERO line nise just like
my DC10+ card. I could not believe how clean the video was. Most users
who posted that the main cause of such noise, was on account of grounding
or looping or TV or motor or other AC line from another apt/build or
police station ratio ect ect etc. The problem with my beleiving this,
was this.. "How come my ADVC-100 and my DC10+ device/card can capture w/
ZERO line noise?" No answer. I even threw a challeng for others to
prove in *their own* claim of their captures being clean. I asked, (and
in so many words) .. "prove it". ..capture and post your pics (short
5 frame avi video) So far, I have gone un-challenged.
.
The main reason why i keep using my ADVC-100 is on account of it being
the cleanest source ever. It is crystle clean. No lines or anything.
The only lines I do see, is that of my VCR and Antenna source airing
and being capture. That is perfectly normal.

-vhelp 3399

[SHS]

justinluck what seeing look like speckled bands across the picture could be from external interference

What the Monster Cable Clean Power dose it a circuitry to remove and isolate AC power interference.
You may think Monster Cable is overcharge for their products but what you didn't take in count for is Monster buys only the best parts or build it own parts.

Other option are a really good Uninterruptible Power Supplies = UPS

OPther thing to look at are Power Conditioners

You could very have ground loop problem which could be bad ground at main power box.

[SHS]

vhelp why a cleanest source with the ADVC-100 and DC10+ had do with electronic parts that they are using on thoses device.

[justinluck]

SHS, yes I have my computer hooked up to a line conditioner, but this did not fix the problem. What I wonder is, if it is a ground loop problem, then why is the problem only with the Fusion 3 card and not with the 550pro?

[vhelp]

..why a cleanest source with the ADVC-100 and DC10+ have to do
with electronic parts that they are using on thoses device.

If I understood your question correctly.. nothing.

But, this is a clear indication that Motherboards and Analog Capture
cards don't mix very well in most system setups, and that the bottom
line for what works best in terms of quality (aka, noise-free performance)
is the Analog Capture card. The order is like this:

* Capture card, then Motherboard

Now, given that, here is what my expereince w/ these gadgets has proven:

* DC10+ (or, DC10Plus) card does not exhibit any such noise in avi file.
* ADVC-100 device -- does not exhibit any such noise in avi file.
* ADS 's DVD Express (USB-2 external)

Any other analog capture card connected to any of my pc motherboards,
and I have noise in my captured avi files. I can have other external
source running in the background, wires all over the place, ect ect, but
when using DC10+; ADS DVD Express; or ADVC-100 capture devices, there are
just no such noise in the captured avi file.
.
Hook up any of these cards below, (PCI / AGP) and I have noise in my
captured avi files, though noise level varies from card to card..

* ati-tv wonder
* ati all in wonder ( AIW )
* ati all in wonder 9600 ( AIW 9600 ) 128mb, AGP
* ati rage fury pro - 32mb w/ capture built-in (no tv tunner)
* hauppague wintv-go
* pinnacle capture (generic) (no tv tuner)
* osprey-210 (no tv tuner)
* winfast TV-2000 XP (expert)

My guess is that my previous and current motherboards do not agree with
the Analog Capture cards listed above to date. The capture cards are
all good, but my motherboard(s) just don't agree with them 100% percent,
and in the end, exhibit noise in the captured avi file.
.
And, the only twist to this whole ordeal, is the DC10+ card. It is
the only Analog card (pci) that does not exhibit noise in its captured
avi file. Period.
.
And, no matter how much one confeses that its a grounding or looping
or some other oddity, it does not explain why the DC10+ card is not
suffering from any number of factors listed time and time again, as
the cause of noise.
.
The bottom line here, is this..
.
* Capture card vs. Motherboard

And, the motherboard is the first thing you have to conclude is the
number one cause for noise. justinluck stated that he met with
success when he switched to a new capture card brand, and the noise
went away.. just as it did, when I switched to my DC10+ card.

-vhelp 3400

[SHS]

vhelp and justinluck
Then most like it with one cheap electronic part that used or bad layout design and picking up the external interference which could from number thing the on board or Tuner, Power Supply, Motherbaord, Monitor and ever a Video card from a leaking Polarized/Aluminum electrolytic capacitors or some parts which usly not the highest quality part or even failed part.
If look at newer Fusion 5 they made a lot change with board and still had a Conexant CX2388x base chip.
Sorry justinluck I didn't see the part about ATI 550 Pro.

[edDV]

Another idea triggered by your comment about the bars movin up, then down. Is there a tv or second vcr close by? Is the computer monitor close to the card? A free running TV or one tuned to a different source may generate video interference.

Try sutting down other equipment and see if the interference changes. Also try putting some distance between the card, video cables and the computer monitor.

Also try plugging everything into the same wall plug to stop ground loops.