problems with Dazzle and STOIK

[amaze35708]

I recently copied a number of home VHS tapes to DVD using Dazzle and it seemed to go well. I did notice occasionally that the voice and picture were out of sinc but it was not a significant issue at the time.

I used to teach and I have some VHS tapes I used in class and I want to pass them on to the newer teachers. I have tried to copy a couple of production VHS tapes and the picture and audio are way out of sinc.

I have tried to copy them with STOIK using the Dazzle hardware and also using the Pinnacle software that comes with the Dazzle hardware. Either way audio and picture are out of sinc.

I need some help to take care of this issue. I am presently trying to copy an 8 minute video on "shaken baby syndrome" It is significantly out of sync. It gets progressively worse. It is an 8 minute video and the video stops while there is still audio running.

I would love to find a way to copy VHS tapes without having to worry about the audio and video being out of sync.

I have heard that if you use STOIK Capturer and go directly from the VHS player to your computer that this will work. I have no idea how to hook STOIK directly to my computer.

I am also wondering if there is a program that I can use to edit the DVD's I copied to get the voice and picture back in sinc.

[usually_quiet]

Some people do better using their Dazzle for video only, with the audio connected to the microphone jack or line-in port. This sort of adapter would be used to connect the red and white audio from the VCR to a computer line in or microphone jack: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z5CP/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf...RCM5HRAXZ0RAXD Similar adapters can sometimes be found in brick-and-mortar stores in the electronics department, or at Radio Shack.

If you want to try something other than STOIK Capturer or Pinnacle's capture software, AMCap may be worth a shot. It offers a free trial, the user interface is simple, and is not expensive to buy if you like it.

The cause for loss of A/V sync may be dropped frames. Defragging the hard drive may help, but the computer you have listed in your member profile is pretty old. It may not be able to keep up with video encoding demands if this is one of the newer Dazzle models, shaped like a comma. You may need to borrow a computer for this, preferably a dual core machine or better.

[lowellriggsiam]

If the tapes are not copy protected you might consider a dvd/vcr recorder to direct dub the VHS to DVD.

[amaze35708]

I have tried everything but still can't get a sync. Is there a way to insert additional frames to extend the video. I'm just about ready to throw in the towel on this if I don't start to make some progress. I appreciate the help of everyone who has commented,

[lowellriggsiam]

You could try Vegas Movie Studio (you can download and try out the demo) It's a linear timeline editor that's easy to use, if you play with it you may be able to get things back in synch.

[usually_quiet]

If this tape was used many times, it is probably worn, stretched or otherwise damaged in such a way as to make it very difficult to copy at home with just an average, well-used, consumer VCR and an inexpensive PC capture device.

If the same video isn't available in some other form, maybe even on DVD, it is probably outdated anyway, and could stand to be replaced with something more current.

[GKar]

What Dazzle hardware are you using?

[amaze35708]

Some people do better using their Dazzle for video only, with the audio connected to the microphone jack or line-in port. This sort of adapter would be used to connect the red and white audio from the VCR to a computer line in or microphone jack: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004Z5CP/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf...RCM5HRAXZ0RAXD Similar adapters can sometimes be found in brick-and-mortar stores in the electronics department, or at Radio Shack.

If you want to try something other than STOIK Capturer or Pinnacle's capture software, AMCap may be worth a shot. It offers a free trial, the user interface is simple, and is not expensive to buy if you like it.

The cause for loss of A/V sync may be dropped frames. Defragging the hard drive may help, but the computer you have listed in your member profile is pretty old. It may not be able to keep up with video encoding demands if this is one of the newer Dazzle models, shaped like a comma. You may need to borrow a computer for this, preferably a dual core machine or better.

If I update the video card/graphics card in the computer will that make a difference?

[usually_quiet]

If I update the video card/graphics card in the computer will that make a difference?

Your specs don't say what CPU is installed in your system, and although the question was asked, you haven't said which Dazzle device you have, so I'll need to make some educated guesses.

The fastest CPU that Dell's specs say came standard with your system was a 2.4 Ghz P4, and the slowest was a 1.5 GHz P4. The minimum hardware requirement for newer Dazzle capture devices is a 1.8 GHz Pentium, but 2.4 GHz or higher is recommended. If you only have a stock system, it is at best barely adequate for current Dazzle products. (In general, meeting the minimum hardware requirement for a product is not enough for it to work well.)

Replacing the graphics card is unlikely to help. Not only are the CPUs that can be installed a Dell Dimension 4400 system very limited compared to current processors, but a Dell Dimension 4400 system is also a poor candidate for upgrading the video card at this point. It has an AGP interface for video cards (few AGP graphics cards are available new now), and is only going to accept cards with relatively low power requirements.

GPU assisted encoding is still relatively new and not widely used. Furthermore, the software that can use it only works with specific graphics cards. The encoders you have available to you may not support it, and even if they do, it is doubtful that video cards that can be installed in a Dell Dimension 4400 will perform GPU assisted encoding.

[amaze35708]

The Dazzle I am using is a couple of years old and uses Studio 10 software.

My computer is Pentium 4 CPU 2.00GHZ with 1GB of Ram and Service Pack 3

The system requirements in the manual are a Pentium 4 with 2.2 GHZ (2.6 or more for full DVD quality)

So it looks like I might meet the minimal requirements to use the device and software but basic minimum.

[usually_quiet]

Not only is the PC you are using is marginal for the capture device and its capture software, everything else about your current capture setup is less than ideal too.

Contrary to what those who make cheap PC capture devices want people to believe, getting consistantly good PC captures from VHS tapes at home is not easy or inexpensive. It requires an investment in time and additional equipment that most people are not prepared to make.

Based on your description, this seems like it could be the same thing as the tape you are trying to copy: https://secure.dontshake.org/buymaterials/detail.php?id=91&cid=3 If so, and you are absolutely certain this presentation is truly wanted by those who will receive it, my advice is to buy the DVD to give away and look on it as a charitable donation.

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mch/fhv/strategies/sbs/documents/SBSOrderForm2010.pdf has the name and address of the distribution coordinator for the organization that produced the video. Contact her and find out if you can purchase a DVD copy directly for $26, which is much less than dontshake.org charges.

[PuzZLeR]

Your problem is actually more rule than exception and sounds horribly familiar. Sorry to break it to you, but Dazzle products are terrible. This I say from experience a few years ago, and from the bad reviews they've gotten over the years. I melted my two Dazzle units years ago when I realized that capture can actually work with the right equipment.

I don't know (or now even care) if the Dazzle/Pinnacle line has improved recently, but your unit is from the "bad era" for sure. And with a slower PC you only compound the problem.

As for the lack of audio sync, if you still want to battle on, you can shift it with a video editor if it's a linear offset. This is easy.

If it's not linear, then you have to keep in mind that the audio/video race is one that you hope finishes in a tie, so you'd need to stretch or contract it (such as with most audio editors) to match the video and HOPE the middle parts are in sync too. If not, then it will become more and more "microscopic" to fix.

VHS -> DvD is a minor science as well. To get good results you do need a good VCR, TBC, proc amp AND good capture equipment - all with a dedicated and/or faster PC for capturing.

But honestly, if this project is important to you, and you want decent results as quick as possible with your PC, drop the Dazzle and get a good capture tool at least - something like a Hauppauge 1950. It demands very few PC resources as it's got its own encoder built-in and is incredibly reliable and gets your VHS to DvD format.

You can hang on to the source VHS for later if you want to get the ultimate equipment for it one day.

[amaze35708]

Not only is the PC you are using is marginal for the capture device and its capture software, everything else about your current capture setup is less than ideal too.

Contrary to what those who make cheap PC capture devices want people to believe, getting consistantly good PC captures from VHS tapes at home is not easy or inexpensive. It requires an investment in time and additional equipment that most people are not prepared to make.

Based on your description, this seems like it could be the same thing as the tape you are trying to copy: https://secure.dontshake.org/buymaterials/detail.php?id=91&cid=3 If so, and you are absolutely certain this presentation is truly wanted by those who will receive it, my advice is to buy the DVD to give away and look on it as a charitable donation.

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mch/fhv/strategies/sbs/documents/SBSOrderForm2010.pdf has the name and address of the distribution coordinator for the organization that produced the video. Contact her and find out if you can purchase a DVD copy directly for $26, which is much less than dontshake.org charges.

Thanks for the thoughts and for the links to the sites. In this situation, I am going to order the DVD. But I am going to try to get the transfer thing down right. Thanks Again.