ADVC-100 vs ATI Radeon - Screenshots

[rhegedus]

No.

I don't capture VHS that much any more, but the VCR still gets used for day-time recordings while I'm in work.

Or at least it will be until I get a DVDR/HD combo...................

[lordsmurf]

Lordsmurf, maybe you need to recalibrate. 8) No magenta here nor on the orig. DVD. Pic looks like the DVD on a TV screen, unfortunately still uncalibrated (trust me on that).
..

Mine is calibrated for my scanner, digital cameras (which often are used for publication), home tv sets and all video work. It's fine.

As long as yours looks fine on your tv, nothing wrong.

I think variant colorspaces and NTSC/PAL needs to be in this conversation too. This can cause "problems" too.

[Will Hay]

Hang on, lets get one thing perfectly clear here.
I think I mentioned it like fifty-two thousand times but no-one cared to remember...
...my TV signal source upstairs tends to be shit.
Downstairs it's great but it may be a combination of the signal strength and cheap TV, who knows?
The point is I don't capture from this, but in an attempt to solve my own problems (which were nothing to do with signal strength) I ripped apart my setup and brought my VCR upstairs to test it.
This meant I couldn't import the satellite signal from downstairs and into my PC.
This signal is the one I ususally capture.
How can I watch such a shitty signal?
I don't.
In fact, I don't watch much TV at all, hardly any.
In truth, and this is God's honest, the only time, the only time I watch TV is when I have something to watch and ultimately record for repeat veiwing.
I never, ever turn on the TV on an evening and wtach whatever is on.
Therefore, this shitty signal you repeatedly comment on is irrelevent (but of course you didn't know this).
What you also don't know is Regedus pumps a cable signal into his PC directly from the cable box, not from the TV.
Had I not been posting on this site and had this car programme (Top Gear) not been on at the exact same time I would have hurried my pretty little arse right back downstairs and plugged my VCR back in, therefore enabling my satellite signal to my upstairs study (where the computer sits).
I didn't create this topic to discuss my weak signal, I was under the impression it was a saturation issue but I'm glad its diversified and helped others.
It would appear this thread has run its course for me.
Having run Star Wars Empire Strikes Back through the edit facility of Pinnacle Studio 8.10 (immediately after capture) I decreased saturation (well, the slider for red) and increased brightness and the results were pretty good.
Of course the ultimate test is to burn to a DVDr and run through a standalone but I'll do maybe five short clips, each with different levels of adjustment and see how I feel.
Thanks, to all, really
Will

[Will Hay]

Surely you can find a new VHS VCR that has composite outputs and not that SCART "crap"

You would have thought so, but judging by the amount of work I did in searching manufact. websites Saturday morning, evidently not
Will

[rhegedus]

Is there any way you can capture direct from satelite/cable to PC? If it goes through the VCR first (i.e. pass through, not recording) it shouldn't matter.

[Will Hay]

Hey Rob, and good morning my fire-stamping, manic street preachers singing; leek eating ADVC friend

Is there any way you can capture direct from satelite/cable to PC? If it goes through the VCR first (i.e. pass through, not recording) it shouldn't matter.

Trouble with that is the reciever (box) is downstairs, and I don't know how to get the signal upstairs.
I suppose I could move the entire computer into the corner of the dining room, but I'll run that by my wife first
Will

[rhegedus]

How do you usually capture - I thought you had Sky 'pumped' into every room?

[Will Hay]

There is an RF ouput on my digital box, could I use that?
Will


There is also an RF output on my VCR, along with L+R audio out composites, is there something there I could work?
I have a shitload of adapters I got from (the sake of our US friends understanding what I'm talking about) RadioShack, but none had a male RF cable to composite adapter type thing.
Just clutching at straws here, the VHS input to the ADVC is the most crucial for me.
Will

[rhegedus]

You mean:

digibox-RF (living room) ------> VCR (upstairs) SCART -------->Canopus?

Don't see why not, but I'm not sure how RF is compared to other cables. I think there was a long and serious thread on RF a couple of months back - LordSmurf knows the score.

How far between digibox and the PC upstairs?

[Will Hay]

You mean:

digibox-RF (living room) ------> VCR (upstairs) SCART -------->Canopus?

Don't see why not, but I'm not sure how RF is compared to other cables. I think there was a long and serious thread on RF a couple of months back - LordSmurf knows the score.

Well, really I was thinking VCR (upstairs) direct to Canopus, but like I say can't figure the adapters/leads I'd need/
It'd only be for video, as I mentioned I have L+R audio out.

How far between digibox and the PC upstairs?

Too far really, I'd have to take it up the stairs and I don't really want to play around with that.
What kind of connector do you have from your cable box, oh wait, you're sending me that, aren't you (I'm home at lunch0time, I'll check then)
Will

[rhegedus]

Though you could plug the Canopus into the digibox then run a long firewire cable from the Canopus to the PC. Not ideal, but it's what I do and it works.

[Will Hay]

Though you could plug the Canopus into the digibox then run a long firewire cable from the Canopus to the PC. Not ideal, but it's what I do and it works.

Right, sounds a good idea.
I wonder if you can get longer than a 10m firewire cable.
So, you just use a scart adapter out of the cable box, and those super-duper looking Dixons cables (just checked my webmail).
Thanks for the pics man.
Will

[Rookie64]

@Rookie
Still think Will's pics are OK? Better to start than to have to soften. Maybe. My eyes are starting to hurt.

I don't have a copy of Star Wars to compare (sorry...I just never really got into the SW movies)

However, I do have the VHS of Return Of The Jedi and did some sample captures from my ATI AIW VE (Theater 200 chip)
and another VHS source to compare.

This is how my card captures - the darker ones are untouched (extactly what I get direct from the video)...then I added some brithness for computer comparison, since everthing looks darker on the computer vs TV...the darker ones are how they should be set to view on TV.

It depends on your monitor how bright or dark these will look, as I've compared the same caps on two monitors and both display at different levels of brigtness.


Instead of cluttering up the thread, since I feel I'm going off topic here, I'll just link you to the set in Real Media form -

http://members.aol.com/rk2004r/ATIcaps.rm


Anyway, I'm very satisfied with my card - I get the results I want from it.

[rhegedus]

I wonder if you can get longer than a 10m firewire cable.

Try: http://www.shop21.uk.com/

Nothing only max 10m listed at the moment, but I've chatted to the owner and he's really helpfull about finding stuff.

I think Maplin also do a range.

[Will Hay]

Think I may yet move the entire system into the dining room, it only takes up a small footprint and I think my wife will feel I'll be more 'at home' if I'm in the next room, rather than upstairs
I'll be trying the better composite cable route first, so will report back.
Thanks,
Will

[Craig Tucker]

20m Firewire cable. From the US but they also quote the price in Euros, so I assume they will ship.

http://www.1394store.com/eshop/product.asp?dept%5Fid=62&pf%5Fid=C20

[rhegedus]

Think I may yet move the entire system into the dining room, it only takes up a small footprint and I think my wife will feel I'll be more 'at home' if I'm in the next room, rather than upstairs

How will you surf for porn???

[trevlac]

@Will Hay

You've got digital !!??!!

Actually, I can't follow your discussion with Rob. I need a picture

Anyway, why don't you move the digital receiver to where the PC is? Get a device that changes the remote to a UHF signal. Then you can control it from any room in the place, if the remote is an issue.

I recently got digital. With my setup, I run s-video right into my PC. The receiver also has RF out. I then feed that thru the rest of the house on the existing cable. The remote works anywhere in the house, on any TV. Some of it looks ok, some of it is shitty. That's because I havn't bothered to fix all of the cables. However, the stuff that goes into my PC is pristine.

((Actually there is a better way. Get a receiver with a HD. Then you can just pull the drive every now and then, and put the stuff 'they' compressed onto DVD. No capture, No Encode. <there are some limitations> ))

@Rookie

When I get a chance, I'd love to look at your stuff. Real wanted to install a bunch of things to get it to work, so I killed it. I'll try again on a junk computer.


@Proxy

I like your comment about 'overall viewing experience is quite good'. That's the real goal right? I find I can no longer watch much without wanting to adjust the damb set, or wondering if all of the people are really that pink.

@Smurf

I'm just learning about colorspaces. I'd love to hear more details. Got a guide?


Thanks All

[Rookie64]

@Rookie

When I get a chance, I'd love to look at your stuff. Real wanted to install a bunch of things to get it to work, so I killed it. I'll try again on a junk computer.

no problem - maybe not really worth any trouble to see. I just didn't want to put a bunch of pics into the thread


One way to avoid the junk Real wants to install, is just use Real Alternative (free download found in the Tools section)...it plays the files without adding the extra junk.

[Craig Tucker]

Oh wait ... I'm slightly color blind in my left eye.

Really

[Will Hay]

[trevlac]

When is Craig going to post his StarWars screen shots?



I bet he has them as miniDV home movies.

[Craig Tucker]

They're not for public consumption, if you know what I mean

[proxyx99]

@ Will
try to keep your solution as bulletproof as possible. What I mean by that: test it in your living room with shortest cables possible and once you've got it right just extend either coax or FW cable (for me preferably coax). 2 ways to troubleshoot: start where you are and keep on simplifying (removing stuff) until you get what you want, not a good way in my opinion, or setup everything in your living room on a mini scale with standard short cables (6 ft max.) and see how it works. then start adding and see how and what affects the picture. If you want to add long cable, add it in your living room first, whatever lenght spread it on the floor and see what the outcome is. Test it on site and keep adding without moving to other rooms/floor. Btw. I don't belive that it's your SCART.
My premise in troubleshooting is this. If the reputable company releases the product saying that it works I try to replicate their environment in my place to closely resemble theirs. I hardly ever question their expertise level until I have 100 % proof that they made a mistake in their testbed setup. I always assume that it's my fault.
Let's examine your setup: Scart, does it work? obviously for majority, could it be a problem, don't think so. ADVC, same applies (unles defective). Long coax extensions, they do work as cable companies run them hundreds of miles without picture degradation, if good grade and properly laid while observing distance limitations (sometimes amp may be needed although it should be avoided as much as possible). Fortunately we are talking about wiring your house not Wimbledon Stadium.
Setting it up on a small scale first is not difficult and will allow you to see how your additions affect the picture. Start with the smallest, perfect picture setup and keep adding, it's that simple. The rest is a matter of basic logic. I know you can get it right if the method you choose is right.
We all use standard stuff, not magic, and it works, so what the conclusion is? Start from scratch and don't overlook anything.
Good luck.
PS. ready coax extensions are made of the lowest grade cable. What you need to have is the stuff you can buy in your local home improvment center (double shilelded thicker grade) used by builders.

[FulciLives]

Well I just want to say THANK YOU to Will for starting this thread and being such a good sport about it.

I'm basically dropping out of it now as it seems to boil down to his scart thingie and trying to get better quality from his own setup. Since I'm in NTSC land this is HIS problem!

In short I have been mostly impressed with the pics that the CANOPUS ADVC-100 can produce/capture/convert whatever you want to call it.

Hell who knows ... maybe I'll buy my own since I just got a new job

Cheers Will ... you was a good Bitch :P

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Who ever would have thought that CRAIG had a sense of humor

[Will Hay]

@ Will
try to keep your solution as bulletproof as possible...........test it in your living room with shortest cables possible and once you've got it right just ........troubleshoot...........Btw. I don't belive that it's your SCART.........Let's examine your setup: Scart, does it work? obviously for majority, could it be a problem, don't think so. ADVC, same applies (unles defective).

Thanks, all sound, good advice
I'm with you all the way but there are too many things bothering me.
One is the scart. If it is working, why is it so shit when compared to reghadus's pictures?
Yes, I know he has a better signal but I recorded from my digital last night and it was piss-poor.
Yep, I hear you on the cables but I've used a short set of (reasonably good quality) composite cables (came with the dvd player) and connecting the VCR directly to the ADVC produced awful results, truly awful.
These same cables conencted my DVD player to my ADVC and the results of the 'captured' DVD were superb.
Same with the MiniDV via composite.
When compared to the conventional firewire route there was virtually no difference.
So, using the DVD player via an s-video cable to the ADVC produced superb results, using the Sony MiniDV camcorder via composite cables to the ADVC produced superb results yet hooking up the VCR to the ADVC using the very same cables (and the adapter in the back of the VCR) produced shite results.
All when compared to their respective sources.

Thanks for everyone's time and effort.


Oh, and the ironic thing.....

....I plugged the composite into the ATI card last night and the signal has gone haywire, totally rubbish now when compared to the results I was getting when I posted my first screenshots.
I couldn't even record anything.
Strange thing is, it only happens when I switch to channel 7 (the VCR downstairs). When I switch it onto the satellite signal (also downstairs) it's fine.
Bleedin' thing.
Will

[rhegedus]

Sounds like your VCR is fecked.

[Craig Tucker]

Who ever would have thought that CRAIG had a sense of humor

Hey, I have one. Its just Americans don't get it most of the time. :P

[Will Hay]

Sounds like your VCR is fecked.

Nope.
Don't forget, when I run it from downstairs the picture is great, yet outputting to the TV and then to the PC is shite.
When I hook it directly to the PC it's shite but on the bedroom TV it's great.
Bleedin' thing (again)
Will

[Will Hay]

Who ever would have thought that CRAIG had a sense of humor

Hey, I have one. Its just Americans don't get it most of the time. :P

Most Brits don't either :P
Will