What am I doing wrong?

[padmaster]

Here’s my setup:

MSI G4 Ti4600-VTD

RCA CC540 Pro Edit VHS camcorder

Windows Movie Maker

My connection


I installed the capture drivers from the video card cd. Movie Maker recognizes the capture device, but when I go thru the steps to start capturing, it acts like it’s capturing but I see nothing in the preview window and it doesn’t capture anything. I have the camcorder in the VCR mode and I hit PLAY just after clicking ‘start capturing’ in Movie Maker. Obviously not getting the video signal thru to the computer. I’ve tried different settings in Movie Maker (composite….svideo) and different video standards (NTSC_M, NTSC_M_J, SECAM_B…).

One note: The camcorder documentation states that the camera will only playback tapes recorded in the SP mode. My tapes are marked SP, but I couldn’t be really sure so I taped something last night on my VCR making sure it was recorded in the SP mode….same result.

I also downloaded Virtual VCR, went thru the steps under “Top quality captures with a GF4 and encoding to S/VCD” with apparently the same results…….appears to be capturing but I see nothing in the preview and nothing in the saved file.

What am I doing wrong?

[gmatov]

Can you watch TV with the card?

If you can't, you're not going to see anything when you try to cap.

[padmaster]

I don't think so. The specs just say TV-Out. But they also specifically say the video-in will take a video camera (although it doesn't say DV or VHS specifically). A video signal is a video signal....right?

[padmaster]

Anyone got any suggestions?

[grossjamesh]

I agree with GMATOV. If you connect the video capture card to the ant. or cable and cannt see anything then 1. the card is installed incorrectly 2. Not setup properly. 3. Busted.

Uninstall the card and reinstall carefuuly following the directions.

If this doesnt work return and get a replacement.

[padmaster]

The video card only has an s-video connector.......no coax.

Here's a link to the video card specs:

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/vga/vga/pro_vga_detail.php?UID=61

[parsonsj]

Do you have the latest drivers for your Vid Card Nvidia is always updating and fixing problems I think they are at 53.03 now

Also have you upgraded to Windows Movie Maker 2 yet? It's free download from Microsoft.

I just spent about an hour trying to record with the original from my Hauppauge wintv card and finally got it to record Vid and Sound. Check all the configurations for both in Movie Maker.


Also is there some small application for the capture Settings? There should be something you could open and check the Vid Stream and set all the Setting for it. If so you should be able to see you Vid there and once it is configured right. Movie Maker should work ok....just looking for some way to see the Vid besides Movie Maker or Virtual VCR or whatever. You should be able to set the camcorder up as a camera with live video for testing. I am assuming you connect the Video and audio to a TV and made sure the is Signal getting to the end of the wires.


See if these drivers are new than the ones you are using

http://www.nvidia.com/object/wdm_winxp-2k-Me-98se_2.13
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_53.03


Anyway still checking and will be back to see your progress.

[snafu099]

Suggest starting play before starting record. With no signal coming in when you start recording it may "lock up" with no error or visible sign of it.

Better test would be to connect to tv/vcr with unit playing.

analog signal-tv/vcr- is not the same as signal from dv camcorder

[gll99]

Similar to snafu099. Test with a vcr signal first although your camera is not DV is it?

My Cannon Video Camera uses the same connector for input (records like a vcr) and output. I have to switch it to send the signal from the camera to an ouput device. I don't know if your RCA is set up the same way but it's worth checking that by sending the signal to your tv first to make sure that you can clearly see the camera on tv first. If that is ok then you can try sending it to your cap card.

Also remember that although the device is recognized by the software you still have to set the input within the software properly. I use a separate TV tuner card with 3 options for "source". I don't know what the default video source would be in your case but in virtualvcr (I have 2.6.9) under settings/devices make sure that the "video source" is the right one.

[padmaster]

Downloaded latest WDM driver and 53.03 drivers. I can't seem to confirm the 53.03 driver. Device manager says my display adapter is using 5.3.0.3 driver. Is this the same?

I am using Movie Maker 2 and virtual VCR 2.6.9

I did test the camera output to the TV. Signal looked good, audio and video.

As far as the source, I tried composite and s-video in Virtual VCR (just now) with same results........nothing in preview window and nothing in saved avi file. What should it actually be set to with the connection I'm using? (see link in first post) The camera is outputting thru composite cable, but plugs into a 1-4 converter that outputs s-video into the capture card.....I guess. Do I need to get a composite-to-svideo adapter and plug that into the s-video connector on the 1-4 converter. I'm also kinda confused about that 1-4 converter. The s-video input connectors are not the same as the svideo that plugs into the computer.

[parsonsj]

Here's something else You might not have looked at.

Go to your Display properties and see if there is a TAB for your card.

[[Well I was going to put in an image but couldn't get it small enough....]]

See if there are any settings for the Video in\out to enable it or anything.

As you can see I have a 4200 that doesn't have The Video in\out capabilities

Also check in Device Manager Hardware that you have an entry under

'Sound,video and game controlers'

For Nvidia Driver and When you check properties that is says it's working ok.

That all I can think of now

Like Gen. McArthur

'I Shall Return'

[padmaster]

Yes, if I go to: desktop properties>settings>advanced, there is a tab for my card but I don't see any settings for the video in/out. And I did confirm the WDM drivers in device manager and it said they are working properly.

Maybe I just have a bad 1-4 converter


I'm gonna start asking questions over at the MSI tech help forum.

I've had several MSI products over the years. First mobo (6167) worked great for a long time. I then purchased three mobo's in a very short period. Had problems with two of them. One wouldn't handle the delta fan I plugged into the CPU fan connector....kept locking up. Had to get an adapter to plug it into the PS directly. Another MSI mobo apparently had something wrong with it cause Windows would crash with blue screen during installation when it got about half way thru 'detecting hardware'. I've pretty much written off MSI on future purchases

I wonder if this MSI video card is proprietary to MSI? Maybe I need to d/l drivers from MSI website.

[padmaster]

Just thought I'd come back and update this thread


Solved my problems. The full sleeve on the male RCA jack wasn't allowing full insertion into the 4/1 converter female jack. I had to take the converter apart and trim away some of the plastic around the jack to allow full insertion. I was also downloading the wrong WDM driver. I had downloaded the VIVO driver when infact I need the TV out driver. So now I'm able to capture video from my VHS camcorder

Just one question: Why is it not in color?


I also recently purchased a DVD burner (Plextor 8x) which came with Easy DVD and CD creator 6 basic version. I decided to purchase the full version because it was on sale for $29.99 after MIR. I have to say, I'm very disappointed with it The 'movie producing' functionality is very limited. Windows movie maker has a lot more functionality but I got frustrated with it cause for some reason it wants to split the video into clips

Are there any good comparison reviews on video editing software?

[zedolfblack]

When you inport video into Windows Movie Maker look for a Checkbox labelled 'Create clips for video files'.
Uncheck this box and you should be able to import a video without it being turned into a number of smaller clips.