Capturing VHS correctly via Scart cable

[mplassen]

I have some old VHS films that I would like to read into my computer, but
are having some problems getting this up and running.
First I tried to connect the video-player with it's Scart output via a
Scart to SVHS plug and into my DV-camera (a Cannon camera that
can convert from analog video to DV format, something I successfully
done with some old HI-8 films).
But when I connected the Scart -- SVHS -- Cannon camera, I got no video
signal visible in the camera. Next step, I tried to connect the output from the VHS into my Pinnacle PCTV Pro card, that has both Video input and SVHS input, but I get no video picture up on my PC-screen this way either. There seems to be something fundamental that I haven't understood about the video signal from my VHS player, but I can't figure out what it is. Can somebody help me out ?
Martin

[curryman]

definitely a two way scart, is it?

[arthur]

the scart socket on your vhs vcr has no s-video signal (unless it s-vhs) only a single composite signal. imo this would account for no video reaching the canon via the scart- to s-video lead. try connecting via composite all the way through to pc.

[PhilipBennett]

same problem here, am I right in thinking that you can have a S-Video to Scart that will only work one way ( eg PC to TV ) but will not work the opposite way ( eg vhs to PC ) and that I need a dedicated Scart to S-Video that will take the picture from my vcr to PC

[racerxnet]

There is no such thing as an SVHS connector... 8)

[PhilipBennett]

There is no such thing as an SVHS connector... 8)

what I meant was S-VIDEO, sorry

[Richard_G]

Just because a piece of equipment has a scart socket on it, it doesn't necessarily mean that all pins are in use. Scart can deal with composite video, S-Video, Component Video (separate Red, Green and Blue signals), stereo audio and signalling. All of these can be both in and out. For example, the scart socket on a bog standard mono video recorder with only have 6 of the 21 pins in use, Composite video in and out, video ground, mono audio in and out and audio ground.

Consequently, if your video recorder doesn't output an S-video signal (and most, unless S-VHS, don't), you are wasting your time trying to use a scart to S-video adapter as you are connecting to pins that have nothing on them (or to be absolutely accurate, you will get something but it will be in black and white because you will only have a luminance signal but no chrominance). Additionally, if you are trying to use a scart IN adapter, the pins in the S-Video mini DIN socket will be connected to the video IN pins in the scart plug. There will be no connection between the video OUT pins on the video recorder and the S-Video mini DIN, hence no signal.

Get yourself a switchable IN/OUT scart adapter or a scart to 6 phono plug (Composite in and out, left and right audio in and out) lead and use that.