Capture options - need some advice...

[alstatr]

I've been visting this site for about a year. I've been messing around with DV and burning DVDs for about 2 years. So here's my problem....

I have a ATI AIW 9700 Pro, awesome card, but the TV capturing is quite bad. I am about 95% sure its coming from interfernce in my case. I did a post on this about 3 months ago. I did everything suggested and the problem got alittle bit better but still not exceptable. Below is a screen capture.

This happens on low channels


It gets almost unnoticable on the higher channels but I can still see it.


I've been just applying the videosoap filters and this gets rid of about 85% of the lines but it is still alittle noticable. The DVDs I create from the TV shows I capture look ok but I can still see the lines.

Now I am trying to convert my old VHS tapes to DVD. The ATI AIW is showing macrovision on my tapes and I have tried the MV hacks with no success. I've tried using the coax out on VCR to the ATI card, the RCA out to the ATI and the RCA > Svideo > ATI with no luck.

So my question is will buying the ADVC-100 get rid of MV? and allow me to capture my VHS tapes and convert to DVD? (I know it can capture the VHS tapes but I want to know will it get rid of MV)

And is there any way I could use a cable box to RCA then put it through the ADVC-100 and capture TV?

The first question is main one, the second is just a way to get rid of the lines and use the ADVC-100 more than just capturing VHS tapes.

Thanks!

[FulciLives]

So my question is will buying the ADVC-100 get rid of MV? and allow me to capture my VHS tapes and convert to DVD? (I know it can capture the VHS tapes but I want to know will it get rid of MV)

The Canopus ADVC-100 does indeed detect MACROVISION but don't panic ... there is a well known method of making it COMPLETELY ignore MACORVISION. I don't have one myself so I forget what it is now but it can't be hard to find if you do a search. Basically it's something really easy like depress the on key and keep it pressed in for around 15 seconds on power-up and bingo no MACROVISION. Me thinks (along with a lot of other people) that Canopus did this "trick" on purpose. Lucky us!

And is there any way I could use a cable box to RCA then put it through the ADVC-100 and capture TV?

Well as you know the Canopus ADVC-100 only has composite and S-video inputs so you can't plug in your RF cable directly but you can use the analog outs of your cable box or those of a VCR (using the VCR as your "tuner").

It's probably worth getting a second cable box just for doing capture on the computer if you will be doing it often. Just about all modern cable boxes have analog video and audio outputs so you won't have any connectivity issues.

You should get the program ScenalyzerLive ... it is a capture program that works great with the Canopus ADVC-100 and can do timed unattented recordings ... assuming you also set up your cable box or VCR to tune in to the correct channel.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
Yes I don't have a Canopus ADVC-100 but I've read enough about it THAT I feel like I own one. I'm happy with my current capture solution but I would like to get one of these babies as well someday (soon) I hope.

[FulciLives]

I wanted to add one more thing.

It could be that the tuner built-in to the ATI card is at fault.

In short you should try using your cable box or a VCR as a tuner and feed the ATI the analog video/audio thus circumventing the tuner built-in to the ATI which very well MIGHT be the problem.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[alstatr]

In short you should try using your cable box or a VCR as a tuner and feed the ATI the analog video/audio thus circumventing the tuner built-in to the ATI which very well MIGHT be the problem.

Fulcilives,

Thanks for the input. I've tried this and it does an ok job. Alittle bit better than the ATI card. I think it is the ATI card sheilding and its letting in interference. Too bad its way past the date i bought it. The only problem with using the VCR as the tuner is that the VCR channels only go up to like 12. And I wanna be able to record off of all channels. I'm going to try a friends VCR to see if it has a limitation on the number of channels it can go up to. The VCR I am using is about 12 years old. Thanks alot, I'll post back my results.

alstatr

PS I haven't tried using the cable box yet but I think I might try that. Its connected to a different TV and the TV is like 25 years old so it needs the box in order to be able to watch TV.

[FulciLives]

I don't know if the another capture device will really help you out because it sounds like you just have shit ass quality cable TV.

Call the cable company see if they can fix it by running a new line from the source (usually a "pole" on the street) to your house. Maybe you need new internal wires and/or new splitters etc.

If you can't get that resolved then go with DishNetwork or DirectTV etc.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[alstatr]

The cable is perfect when viewing on a TV. And I have another computer that has the ATI TV Wonder VE and the quality is alot better. But I tried to put the ATI TV Wonder VE in my computer with the ATI AIW 9700 but I couldn't get the TV to work through the TV Wonder VE. But would using the ADVC-100 make good VHS captures and get rid of MV?

Thanks

alstatr

[The_Doman]

I've been messing around with DV and burning DVDs for about 2 years.

If you have a DV camera with analog input/passthrough, you should try that first for your VHS/TV captures.

[alstatr]

I wish my camera could do a pass through.

I've looked everywhere in the manual and I can't find anything on it. And the camera doesn't have RCA inputs it just says A/V out. The model number is a Panasonic PV-DV52. If anyone knows if it does have the pass through feature please help me!

Thanks for all the help guys.

[thecoalman]

My experience with my ATI AIW 9800 and MV is that it is unfixable without additional video hardware. This is also true with a GeforceFX 5950. The only way I'm able to capture older movies with the geforce is with an older WDM driver from 3 years ago that does not have MV detection or using a SIMA Go DVD. I haven't been able to test the Sima with the ATI.......

I have been in contact with other people that have had a lot of success with TBC's.....

I think MV dtection is going to be a huge problem with any new high quality capture card when trying to capture video from a source that is not perfect. Good Luck.

[ajc53]

I have had my Canopus ADVC 100 for four days now, and I love it.

It is a whole lot different than my first few days of using my ATI AIW, when I realized I would need least $375 in additional equipment to capture my old VHS tapes. And possible another $300 for additional equipment for the real bad ones ( even though they all played OK on the TV).