Capturing to just PAL drops frames

[dinkob]

Hello.

I am not sure if this was my problem before but when I capture anything to PAL (352x576, 640x576, 720x576) I get dropped frames like crazy.

When I step down to 640x480 it's perfect (still PAL settings). I live in the US and have multisystem VCR.

So I am thinking either to keep at 640x480 or to use VCR Conversion to NTSC and capture at 640x480 at 29.97 fps? what would you do? (I am thinking that if I keep PAL at 640x480 I would lose some quality as it is not full PAL vertical resolution - hence there might be some degradation when it comes to resampling the picture (two fields) and encoding as interlaced mpeg-2.)

As for another question (not related) I have a bunch of Hi8 tapes (actually I think it's an older standard but I don't think it's called 8mm but the tapes look exactly like Hi8) of which one is PAL. Is there something that I can buy that can just play these tapes (save some money) as I don't intend to buy another camera.

Since I have once again multisystem VCR I was thinking of actually purchasing PAL camera if they can play NTSC (pal 60hz I think).

Would that be good way to go?

Is there such a thing like VHS-C converter that can actually play these tapes in my VCR?

[SatStorm]

Which card you are using?
This seems like a drivers problem for me. ATI drivers in specific...

Also try to capture at 704 x 576. This is a valid framesize for DVD. 640 x 576 is not.

[dinkob]

Yeah.

I have hauppage WinTV PCI. Now even on 352x288 won't work.

EDIT: Even thogh I thought it was driver issue it doesn't look like it is.

After this home capture material on this VHS there is another recording that is some music concert where picture quality looks beautiful.

I tried capturing at 704x576 and it worked beautiful. No dropped frames whatsoever.

I just have to check if there are any artifacts present as I remember that this PAL capture had an awful artifact with red color. Something is weird with this VHS but I know for sure that it is PAL (well NTSC won't play it), however I am getting better results at 480 vertical resolution (? that's where I am confused).

One last edit

I think I have to capture at 640x480 regardless (as long as it is below 704 and 576 it seems to be).

IT doesn't happen at 352x576 though nor the other ones (VCD, 640x480)

(look at the red tie above the button - you will notice some squares - this happens at horizontal 720 AND 704)
note: it looks better now cuz jpg compression got rid of it but a few vertical lines are noticable. (Imageshack and img tag doesn't seem to work so just click the link)

http://img70.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img70&image=Redcolorbad.jpg

[SatStorm]

First off all, did you try the btwincap drivers?

Also that redness you have at your picture, looks like SECAM not PAL (or a SECAM to PAL bad transfer)

It is easily repaired with filters (colour / hue adjustments) after the capture.

Those vertical lines you see, are interlace lines. They are natural: When you burn back to DVD/ CD, you won't notice it on TV.

Read about interlace.

[dinkob]

Oh hey thanks.

Yeah I am familiar with Interlacing lines however this is something different.

The lines are not going horizontally but there are vertical lines (if you look close at the red tie you will notice them).

(let's try now)
nope here's link (you should see about 5 or 6 lines going vertically only appears only on red color).

http://img7.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img7&image=RedcolorbadCut.jpg



I think though that this IS related to my capture card and format that I choose.

I think I can just stick with 352x576 as my HD isn't fast and picture looks ok regardless.

Thanks for the help. I'll just give up capture at full resolutions.

[SatStorm]

you won't have sharpness when you capture at 352 x 576 with a bt8xxx based card... Because of the nature of the bt8xx chip, you need to capture the higher you can, or at least 704 x 576!
Vertical lines like those are present when you resize from xxx x 480 to xxx x 576 the wrong way.
Try Bicubic resizing for best results