PAL capture is black and white!

[NewHomebrew]

I just bought a PAL VCR for the purpose of capturing PAL VHS tapes in PAL format.

I playback the tape on a JVC HR-J82MS multisystem VCR into the Canopus ADVC-100 and the preview and capture are black and white instead of color. Everything is set to PAL (VCR, capture software, ADVC-100), I have tried all the "color system" settings on the VCR and all the toggle switches on the ADVC. My capture app is Sony Vegas Video but I also tried Scenalyzer to be sure, and it was also black and white.

The back of the VCR has a built-in RF converter (G, K) but I can't connect the RF out to the ADVC-100.

Am I making some obvious mistake?
Do I need another piece of hardware or adapter?

[thecoalman]

There's two switches for PAL on the Canopus.... #6-on #5-off. Did you overlook that?

[NewHomebrew]

There's two switches for PAL on the Canopus.... #6-on #5-off. Did you overlook that?

On my ADVC-100, switches are

#1 on = PAL
#5 power on input mode, on = digital
#6 input select mode, one = auto

I've tried them all in different positions but I think #1 is supposed to be "on" for PAL, and all the others are set to "off".

[The_Doman]

How is the VCR connected to the ADVC?
Should be with just composite connection I presume..

[thecoalman]

There's two switches for PAL on the Canopus.... #6-on #5-off. Did you overlook that?

On my ADVC-100, switches are

#1 on = PAL
#5 power on input mode, on = digital
#6 input select mode, one = auto

I've tried them all in different positions but I think #1 is supposed to be "on" for PAL, and all the others are set to "off".

I have a 110 #6 switches between PAL/NTSC #5 switches between 0 ire/7.5 ire in NTSC mode or PAL/SECAM in PAL mode.

<decides to keep big mouth shut>

[NewHomebrew]

How is the VCR connected to the ADVC?
Should be with just composite connection I presume..

The VCR is connected to the ADVC using a 3-plug RCA connector, the yellow-red-white kind. The only other out on the VCR is an RF connector but the ADVC does not have an RF input. Should I get an adaptor and try that connection?

[The_Doman]

So then the only possibilties are the VCR is not putting out a TRUE PAL (maybe NTSC50?) signal or the ADVC can't handle the PAL signal.

Really strange problem there.

[NewHomebrew]

Any other ideas? I am really stuck here.

[The_Doman]

Yeah, I am out of ideas too....

Did you try if everything works ok with other (NTSC) tapes?
Can you display the PAL output on your TV (if possible) to check?
Maybe there is still a PAL setting in the VCR wrong. (MESECAM?)

(oh, and the RF output you can't use with the ADVC, no need to check that option)

[NewHomebrew]

> Did you try if everything works ok with other (NTSC) tapes?

The multisystem VCR outputs color capture with NTSC tape.

> Can you display the PAL output on your TV (if possible) to check?

I don't have a PAL tv.

> Maybe there is still a PAL setting in the VCR wrong.

There's many options for output... NTSC auto/manual, PAL auto/manual, PAL>NTSC, SECAM, etc. I think I should be using PAL auto or PAL manual for a PAL tape. But they only give black and white capture.

[Northpole]

Hi !
It's your IRE setting who is wrong. When you set the ADVC to PAL mode, you have to switch your IRE setting. In the way you have your settings now, the ADVC expects SECAM. It's all in the manual.
Let it stays in PAL-mode, and just correct your IRE setting to the opposite that you have now, and you should get colour.

[NewHomebrew]

Let it stays in PAL-mode, and just correct your IRE setting to the opposite that you have now, and you should get colour.

Thanks for your help, but changing the IRE setting from 0 to 7.5 doesn't work. Both give B&W.

[Northpole]

Changing your IRE setting should work - I know it have some connection to a certain setting when capturing PAL. I had this issue on my ADVC-300, and it's the same on the 100.
BUT - there is another possibility. I kind of remembering that I had to use S-VHS cable on the video and RCA on the audio as input to get color. Try that. (Supposing you have S-VHS output on the VCR. This in combination with the correct PAL >>IRE setting should do the trick.
Best of luck, and let us know.

[NewHomebrew]

I wrote to Canopus tech support. This is what they said...

Are you working with PAL N footage? If so, PAL-N, PAL-M, and SECAM format is not supported with the ADVC-100.

If you are working with regular NTSC format or a supported PAL format, I need you to try and export from your PC to a TV using the ADVC-100 and see if the video display on your TV correctly. This will help determine if there is a settings related issue on the JVC HR-J82MS multisystem VCR .

Sincerely,
Canopus

***

The tape I am converting is from France, which they told me over the phone is SECAM format and not supported. I had no idea there were different flavors of PAL. Does this sound correct? What are my options for capturing a SECAM tape?

[lordsmurf]

France is SECAM(L)
Very much a "rebel" format, and hard to find players.

[Northpole]

When you play the tape and connect your VCR directly to the TV, can you see colors on the TV ? If so, you can solve this problem with chain in an converter who can convert different PALversions and SECAM to true PAL or true NTSC before the signal reatch your ADVC.

If your VCR outputs just black and white to the TV set as well, there is nothing you can do beside getting a VCR who handles these formats properly without trying to "pseudo-convert" them.
As Lorsmurf says - not easy to find outside France and some eastern european countries and a few South America countries.