Problem with capturing via pass through-audio but no video

[ccm]

Hello,
I am having a problem with the pass through feature on my HC40 and would really appreciate some help. I am passing through from my analog VCR to my HC40 then to my PC. The software I am using is Sonic My DVD.

I have been able to get my camera, VCR and PC connected and have successfully passed through several sample tapes from my VCR via my HC40 to my computer. The tapes I have been able to pass through have been commercially recorded tapes and they pass through fine. When I attempt to pass through a homemade tape from my VCR, the audio comes through OK but I get no video. Since I can pass through the commercial tapes (getting both audio and video) I feel my connections and configurations should be good.

Any suggestions as to how to remendy this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.

[edDV]

Hello,
I am having a problem with the pass through feature on my HC40 and would really appreciate some help. I am passing through from my analog VCR to my HC40 then to my PC. The software I am using is Sonic My DVD.

I have been able to get my camera, VCR and PC connected and have successfully passed through several sample tapes from my VCR via my HC40 to my computer. The tapes I have been able to pass through have been commercially recorded tapes and they pass through fine. When I attempt to pass through a homemade tape from my VCR, the audio comes through OK but I get no video. Since I can pass through the commercial tapes (getting both audio and video) I feel my connections and configurations should be good.

Any suggestions as to how to remendy this problem would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.

Test it with the output from a cable box. If that works, then try a VHS tape recorded off air. If that works, then you are probably dealing with copy protection issues.

[ccm]

edDV,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I am impressed with this board already!

Correct me if I am wrong, but since the tape I am having problems with is a homemade tape (ie I recorded it, not a commercial tape or a copy of a commercial tape) there should be no copyright issues.

Thanks again and I hope you can offer further help.

[edDV]

edDV,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I am impressed with this board already!

Correct me if I am wrong, but since the tape I am having problems with is a homemade tape (ie I recorded it, not a commercial tape or a copy of a commercial tape) there should be no copyright issues.

Thanks again and I hope you can offer further help.

Do other tapes play OK? Troubleshooting is a process of elimination.

[ccm]

edDV

Yes the commercial tapes that I capture have both video and audio. The homemade tapes produce only audio. I am using the exact configurations, cables, etc. This beats me!!!!!

Thanks again

[thecoalman]

Correct me if I am wrong, but since the tape I am having problems with is a homemade tape (ie I recorded it, not a commercial tape or a copy of a commercial tape) there should be no copyright issues.

If it were that simple, that's how I found this forum. VHS tapes are protected by Macrovision. Macrovision is a error in the video signal. It doesn't affect the palaback on a TV but will affect the ability of a VCR to record it.

Enter the capture card, DV cam pass through, DVD Recorder.... whatever device. These too are unaffected by this error in the signal. They have to detect this signal, unfortunately as many consumers find out they also misinterpret plain errors as being MV. Older tapes will contain errors, some devices are more prone than others...... How it looks varies by device, some skew the image heavily, others simply put a blank bar across most of the video. Never heard of just a plain blank screen though.

Having said that I find it odd you can get a commercial tape to work but not your own. Now if it was some home tapes you could and others didn't then it would make sense. As Ed suggested try some other sources first, even a fresh VHS recording....

Edit: What kind of commercial tapes? Are they Hollywood movies or some other type of professional tape? What I'm trying to get at here is if they are something along the lines of low budget tape then perhaps they don't have the MV protection...

[ccm]

thecoalman,

Thanks for your reply. The commercial tapes that I am able to capture are analog VHS tapes that are purchased pre-recorded ("hollywood movies"). One is a cartoon tape of my grandsons and the other is a fishing tape that is produced by Bass Pro Shops. I only captured 3 or 4 minutes of each of these tapes and had no concerns over copyright since I was not capturing the whole tape and the capture would be deleted and not used. When I had trouble getting the video to capture from my homemade tapes I tried one of these commercial tapes just to see if they would capture. By doing this I feel that I was able to confirm that my connections and configurations were good.

[edDV]

The process of elimination seems to point at something wrong with those homemade tapes, since everything else appears to be working.

[thecoalman]

are purchased pre-recorded ("hollywood movies"). One is a cartoon tape of my grandsons and the other is a fishing tape that is produced by Bass Pro Shops.

When I said Hollywood types I meant movies like the Terminator ect. MV require that it be licensed, I would imagine any tape with your Grandsons on it wouldn't have MV. The same for the Bass Pro Tape, good chance it's not protected either..... They are probably in better condition that the ones you are trying to copy but can't, therefore they work.

As EdDV suggested it's probabaly the tapes and the cam.... suggest you get a real hollywood movie and see if you can copy that as a test. Also try what I suggested above and make fresh recording with a VCR from TV and see if you copy that.

[ccm]

OK, here is what I found.

I tried another analog tape and had the same problem. Then I tried another VCR and guess what IT WORKED. Looks like I overlooked the obvious.

I really appreciate all of your suggestions.

I am now have a burning problem and have posted a question under the Authoring forum. If you are interested, I would appreciate if you would look at that question and offer any suggestions.

Thanks again.