Is analog 16:9 video capture possible?

[shira]

I'm ready to throw all my video equipment in front of a large semi truck and use a sledge hammer to finish what the semi starts...

I want to do video capture from a Sony Handycam Vision camcorder whose model number appears to be CCD-TRV52, into a Windows XP computer. This is not my camera, this is a favor for a friend that I've already wasted 4 hours on and counting....

The original video was captured to tape at 16:9 aspect ratio. A letterbox image within 4:3 mpeg would be acceptable, I don't need native 16:9 capture. I have not been able to find either firewire or USB connectors on the camcorder itself, so I've been attempting to do the capture by using the camcorder's RCA composite video feeding analog signal into a Plextor Digital Video Converter PX-M402U capture device.

I have 5 video capture software programs on my computer, and none of them have been able to capture composite video signal from the Plextor into 16:9 aspect ratio. Here's what has failed:

1. Windows Movie Maker. I have successfully done 16:9 capture with this software in the past through firewire on other camcorders, but it appears to puke on the USB/analog input coming from the Plextor device. It claims it can't start the device - well, of course it can't, this is an analog connection, not firewire.

2. Adobe Premier. Appears to be capable ONLY of capturing digital input from firewire devices, appears to puke on the Plextor's USB-based input.

3. Intervideo WinDVD Creator. Is wonderful at capturing VHS tapes through the Plextor, but seems to puke on 16:9 aspect ratio. It appears to do only 4:3, creating a vertically-distorted image.

4. DVD Builder from Roxio, Version 6. Appears to understand only 4:3 aspect ratio.

5. DVD Builder from Roxio, Version 7. Appears to use Windows Movie Maker to recognize the input device, but doesn't work reliably. Gives error messages complaining about bad jpeg formatting, created one mpeg that didn't have sound, etc. Seems to be a buggy piece of crap, at least with respect to its capture functionality. And don't get me started on the fact that it can't read projects created under version 6, and its user interface is an incomprehensible overhaul of version 6, NOT an improvement!!!!!

I'm weary, I'm frustrated. All I want to do is get data from a Sony Handycam Vision CCD-TRV52 into my Windows XP machine. Is there a firewire plug on the Sony that I missed? If so, where can I find it? If not, can Plextor ConvertX M402U capture 16:9 through a composite hookup, or should I give up on that as futile? What capture software other than Windows Movie Maker can digest 16:9 input? Is there a way to make Windows Movie Maker play nicely with input from a Plextor USB device?

[rumplestiltskin]

You've got an analog 8mm camcorder. (You know this but others who are reading may not.)

You're bascially screwed so here's what I'd recommend:

Option #1: Beg or borrow a Digital-8 camcorder with FireWire. That will read the analog tape and send it over FW to the PC for Premiere or anything other than Windows Movie Maker (which fubars everything in some bizarre AVI encapsulation of the native DV-Stream). Should be okay from there.

Option #2: Beg or borrow something like the Sony DVMC-1 (analog media converter) which has analog and FireWire inputs/outputs. Connect to the PC and follow instruction as per #1, above.

Option #3: Buy a mini-DV camcorder and connect the analog outputs from the older 8mm camcorder to the DV-camcorder, then FireWire over to the PC.

Digital camcorders that play in the DV-Stream marketplace use FireWire, not USB. That's not MS's fault but it's always nice to blame them for everything as most of it sticks nicely. (*grin*)

BTW: Final option: DV-Camcorder and get a Mac. That will work every time.

[yoda313]

A letterbox image within 4:3 mpeg would be acceptable

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that how it is if you capture a 2.35:1 widescreen vhs tape to mpg? You get the black bars but can't stretch them.

Shouldn't you be able to get a boxed 4:3 mpeg with the original aspect ratio intact???

As always my best advice is to do a short test. Hook up the camera via rca or svideo cables to your capture card. Then record a minute or two and see if the result is what you want.

Check the TOOLS section on the left for freeware or trialware capture programs. I think even virtualdub has a capture option.

Good luck.

[thecoalman]

Assuming it's really 16:9 and not just a 16:9 on a 4:3 matte.... you can just convert the AVI to 16:9 with any software that supports specifying it's 16:9. If it's a mpeg file you can use restream.

16:9 and 4:3 are the same resolution, the aspect is determined by either the header file in the video for comoputer playback or the ifo file on DVD.

You don't even have to any of the above if you only need to get it to disc. You only need to author it as 16:9 for proper playback on a standalone DVD player.