Problem capturing from VHS recorder via SCART

[Freebird]

I'm trying to capture from VHS-recorder to computer, but can't get video nor audio when using SCART cable. The video preview-window stays black all the time.

I do get sound captured, when using video recorder's separate RCA audio output. But not if I use SCART.

The only outputs from the VHS-recorder are 2 SCART outputs (the other says: DECODER, the other says VIDEO/AUDIO) and the left+right RCA audio out.

As the display/capturing card the computer has MSI's RADEON X1950XTX display adapter that is VIVO capable. In the middle of the card's back, there is a round 9-pin connector for this VIVO (video in and video out) traffic.

As the sound card the computer has Creative SoundBlaster Live 128.

Got 2 cables:
A) Cable that came with the video adapter. The other end has this 9-pin connector. The other end brances into 4 connectors: 2 yellows and 2 black. The female yellows are S-Video in (has a little arrow towards the computer), and S-video out (arrow away from the computer). No idea what the 2 black connectors are for.
B) Bought a separate cable that the seller promised is meant to transport signal outwards from the video recorder. The other end is a SCART connector. The other end divides into yellow male S-video and a male sound plug (similar that goes into your sound card connectors).

I've connected cable A's S-Video in into cable B's S-video. Cable B's sound connector goes into sound card's blue Line-in connector.

Got 2 capture programs:
A) VirtualDub
B) Pinnacle Studio 9

The video capture source in both programs is ATI T200 AVStream Analog Capture (DirectShow). I have tried also Microsoft WMD Image capture (preview window goes all green).
The sound capture source is SB Live! Wave Device, Line-in.

Pinnacle Studio 9 has PAL as the TV-standard (I'm in Finland, northern Europe), video input is S-Video, and I've checked the boxes "VCR input" and "capture-preview".
VirtualDub has PAL_B video filter (tried them all: doesn't matter which filter I choose), video source is "Video SVideo". Video Format is YUV 4:2:2 interleaved.

Pinnacle uses PICVideo MJPEG Compressor codec. VirtualDub let's choose from many codecs, but it don't matter what I choose: the compression codec doesn't change the fact the signal isn't coming from the recorder to the display adapter.

[Richard_G]

On the cable for you video card, the two yellow ones should be phono (or RCA as Americans called them) and have a single pin in the centre. These are composite video, not S-Video. The black ones may well be S-Video and, if they are, will be 4 pin miniDIN sockets.

SCART uses separate pins for input and output, so you need to make sure that the cable you are using is correct. It will have the yellow plug connected to pin 19 (see http://www.sparkysworld.co.uk/connectors.htm ). If it is connected to pin 20, it is intended to feed a signal INTO a scart equipped device.

If using the yellow connectors, your source should be Composite video and not S-Video.

[Freebird]

If using the yellow connectors, your source should be Composite video and not S-Video.

Yeah, you are right. The yellow connector is Composite, not S-video. I remembered wrong!
Changed the source to Composite video, but it didn't solve the problem: the preview is still blank, and no audio, either.

Strange there is no audio. The SCART cable's audio-miniplug goes directly to the sound card. There should be an audio signal no matter if the video cables are a miss-match and if the video source selected wrong. Right? If I take the audio from VHS recorder's separate audio-out connectors, the audio capture works perfectly. So there is nothing wrong with the sound card nor with the selected sound source. Hmmmm.

[Richard_G]

Sounds as though you have a Scart IN cable and not a Scart OUT. In other words the cable is intended to take a signal from an external source and feed it INTO a Scart equipped piece of apparatus and not the other way round. If by using the separate audio out connectors you have audio but you don't using the Scart connector, this would seem to confirm there is no audio coming out of the cable.

If you have a multimeter, check the continuity from the yellow phono plug to the Scart socket and see which pin it is connected to (see the page I linked to in my last).

[hech54]

I have both a SCART to RCA/Cinch cable and a SCART to S-Video cable....for just such emergencies.
One of them has an in/out switch on it.
I bought them to go from my S-VHS machine to my American (SCART-less) DVD Recorder.

[Freebird]

I have both a SCART to RCA/Cinch cable and a SCART to S-Video cable....for just such emergencies.
One of them has an in/out switch on it.
I bought them to go from my S-VHS machine to my American (SCART-less) DVD Recorder.

I have seen those on list of some Web stores. The models I've seen have no cable at all, only a box with SCART on the other side, component video females and a S-video female on the other side. And an IN/OUT switch on the top.

I've been considering to buy one of those. The reason I haven't, is that the descriptions of these cadgets have been so erraneous or non-existent, I just haven't had reliable info of them. Most shops say also: "the image may be different than the actual product". Just yesterday I e-mailed one stote about the gadgets, but haven't got a reply yet.

[Freebird]

Sounds as though you have a Scart IN cable and not a Scart OUT.

The seller was so certain it's a SCART OUT-cable. But I thought that possibility, too.

Too bad I just sold my TV, so I can't now test if I could record to the video tape with this SCART cable.

[hech54]

I have both a SCART to RCA/Cinch cable and a SCART to S-Video cable....for just such emergencies.
One of them has an in/out switch on it.
I bought them to go from my S-VHS machine to my American (SCART-less) DVD Recorder.

I have seen those on list of some Web stores. The models I've seen have no cable at all, only a box with SCART on the other side, component video females and a S-video female on the other side. And an IN/OUT switch on the top.

I've been considering to buy one of those. The reason I haven't, is that the descriptions of these cadgets have been so erraneous or non-existent, I just haven't had reliable info of them. Most shops say also: "the image may be different than the actual product". Just yesterday I e-mailed one stote about the gadgets, but haven't got a reply yet.

I just looked....I actually have 2 SCART to RCA/Cinch - neither of them are marked with a manufacturer name and are about two meters long. Those have in/out switches on the SCART head.
The SCART to S-Video and audio cinch cable is also two meters long. It has two seperate cables coming directly out of the SCART head(S-video and left/right audio cinch) and it is made by Vivanco.
Vivanco stuff really isn't that good....but this cable that I have has some quality to it. Nothing like those "super cable" type sets you see for €75...but still pretty damn good. This cable has NO in/out switch so I believe this is a one way cable.

[Richard_G]

I have both a SCART to RCA/Cinch cable and a SCART to S-Video cable....for just such emergencies.
One of them has an in/out switch on it.
I bought them to go from my S-VHS machine to my American (SCART-less) DVD Recorder.

I have seen those on list of some Web stores. The models I've seen have no cable at all, only a box with SCART on the other side, component video females and a S-video female on the other side. And an IN/OUT switch on the top.

I've been considering to buy one of those. The reason I haven't, is that the descriptions of these cadgets have been so erraneous or non-existent, I just haven't had reliable info of them. Most shops say also: "the image may be different than the actual product". Just yesterday I e-mailed one stote about the gadgets, but haven't got a reply yet.

I've got 3 or 4 of these adapters kicking around for when I need to do a temporary install of something. They all work and are cheap. I got one for 50p that was supposed to be faulty (I figured it was cheaper than buying a Scart plug to make up a specific lead) all that was wrong with it was the switch had been fitted the wrong way round so when it said IN it was OUT and when it said OUT it was IN. They even have them on the shelf in my local Tesco supermarket. Don't worry what they look like, see if you can pick one up in a TV shop. Don't be conned into buying some overpriced thing with gold contacts and a fancy name, it won't make any difference other than to the contents of your wallet!