Need to know to find & disable background processes

[Danae]

I did a search of the Mac forum but didn't find what I need to know. I need to find out what processes are running in the background so I can disable them.

I've been converting VHS tapes to digital. I was getting loud clicking on the audio of the imported clips until I shut down Skype and Airport. After I did that, the clicks are barely noticeable, but are still there.

I'm fairly certain that if I can find the background processes and disable them, the clicks will disappear completely.

If anyone can tell me how to set up a video-only profile, with the background processes disabled, that would be icing on my cake. I'd be able to switch from my profile to the video-only profile easily.

Thanks for any help or suggestions.

*ADDENDUM: I found the processes in the "Activity Monitor" under "Utilities". There are a few that I initiated. I need to know if I should turn those off & if I can safely turn off some of the processes off that I didn't initiate. If so, which ones?

[terryj]

Basically, you just need to insure that while using this Mac for video editing,
you don't do ANYTHING else on it, like Skype, web surfing, creating database and spreadsheets, etc.

If you simply do that, a lot of what's active in the Activity Monitor won't be there.

With out a snapshot ( cmd-shift-4) of what is running on your mac,
we can't safely tell you what to enable or disable. Do that
and post it back here and I can do a comparison against
my Video Only mac, and give you an idea where to start.

[Danae]

Hi Terry, Thank you so much for your help.

I'm new to Video Help (and not technically savvy) so please bear with me.

Here's the snapshot of my Activity Monitor at a point in which everything I know how to turn off, is turned off.

[terryj]

that screen shot looks fine. Nothing out of the ordinary there.
I assume this is a screen shot of "My Processes" as selected in the drop down menu?
I now need a shot of "All Processes", as selected in the drop down menu, with the
"CPU%" tab checked ( it should turn blue, & have an arrow pointing down).

[Danae]

I think the screen shot I sent previously, was "Active Processes"

I'm attaching two screen shots (I couldn't get all the processes in one shot) of "All Processes" with CPU checked. There is a slight overlap in the screen shots.

I didn't see an option for %. But % does show up as green boxes on a very small graph at the bottom of the window.
I've attached a screen shot of the graph.

I also didn't see anything turn blue or have an arrow pointing down.

[terryj]

I didn't see an option for %. But % does show up as green boxes on a very small graph at the bottom of the window.
I've attached a screen shot of the graph.

I also didn't see anything turn blue or have an arrow pointing down.

This should help clarify what I need to see.



Since it is obviously a CPU intensive process that is causing the trouble, we now need to look
what's running and chewing up the CPU by looking at the percentage of CPU tasking....

[Danae]

OH! As I said I'm not tech savvy, sorry.

I've attached what I think you've asked for. Again there is some overlap because I couldn't get all the processes in one screen shot.

[terryj]

Alright, those screens look correct.

I do not see anything out of the ordinary in these shots,which leads me to believe that
there is nothing running that could be causing the issue.


so now, let's go back a bit to the original issue: Capturing from VHS to the MAC,
and getting a (now sometimes barely) audible clicking.

What are you using to capture your VHS tapes digitally?
A Canopus ADVC-100/-110? A Roxio Easy VHS unit?

Please describe your setup in detail:
1. Type of VCR
2. How and what the VCR is hooked into
3. What that is that is then hooked into the Mac and how ( via FW, USB2.0, etc)
4. What program are you using to capture the footage in ( Toast, iMovie, FCE, FCP)

[Danae]

Thank you so much for checking out the processes for me.
I really appreciate it.

I'm using an Canopus ADVC-55 to capture the VHS tapes.

I'll do my best to describe my VHS capture setup.

1. The VCR is JVC HDMI DVD/VCR the model is HR-XVC38, manufactured in March or 2006

2. The VCR is plugged into the same power strip that my iMac is plugged into.
The VCR is also plugged into the ADVC-55 using a RCA cable (I think that's what it's called).
That cable has three plugs on each end, one red, one yellow and one white.

3. The Mac has a firewire cable plugged into it coming from the ADVC-55.
I don't remember where the firewire cable came from.
The FireWire cable is clear and silver inside.
On each end of the FireWire is an identical plug that is labeled "IEEE" on one side and "1394" on the other.

Also plugged into the Mac is a Logitech trackball (it's a Marble Mouse USB),
a HP wireless printer was plugged in so it can be shared with my MacBook laptop (I think that's why I have it plugged in and I think it disables when I shut off AirPort),
and a standard iMac keyboard.

4. I'm using iMovie to capture the VHS tapes.

[terryj]

we're going to need to dovetail this back into your other thread.
Please only post one thread about your problem.

other thread: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/323708-Audio-clicks-converting-VHS-to-DVD-w-Canopus...44#post2004544

[terryj]

That being said there are three things I would look at / try:

1. Clean the VCR. Making sure that the heads are clean is vital to good playback of audio and video.
then test capture

2. Make sure the cable from VCR to Canopus is a good cable. Often a cable that has a scratch on
one of the prongs on either red or white can cause bad audio captures. swap cables,
with a new set, then test capture

3. Try capturing a small amount of footage from a KNOWN GOOD RETAIL TAPE.
Could be anything, but it should be as close to clean / new as possible.
IF you don't have a close to new tape, try going to Half Price Books, Big Lots, or a Discounter Chain)
The goal is to simply rule out the VCR to The Canopus...if the captured audio plays back
with no pops or clicks, then we know with a new tape that isn't the problem, it's your old tapes.
if it does it on a new tape, then it is the VCR, or the RCA Cable.
If it does it on a new tape, with steps one and two complete, then it could be the Canopus itself.

[Danae]

It wasn't my intention to post my problem in two different places. A member from the other forum mentioned that there was a Mac forum and that someone there might be able to help me figure out what processes might be causing the noise on my movies.

I don't see any way to delete my original post or the threads. If you can tell me how to do that I'll do it. In the mean time I'll post an announcement there, that I'm no longer using that forum for this problem.

I'll follow your instructions to figure out where the problem lies and post a reply when I've done that. I'm guessing it will take me at least 3 to 4 days.

[freebird73717]

You can't delete any threads. Only a moderator can do that. More than likely they will just lock/close that thread with a link pointing to this one.

If you ever need to move a thread just send a private message (pm) to a moderator (Baldrick, Redwudz, JohnsO) and one of them will move it for you.

Looks like you've got some fine help here from terry

[Danae]

Yes, you're right. The other thread is now locked with a link to this one. I kept your advice about moving a thread for future reference.

You're also right about the help I got from Terry. He did a great job of helping me eliminate almost all the noise on my imported movies.

I'm impressed with his knowledge as well as yours. I wish other forums could be as helpful/useful/informative as this one.

Thank you so much for your help.

[Danae]

Hello Terry J

Thank you so much for your help and expertise.
It took me a while but I found out what was causing clicking noise on my imported VHS movies.

First, I checked the cable. It's new. I used a jewelers loupe to examine the prongs, they are pristine. Because I found no scratches, I kept using the same cable.
Second, I cleaned my VCR not once but twice before importing some footage of one of my old VHS tapes. When I played it back for my son, there was no clicking noise.
It appears the problem has been solved. If it should show up with other VHS tapes, I'll probably come to the conclusion that the problem at that point is the tape.

Thank you again ... and the above message about me being impressed with your knowledge was for you not the man of steel.
So here your well earned kudos

[terryj]

aaw shucks..

I'm glad I could help.
Stop by if you need anything else, or just want to say hi......

[Danae]

Aww, you're humble too!

Yes, I'll stop back to say "Hi" & hope you'll send a "Hi" my way too.

Now that you've solved my clicking noise problem, I can get my VHS to DVD project back on track and finished.
After that I'll have more time and plan to use it to visit your "Urban Mac User" site.

TTYL