video flicker when capturing from sony video 8 sources

[HidenSeek]

Hi! this is my first topic here one videohelp.com and I'm also very new when it comes to capturing from analog formats, so please correct me if you see that I have any misconceptions about analog capture

I have a problem when capturing from video 8 to the computer. The picture flickers (drops?) alot in some areas of the tape, but in others areas the picture is just fine. I have uploaded a clip on youtube to show you what I mean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYLKfdhktEE

it actually starts to flicker before I do the capture, when virtualdub is just streaming the tape, but when I plug the camcorder directly into the TV, I don't get these flickers. This also don't happen with the hi8 tapes I've tried. so I'm guessing it's the video 8 tapes that is the problem? The tapes is from late 1989 to around 1992 btw, then my dad bought a hi8 camera.

unfortuantley I can't tell you right now what sort of capture device I use, because I use my dad's laptop that has a component/S-video input and I don't have it here with me atm. I think it's something from asus. but my "setup" is this

Sony CCD-TR705E PAL hi8 camcorder -> s-video -> "asus" capture card -> virtualdub
I capture to AVI using Huffyuv

is this a problem a TBC could correct?
I'm thinking about buying a S-VHS VCR with TBC so that I can capture all of my old vhs-footage too. Is it possible to connect the camcorder through the VCR and use its TBC?

[edDV]

It appears to be a loss of horizontal sync at the field rather than line level. This must be related to the hardware capture device. I've never encoutered this type of H sync loss.

A TBC should help. I'd test the camcorder with a different capture device.

[HidenSeek]

will a cheap usb device work for just the test?

[edDV]

will a cheap usb device work for just the test?

Yes, any capture device should help show if this problem is camcorder related. Also a VCR.

TV sets have fast H lock so wouldn't show the problem.

[HidenSeek]

will a cheap usb device work for just the test?

Yes, any capture device should help show if this problem is camcorder related. Also a VCR.
.

When you say VCR, do you mean that I connect the camcorder through the VCR and then see it on my TV? I tried this and there was no flickering. I also tried to record some footage on a VHS with the same result. or did you mean something else?

I forgot to mention btw that the flickering also does not appear inside the little black and white screen in the camera itself

[edDV]

will a cheap usb device work for just the test?

Yes, any capture device should help show if this problem is camcorder related. Also a VCR.
.

When you say VCR, do you mean that I connect the camcorder through the VCR and then see it on my TV? I tried this and there was no flickering. I also tried to record some footage on a VHS with the same result. or did you mean something else?

I forgot to mention btw that the flickering also does not appear inside the little black and white screen in the camera itself

Same result means field flagging when the VHS videotape is played back?

If yes, next try a different Video8 or Hi8 camcorder to separate tape vs player issues.

If no, the problem is related to the capture device.

[HidenSeek]

everything looked fine on the VHS. so if there was a problem with the camcorder the VCR would have recorded the error and I would have seen it on the tvscreen? eventhough a TV has a fast H lock as you said?
Guess I'll have to go out and find another capture device then. Any recommendations?

Also, is it possible to use a VCR as a passthrough to the capture device? to use the TBC from the VCR on the video 8 and hi8 tapes?

[edDV]

Recording to tape would show the error if it was coming from the camcorder. It appears your capture device is the source of the error.

You would normally use a separate TBC and capture device. I'm not sure if a VCR TBC will work in pass through.

[ctakim]

It sounds like you are recapitulating my experience as described here:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/330060-It-started-out-so-harmlessly%21-I-just-wante...home-movies%21

A Time Based Controller fixed this issue for me. Truthfully, it all seems a lot more difficult than I thought this would be. But it does make things interesting.