Vhs/DVD clarity question

[Oldretiredguy]

I don't think 480 lines for Field Threshold is correct, as the tooltip mouseover says that interlaced processing is enabled for values above the threshold only. The default 288 is good (anything between 288-479, realistically).

The correct frame rate is 30000/1001 which is 29.9700299700299700... (note the repeating pattern). VirtualDub's capture menu only lets you set a limited precision decimal for some reason, even though AVI files only use fractions internally.

Ray, once you've gone through sanlyn's instructions, go to Video -> Capture filter. Click on the Video Proc Amp tab at the top of the window that pops up and please attach a screenshot of that tab. I haven't used the device on XP so I don't know whether the controls are accessible in that OS.

The other settings to tick are the Timing options I mentioned before.

[Attachment 21641 - Click to enlarge]


[Attachment 21640 - Click to enlarge]

Not sure if it makes a difference but the initial capture will be on my laptop that is a Win 7 64 bit machine. I will probably at some point try my xp desktop also but it's old and slow so I thought I'd just take my laptop next door and set it up there instead of dragging his vcr over here. Make sense?

R

[Oldretiredguy]

If it's necessary for him to change the Field threshold value. He needs the patched version of huffyuv.

http://code.google.com/p/huffyuv/downloads/detail?name=HuffyuvSetup_2.1.1_r19.exe&can=2&q=

The option doesn't show in unpatched huffyuf. Might be confusing.

Oldretiredguy

This all makes mud look like a precision optical device huh?

Boy, you got that right. I feel like I have been dropped onto another planet. But all good things come in time and if you all are willing to work with me, I'll eventually get it. I'm becoming more and more fascinated by all this. I am in the process of downloading the latest driver for the capture device because even though it shows to be working and installed correctly in device manager, when I go to VirtualDub and go through the settings as suggested, the device isn't showing up. I don't know if that's because I don't have it connected to a vcr but it is plugged in to my laptop and the blue light is on so I know it has power. I'm going to re-install the newest driver.

R

[RWH]

Have you tried the One Touch Grabber program?

[Brad]

It will show up as Conexant Polaris when correctly installed.

[jagabo]

Since huffyuv is working in YUY2 (or RGB) it's not critical to have an interlace flag. You just need to be sure that any software that accesses the captured files treats them as interlaced.

[Oldretiredguy]

It will show up as Conexant Polaris when correctly installed.

Ahh, you are so right. I was looking for something else. It does show up as you said.

By the way, my neighbor, (85 years young) just went to Fry's and bought a vhs to dvd copy machine. Now he is getting involved. So, there is life in these old folks yet.

Ray

[RWH]

Are you gonna try it tonight Ray?

[Oldretiredguy]

My neighbor just came over and GAVE me his JVC vcr because he is going to use the new one he just bought. What a guy. So, I am going to play with it and the VC500 and VirtualDub right now. Stay tuned.'

Ray

[jagabo]

By the way, my neighbor, (85 years young) just went to Fry's and bought a vhs to dvd copy machine. Now he is getting involved.

You'll end up with a DVD like the one you have now. Maybe worse.

[Oldretiredguy]

I tried to do the set you guys recommended but some of the settings either weren't there, grayed out or I got a message that my capture device wouldn't do it. So, I am sort of going by feel here. I am running a tape in the vcr and I clicked on capture video. Should I be seeing anything on my screen besides blackness? If so, I'm doing something wrong.

[Oldretiredguy]

I made a short clip of the tape in the machine. Don't worry, this is just a test tape. Not my important one. Anyway, I saved the file to my desktop and I captured 37 mb of something that doesn't play. I tried opening the file in VirtualDub and also in Windows media player. Nothing. The Windows player at least gives me something but no picture. No sound just a blue screen with a musical note symbol in the center of the screen. The slider is moving at the bottom of the screen but nothing to view or hear. So, I guess I'm doing something wrong. Probably the capture device is set up wrong or something. I'm going to try the software that came with it just to see if it works.

R

[jagabo]

I am running a tape in the vcr and I clicked on capture video. Should I be seeing anything on my screen besides blackness?

Yes, you should see the picture that's on the tape. Leave audio playback enabled. Do you hear any audio? If you have a more stable video source (cable box, DVD playing a DVD+-R) you might try with that before trying to capture from a VCR.

[RWH]

video source set correct? S-video vs. composite.

It can't hurt to try that grabber program. On it's setup screen there aren't many options.

[Oldretiredguy]

I tried the grabber program and it didn't work either. I must have something AFU. I'll have to go back and see if my device is working right. I'm not sure where to start but I may have to just uninstall and re install it. I'll do the easy stuff first.

R

[Oldretiredguy]

If it's necessary for him to change the Field threshold value. He needs the patched version of huffyuv.

http://code.google.com/p/huffyuv/downloads/detail?name=HuffyuvSetup_2.1.1_r19.exe&can=2&q=

The option doesn't show in unpatched huffyuf. Might be confusing.

Oldretiredguy

This all makes mud look like a precision optical device huh?

Ok, that is done but I didn't do any configuring of this program.

r

[Brad]

I wonder if I could use a program like TeamViewer with you to try seeing if there's anything obviously wrong.

[Oldretiredguy]

Under "Video" -> "Set custom format..."
- Frame size (left column = 720, right column = 480. (meaning, capture to 720x480).



- Data format set to "YUY2 (YUV 4:2:2 interleaved)
Click OK

Ok, here is where I run into trouble. I get an error message here that my capture device doesn't support this format.

Under "Video" -> "Compression...", select your compressor. I think you are using huffyuv. This has a "configure" button in the lower-right of the window. Click that button, then make these settings:
- YUY2 compression method = "Predict median (best)"
- RGB compression method = "Predict gradient (best)"
- Field threshold: set to 480 lines
- "Always suggest RGB format for output" - should NOT BE CHECKED. If it is, clear the checkmark.
- Turn on "Enable full size output buffer"
The remaining boxes should be unchecked.
Click OK

4. In the top menu, click "Audio" and make the settings as shown, selecting your own audio input source. That source will probably be your VC500. In this example, I chose my Audigy sound card because audio for the ATI is fed directly thru my sound card, not the graphics card. Your system might be different. Different choices will be shown here, likely the audio source will say something about the VC500.

[Attachment 21639 - Click to enlarge]
Under "Audio" -> "Raw capture format...", set the raw audio format to "PCM: 48000Hz, 16-bit". Click OK
Under "Audio" -> "Compression..." the default should be "<No compression (PCM>". Click OK

5. In the top menu Click "Capture" -> "settings...". In the small window labeled "Capture settings", set the frame rate to 29.9720 -- if it already says 29.9700, that's close enough.

Under "Capture" -> turn OFF (deselect) the menu item for "enable multisegment capture".

The other defaults ought to work OK. I don't recall ever changing any of them. If something goes amiss, raise a holler. Try just a few minutes of capture. Later, we'll very likely go over filter settings, which by default are turned off.[/QUOTE]

[RWH]

How about trying a composite cable? Are you using s-video? Possible bad cable.

Screen shots of this setup? Windows 7 snipping tool.

[Oldretiredguy]

Vaporeon80, you asked for a screen shot. I wasn't sure how to go about it but here it is I hope.

R

[RWH]

What do you think about TeamViewer Ray?

http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

You are using Win7 64 on your laptop, right? I think vaporeon800 used Win7. Not sure if 64 bit or not.

Sorry you don't have an easy button.

[Oldretiredguy]

How about trying a composite cable? Are you using s-video. Possible bad cable.

Screen shots of his setup? Windows 7 snip tool.

I never knew about that snip tool. Wow, and I thought I knew stuff.

Anyway guys, so far nothing. I start the vcr playing and there is nothing appears on my screen but blackness. When I check to see if there is a file, it has xxx mbs. recorded but nothing plays back. I switched to composite and they showed up in the choices for source as did the s-video cable. Not sure where to go from here. I have to think the capture device is ok or I wouldn't be seeing anything under video source would I?

R

[Oldretiredguy]

What do you think about TeamViewer Ray?

http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

You are using Win7 64 on your laptop, right? I think vaporeon800 used Win7. Not sure if 64 bit or not.

Sorry you don't have an easy button.

I had never heard of team viewer but it looks like it would be handy so I downloaded it and installed it. Now what?

R

[Brad]

The idea involves being willing to let a random stranger on an internet forum (me) take control of your computer to try seeing what's wrong:



I certainly understand if you'd rather not.

[Oldretiredguy]

Here is another screen shot where it doesn't like the settings.

[Oldretiredguy]

The idea involves being willing to let a random stranger on an internet forum (me) take control of your computer to try seeing what's wrong:



I certainly understand if you'd rather not.

I like the whole idea except for letting you have total access to my computer. I'm not sure about security of critical files etc. I think I will have to say no. Sorry, and thanks for understanding.

R

[Oldretiredguy]

I did just go back and try Grabber again and I got the video to play on my screen and I did record some of it. I have no idea where it is on my drive but I'm sure it's there somewhere. I haven't found it yet. At least I know that the device is working.

R

[RWH]

Your getting close. Default location is. C:\Program Files\One Touch Grabber\MyVideos

Settings button.

[Brad]

Apparently this device doesn't support the YUY2 pixel order. Choose UYVY.

In your screenshot it looks like you are successfully receiving the VCR's "blue screen" output.

[Oldretiredguy]

The blue screen was left over from the capture I did using One Touch Grabber. I just stayed there. I was getting a black screen before. I tried every setting in that window and it didn't like any of them.

R

[Oldretiredguy]

ok all of a sudden it's working. I don't have any idea of what I did. I see the video on the screen and it seems to be recording it. I'll let it go for a minute and then check it out.

R