Vhs/DVD clarity question

[Brad]

The One Touch Grabber is sort of able to take over control of the internal driver settings in the background despite VirtualDub showing the video. I use this quirk to access the Proc Amp controls that are greyed out in your VirtualDub screenshot above.

[Oldretiredguy]

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

Settings button.

Ok, how did you make the red arrow? I've always wondered how folks do that in pictures etc.

R

[RWH]

That's my custom arrow that can't be duplicated, not even by me. The pen tool on win7 snipping tool. Can't snip it though. Try.

How's your video look?

[RWH]

proc amp controls

[Oldretiredguy]

Trying another video. Will this make a lossless copy for me to work with? So far so good,

Ray

[RWH]

VirtualDub yes. One Touch Grabber no.

But you can use the controls in Grabber that aren't available in VirtualDub. That's what vaporeon800 does.

[Oldretiredguy]

I now have 2 hours of video. Now comes the real fun. Editing. More help from you folks. But for tonight I must go spend time with Wifey.

R

[RWH]

Oldretiredguy

First thing I'd do is make a copy of the original.
Assuming the audio and video are good and synched properly. Check it at various places. If there are issues, there are ways to deal with them. The least fun would be recapturing.

I'm sure some small samples would help the gurus help you.

You will become very familiar with VirtualDub. I'll look for some tutorials as far as cutting sections. I might whip up something myself, hate to stick my neck out though. There's cropping selections in the timeline and cropping in the filter dialog, can be confusing. Once you have samples I'm sure you'll get advice on that.

Which version of VirtualDub did you end up with? Filters?

Caiosouza posted this link

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-conversion/1727-virtualdub-filters-pre.html

If you need to use avisynth, I'm sure that would make sanlyn giddy with joy.

Do you plan on making a DVD with menus? It can be done with freeware. Specifically using AVSTODVD.

https://www.videohelp.com/tools/AVSTODVD

Easy Guide here.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/353284-AVStoDVD-beginners-guide-Any-video-to-DVD-Video

I almost hate to bring it up but there are some neat things you can do with Arcsoft Showbiz. Not sure about it's encoder quality.

But you have a few minutes (maybe more) of editing before all that.

All said IMHO.

[jagabo]

I now have 2 hours of video. Now comes the real fun. Editing.

I know you want to get started with filtering and editing but that is not the best way to proceed. You want to make sure your caps are as good as can e first.

[Oldretiredguy]

Thanks all, the capture is not the important tape yet. I took another one that I could sacrifice if something went wrong but it seems that it all went smoothly. Not sure what was meant about making a copy. I made this capture just to use for my learning curve so if it gets screwed up no loss. I did this capture using VirtualDub and the version is 1.10.4/ not sure if that is the most current. It is just the one that I downloaded from one of the links that was posted. All I did was install the program (opened up the zip file) and made a shortcut for the desktop. I haven't done anything regarding filters etc. So, now I will be all ears (eyes) and ready to go. But first I have to go do a little job where I live to earn a few extra dollars. And tonight I will be gone to the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade. So, I might not be as responsive as I have been. Tomorrow will be another day though. I'll check in here through out today and later this evening.

Ray

[jagabo]

You don't need the latest VirtualDub to capture video. That part of the program hasn't changed in ages. Watch for dropped/inserted frames while you're capturing. Make sure your levels aren't too far out of spec (adjust the proc amp). Enable the Historgram while previewing. Stay out of the red regions.

[sanlyn]

You wouldn't need a full copy of the original capture. Wait you will do is extract pieces of it to work with, without changing the original. There are right ways and wrong ways to make those working excerpts. Let us know when you're ready.

In practise, the important stuff is often copied in full to another location such as external drive, and kept as backup. How do you do that? Simple. In Windows, click on the file to select it, right-click to get the popup menu, select, "Copy". Then go to anotehr location or drive, right-click on a folder to get a popup menu, and click "Paste". Then just wait. Copying big files takes a few minutes.

[RWH]

Here's a quick little selection thing for VirualDub. If there are errors I will try to correct them. Or have a mod delete or whatever.

[Oldretiredguy]

Well, I tried to post but since my login had expired, the posting went somewhere between here and there. Anyway, what I wanted to say is I am back at the computer and raring to get started with my video editing. I am going to read some on the VirtualDub manual for a while but if any of you want to give me a project to try, I'm up for it. But please be concise and very basic with whatever you try to tell me. The whole terminology thing is going to be a slow learning curve. Right now it's all Greek.

Ray

[Oldretiredguy]

Ok RWH, I did as you said, I now have a short piece of video. What's next?

[sanlyn]

You can upload up to 400MB in the "upload files" window, but it would be a good idea to keep the video to about 10 or 12 seconds. You've uploaded earlier using the "Upload files" window. Maybe your upload was too humongous ? ?

[RWH]

deleted

[Oldretiredguy]

What I did was to capture the first 24 seconds of the video that are all non-viewable until it actually starts showing a viewable picture. I'll upload it so you can see what I mean.

[RWH]

This will take me a while to download. Is this the only bad part? Does it get much better later?

[Oldretiredguy]

This will take me a while to download. Is this the only bad part? Does it get much better later?

This is a video taken by a friend back in 94 when four of us went to Hawaii. There are parts that might be needing a bit of cleaning up or whatever you want to call it. The very first part that I sent you is the beginning of the tape in his camera and filming of some palm trees. Then it actually gets into us getting on the plane and so on. There is 2 hours of video and most of it is good but could stand some help. I just used it instead of my personal valuable video that I'm going to send to Texas. I will copy it to my computer though now that I know what I'm doing and have a good vcr to work with.

R

[RWH]

Good your feeling confident.

Are you sure your getting the best capture possible? Understand the procamp (processing amplifier) controls? The histogram in VirtualDub. Audio levels. Does the audio and video stay in synch? Especially if you capture the whole tape at one time, towards the end it can be way off. Other things can mess the audio up too. Didn't get into best practices for capturing. Which I do not claim to be an expert on. well anything for that matter. Just trying to help get you started.

Are you ready for avisynth and sanlyns magic?

[RWH]

I have to tell you. When I find bad spots. I delete, crop or ignore. For the most part.

[Oldretiredguy]

Ok, you are going too fast. I don't know how to answer any of your questions or remarks. All I did was copy the video to my computer using VirtualDub with the settings that were given to me by I forget who now. Anyway, a couple or one, I don't remember now, of the settings wouldn't take in the setup. I got the error message that I posted above. So, with that said, I am just sending the first few seconds of the video to you to look at. At this point I don't have a clue what to do next. I don't know where any of the "filters" are or how to use them. I think I better just read the manual and then take the next step. I don't want to take up anybody's time and waste space here.

Ray

[RWH]

Sorry man, not trying to rush. I just got your video. Will take it easy.

[RWH]

You have to switch your device to NTSC. I'll look into it.

[Oldretiredguy]

I don't remember having that choice when I had it connected but I'll check it out.

[RWH]

Open Grabber. Perss the yellow gear. Check the video tab. Video format should be NTSC_M.

[RWH]

Oldretiredguy

I apologize for rushing. I'll just hang out and not get in the way of the more experienced members. I can make screenshots of the grabber software if someone needs it. I'll still monitor this thread I'm afraid I'm doing more harm than good. You will succeed.

[Oldretiredguy]

RWH, don't go away. I'm here and I'm messing with stuff so chime in with whatever you think of. It seems that it's just the two of us anyway. I'm having a great time. I did go into Grabber and the setting was correct for what you said. Right now, I'm copying my valuable tape over onto my computer with the settings that were suggested way back. I think it was sanlyn's suggestions. I've lost track of who said what. But anyway, it's copying right now but I only see a b/w in the monitor pane.

R

[RWH]

OK. Stop capturing for now. The hawaii.avi was 720x576 PAL. With NTSC framerate.Better to try small (very) caps and samples til it's configured right. Stick with a non valuable tape for now.

B/W no good.

Let's try a sample of what you just captured.