Virtualdub not working

[techmot]

I know I've asked this before, but does anyone know why Virtualdub (basically every version I have downloaded) doesn't seem to detect the signal from my Easycap USB device to my laptop?. I know those devices aren't brilliant but they do work and have been working not too long ago with VDub and other programs (some capture programs fail to but others work), but now with Virtualdub everytime I go to "Capture AVI" and make sure I have selected the right video input source (ie composite, S video etc) nothing happens I just get a blank screen as if it hasn't detected it, though it does list the capture device. These programs are a complete nightmare, you need a degree in video capturing to understand how to use them, they should be pretty straightforward but they are not. The only video capture program that I can (currently) get a signal from from my VHS recorder is with Debut video capture, but it's a very strange program with some odd framesize settings like "5:4, 11:9", what are those suppose to be they don't make sense it should just be 16:9 or 4:3, and also in Debut it outputs at 21fps even though the set capture framerate is 25fps. I know it's mainly a screen recorder but it does have a capture capture feature and does detect my capture device, so you would think it would output at the right framerate. Alot of these so called capture programs, IMO, have been poorly designed by people who don't know what they are doing.

If anyone can help me with the problem I am having with Virtualdub I would really appreciate it as it is really frustrating.

[Alwyn]

Alot of these so called capture programs, IMO, have been poorly designed by people who don't know what they are doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing when they built them. The problem is that that was 10+ years ago with only sporadic attempts to keep them updated since. They cost nothing. You can't expect the developers to go on looking after them for ever. You wouldn't try to run Word 6 now, would you?

The problem we have is that there are no recent/updated capture programs (OBS won't output lossless but otherwise looks good to me; flame jacket on), so we're sort of stuck with what we've got. In addition, the drivers of those cheap digitisers are dropping out of date as Windows changes.

FWIW, I don't use VDub for capture. AmarecTV for me; my guide here.

[techmot]

Alot of these so called capture programs, IMO, have been poorly designed by people who don't know what they are doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing when they built them. The problem is that that was 10+ years ago with only sporadic attempts to keep them updated since. They cost nothing. You can't expect the developers to go on looking after them for ever. You wouldn't try to run Word 6 now, would you?

The problem we have is that there are no recent/updated capture programs (OBS won't output lossless but otherwise looks good to me; flame jacket on), so we're sort of stuck with what we've got. In addition, the drivers of those cheap digitisers are dropping out of date as Windows changes.

FWIW, I don't use VDub for capture. AmarecTV for me; my guide here.

Hi, thanks for that, I understand the cheap digitisers and drivers but with Vdub I have managed to get it to work, but often when I use the program on another occasion it won't detect the capture device. I have tried to use Amarec but it is asking for a codec, and installed a codec that was supposed to work, which it did, but now all I get is the error message. Someone suggested that I have installed the wrong codec that isn't for a 64bit system, but I don't think that's the cause.

I have just tried using VLC player using its record function. I tried to use in the past but could only get a very poor picture; only typing in the desired frame size (ie 720x576) was I able to get a clear signal, however, it seems to capture lossless and produces over 400MB of file for about 30 seconds of capture, far more than what VDub does. I've read that this can't be changed to a lower format, which is abit pointless. If it captures 30 secs of video at around 400MB, an hours recording must be enormous. I know off topic, but does anyone know how this can be changed?. Odd that VLC can detect the device but VirtualDub can't.

Amarec just keeps saying "required AMV3 video codec v3.00i, please download from homepage. Do you open a homepage?" when I try to record. No idea why it says "Do you open a homepage for? some illiterate people creating some of these programs.

[Alwyn]

I have tried to use Amarec but it is asking for a codec, and installed a codec that was supposed to work, which it did, but now all I get is the error message. Someone suggested that I have installed the wrong codec that isn't for a 64bit system, but I don't think that's the cause.

Don't use the Amarec codec, just use Lagarith (or HUFFYUV, if you've already installed it). See my guide for the "Recording" tab, Video Compressor Block.

[techmot]

I have tried to use Amarec but it is asking for a codec, and installed a codec that was supposed to work, which it did, but now all I get is the error message. Someone suggested that I have installed the wrong codec that isn't for a 64bit system, but I don't think that's the cause.

Don't use the Amarec codec, just use Lagarith (or HUFFYUV, if you've already installed it). See my guide for the "Recording" tab, Video Compressor Block.

I did install the Lagarith codec, at first it worked but it then displayed the message that I need to download the Amarec codec.

Managed to get a signal in Amarec, seems that I had select the Lagarith codec again, no idea why it defaulted it back. But I can't get audio and the screen in zoomed/cropped even though it is set to 4:3.

[Alwyn]

Never had that happen here.

[techmot]

Never had that happen here.

It seems be working on and off. If I change a setting like changing the frame out it sometimes displays an error saying it can't record at the framerate but then when clicked ok it will then start recording. I managed to get a full image uncropped but it is displaying this strange distortion at the bottom of the screen.


[Attachment 72307 - Click to enlarge]

Using other programs (when they actually do detect the device, it doesn't have the strange distortion)

I also cannot get any audio on the outputted file.

[Alwyn]

You should be picking one of the fps/resolution options from the list on the Device tab.

What's your source video, because on those numbers, 13fps and 160 drops, something is seriously wrong. It could well be your digitiser.

[techmot]

You should be picking one of the fps/resolution options from the list on the Device tab.

What's your source video, because on those numbers, 13fps and 160 drops, something is seriously wrong. It could well be your digitiser.

I am capturing from a VHS recording via composite. My tapes are not in the best condition, lots of jumping and jirkyness but they do play. I am capturing at 25fps. Yeah it's probably my capture device, but like I said I dont get that distortion when I have used Virtualdub.


[Attachment 72308 - Click to enlarge]

[Alwyn]

Try using the "USB audio device" (assuming you have the audio plugged into your digitiser). Otherwise, those settings are good.

I think you've got a couple of things going against you: poor digitiser and wonky tapes that need stabilising (Panasonic DVD recorder at a minimum), as well as Composite video (S-video is better but you may not have that output on your VCR).

[techmot]

Try using the "USB audio device" (assuming you have the audio plugged into your digitiser). Otherwise, those settings are good.

I think you've got a couple of things going against you: poor digitiser and wonky tapes that need stabilising (Panasonic DVD recorder at a minimum), as well as Composite video (S-video is better but you may not have that output on your VCR).

Using USB audio device makes no difference, still no audio. The distortion doesn't appear when I've used VirtualDub, and neither on VLC player. Could be the capture device though. The tapes are bad. I do have a Panasonic VHS/DVS combi recorder which was quite good at stablising jumpy tapes, but it needs repairing due to a motor wheel getting jammed. Apparently when I tried to insert a tape without the back lid on it it made the tape loader mechanism malfunction.

[Alwyn]

I do have a Panasonic VHS/DVS combi recorder which was quite good at stablising jumpy tapes, but it needs repairing due to a motor wheel getting jammed.

Try using it in passthrough mode to stabilise your video. The VHS or the DVD doesn't have to be physically working. If it has S-video Out, you can use that to connect to your digitiser (if it's got an S-video socket).

What model is it?

[techmot]

I do have a Panasonic VHS/DVS combi recorder which was quite good at stablising jumpy tapes, but it needs repairing due to a motor wheel getting jammed.

Try using it in passthrough mode to stabilise your video. The VHS or the DVD doesn't have to be physically working. If it has S-video Out, you can use that to connect to your digitiser (if it's got an S-video socket).

What model is it?

I remember trying the passthrough awhile back by linking my working VCR up to my Panasonic combi, but it wouldn't work, maybe I was connecting it up the wrong way, but I tried different ways but still couldn't do it. The model of the Panasonic is the DMR-EZ48.

[techmot]

Try using the "USB audio device" (assuming you have the audio plugged into your digitiser). Otherwise, those settings are good.

I think you've got a couple of things going against you: poor digitiser and wonky tapes that need stabilising (Panasonic DVD recorder at a minimum), as well as Composite video (S-video is better but you may not have that output on your VCR).

Hi, do you know any better USB capture devices that will suit my Ideapad?.