Capture from VCR - No input signal

[Baltazar]

I did a post earlier but no one seemes to read it in comparison to all the other posts here with xxx views and answers. Maybe my headline was a bit fuzzy, so I'll try here again:

I have a problem digitizing external sources to my computer.

The thing is, I have a MSI G4 TI-4400 graphic card and want to digitize a video from my VCR to my computer and burn it as a SVCD.

I tried VirtualDub but when I tried "capture avi" I get the message "no capture driver available". So I tried the program InterVideo WinProducer which came with the card but I can't get it to find any incoming signal! (in the Input Sources tab of the program there is only the "Open Media File" icon).

What's wrong?

[bolta]

Hey there . . .

One quick question - is this card REALLY a capture card? If you want to be able to capture an input signal to your computer, then the appropriate hardware would help.

How have you got your hardware set up? How are your video connections to your computer made? I can't see anything that says this card will capture video - feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the reason your software can't find a signal is that the card is just not set up for it.

Regards,

B.

[Baltazar]

I sure hope it is a capture card :/ I paid $349 (2900 for it. And read all the reviews I could. It has a TV-in should it not then be able to capture incoming video/tv?

I'm using a S-video cable from my VCR (the same cable I use when I connect my computer to my TV).

[Baltazar]

Solved it myself, had to install the capture drivers......

Now VirtualDub works when choosing capture AVI, but there is only black/white flickering screen. Aren't there supposed to be a tuner or something to find the right perception from my VCR?

Also is, VirtualDub the best program if I want to digitize and burn the file as a SVCD? And is it possible to digitize NTSC video into PAL with VirtualDub?

[Baltazar]

OK! Solved that too myself......

New problem: I followed the guide: https://www.videohelp.com/mjpeg.htm

I can't do the Video->Format setting of 480x576 for PAL neither in the "set custom format" am I able to do thoose settings, it says "Error 418: The videoformat is not supported". Neither can I set YUY2 in the same dialog, same error respons.

One more thing: The picture fits the screen alright but the subtitle is only showing the upper row.

Why?

[jeremypps]

hi baltazar, I'll try to give some hints even if I'm quite a newbie.
about the unsupported format message: I thinks it depends on the card and on the codec, you have to try all the combinations between color space and resolution.
then, about the resolution, I suggest you to capture full (I am in pal country so I choose 720x576 using UYVY with mjpeg or huffyuv), then, if you want to make a svcd, open the captured file in the encoder you are using; this will give you real better results than capturing at 480x576 (or, at least, it does for me).
good luck, cheers, jeremy.

[Gazorgan]

Try capturing with IUVCR, it supports WDM drivers, as opposed to VDUB that uses VFW drivers.

[Baltazar]

Thanks! IUVCR is great! Works fine!

[Baltazar]

Shit.. IUVCR doesn't work fine video/audio sync...

I've also tried Virtual VCR, same problem...

No framelosses, still... Not 100% correct sync. I've checked my harddrive doing DMA if available and actual transfersetting "Ultra DMA". Don't know if my old motherboard supports it though (think it should).

I know I have an old computer P2, 400MHz, 384MB ram. But my graphic card is powerful.. I can't even do a VCD without syncproblem although my CPU usage is way below max (in the middle) when trying to capture for VCD format.

Why is there a video/audio syncproblem?