Viability of cheap VHS capture

[crissrudd4554]

I'll definitely try some tests. It's very complicated. My preferred capturing program is actually Roxio Creator NXT. I have the first and fourth editions (fourth seems to work best). Since the volume wouldnt budge on Pinnacle, I tried the Dazzle on Roxio. The volume adjusted right but when I click capture I get a popup saying 'capture error'. So I don't know. I recently stowed away a box full of programs that I didnt really intend to use again but I might dig out the Roxio VHS to DVD program I had in there and try that again.

As far as VirtualDub goes, I did try it on my old PC and I remember it gave me this effect which I try to avoid.



But maybe I'll give it another shot on the new PC. We'll see. Still waiting for a reply from Corel.

[crissrudd4554]

So I managed to get Dazzle to capture with Roxio program. My computer has 4 USB ports. Two ports gave me the capture error, the other two didn't. Capturing now and seeing how it goes. Still no word from Corel.

I attempted two other options to no prevail. One was using Gigaware capture through Roxio but the computer gives me no option to adjust the volume on that, the other was using Roxio VHS to DVD and trying to adjust the volume on that device. This just gave me the same issue I had when using VIDBOX07 with Roxio, I would adjust the volume, push record, adjust it again, stop record, adjust it again, etc.

[crissrudd4554]

Got a reply from Corel and yeah they basically said to just lower the volume to the captured video in the editing program. So yeah that was a bit of a waste. Anyways I did burn a test DVD today of the video I captured through Roxio last night. Gonna watch it in a little bit.

[crissrudd4554]

I give up. Now Im noticing audio glitches. Kinda like the sound of an old computer dialing up. Granted I only spotted it once but still never had this problem before. I've come to a conclusion that VHS capturing is impossible to perfect. Everything I try I still get glitches. So right now Im doing my only other option. Capturing again and simply editing both videos into one complete glitchless video even though I personally would prefer not to do it like this. I'd rather just capture, burn, move onto the next tape but if I want it done right this appears to be my only option at this stage. And frankly Im done sinking money into all this especially if what I buy next is not guaranteed to fix the problem. I just got a new computer so thats out of the question, the DVD Recorder cost me like $70 so not really up for buying another one of those, VCR Im using gives me better playback so not up for getting another VCR, got enough enough programs and devices. So I'm throwing it in. Recording VHS' is a bitch!

[Jetrell Fo]

This is the best basic advice I can give ...

Start your task manager and end every process you don't need running.

Don't be connected to the internet when doing captures either.

Make sure you have the required RAM for the type of CPU your PC is using.

Depending on budget, I rarely use a USB capture device, unless I know I have the PC resources available to do a decent capture.

Finally, I chose my S-VHS and DVD Recorder as wisely as I could, because that can matter a lot if you want quality captures.

[crissrudd4554]

My VCR doesn’t have an S-Video output. How would I do that??

Additionally may it be a quality issue?? I usually set it to HQ but should I perhaps try it with standard???

[crissrudd4554]

One last question. What’s more recommended? Capturing DV or MPEG?? I usually stick with MPEG since DV tended to be more glitchy on my old computer but maybe it’ll be different with this computer. Some sources say DV is a better way to go. Opinions????

[spoRv]

Huffyuv lossless!

[crissrudd4554]

That’s a codec though. I’m referring to the format output in the capturing program.

[jerryshadoe]

HI!!!!

You have been having some massive capturing issues, judging from this thread. I feel your pain.

Best bet (based upon my experience) is to capture DV/avi and stay away from MPEG, if possible. However, you need to have a powerful enough machine in order to be able to do it.

The picture in your post at top of this page (the capture from Vdub) looks like two interlaced frames being displayed in one progressive frame. I hope that you are trying to capture your VHS tapes INTERLACED at 29.97fps for NTSC (or 25fps for PAL) and NOT progressive.

Also, it might not be your capturing programs AT ALL, when it comes to video glitches. I have worked with VHS tapes that will just not capture properly, especially if they are a copy (or copy of copy) no matter what you do. In these cases, (and I'm having to do this with the "My best friend's wedding" workprint VHS capture right now) when you are de-interlacing the footage, you double the frame rate, so that every single field becomes its own separate frame... Then throw the interlaced video on a timeline in your preferred video editor and keep it there for a time reference, throw the double-frame rate video on the timeline below it and then "cherry-pick" every single frame until you get a perfect result. This works very well, but is time consuming as hell.

That's just my two cents though...