Capturing VHS video with Canopus ADVC 110

Tex Wilson wrote on 2/3/2006, 3:32 PM
After unsuccessful attempts to capture analog video and audio with the composite setting on the Vegas Movie Studio + DVD and burn them to DVDs (see Capturing Video & Audio from VHS tapes posted 1/18/2006) & on the recommendation by rustier, I ordered the Canopus ADVC 110 digital converter. I just received it today & connected it to my computer. I read the user manual & followed all the instructions (at least I thought I did) and I CAN NOT GET IT TO DETECT A VIDEO SIGNAL. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong and what are the proper settings?

Comments

Jacksmyname wrote on 2/3/2006, 5:25 PM
I also just got this unit for my wife; works great.
What do you have connected as a VHS source, a deck or a camera?
Her camera has problems with playback, so I connected a VCR and use that instead. I connected video and audio outputs on the deck to the video and audio inputs on the Canopus. The a/v inputs are on the front of the Canopus. I mention that because when I first connected it I had them plugged into the back. LOL
Now, are you using firewire to connect the Canopus to the computer? If so, are you using a 6 pin to 6 pin cable? That's important as that's how the Canopus gets it's power. If you only have a 4 pin firewire port on your computer you'll need the Canopus power adapter kit which includes a 6 pin to 4 pin cable and an a/c adapter.
Also, if you're connecting an anolog device be sure to use the square silver button on top left side of the Canopus to select analog input. It defaults to digital. There are 2 blue lights just below that switch; make sure the one labeled analog is lit. On the bottom of the unit there's a very small panel with a number of very tiny slide switches called DIP Switches. You should find switch number 2 in the on position. Slide it to off and the unit should default to analog (but check the manual to make sure, I'm going by memory).
Jack
Tex Wilson wrote on 2/4/2006, 8:23 AM
Thanks for your response Jacksmyname. I have my VCR connected to the front of the Canopus with duping cables, yellow white & red. I am using a 6 pin firewire port. The silver button is set to select analog input. The DIP switch number 2 is in the off position. Here is the procedure I followed: (1.) New session- Wizard, I clicked on Capture audio or video. (2.) Device options- default video device configured to video composite, changed to channel 3, default audio device, pin line input mix, clicked on enable- mono mix (3.) Encoding options: video- Highest quality video [VBR 100] audio-Lossless quality audio [VBR 100] At this point shouldn't I be getting a video picture in the Windows Medio Encoder window? Nothing...just a blue rectangle above "Input".
Jacksmyname wrote on 2/4/2006, 8:35 AM
Hi Tex. I haven't tried it yet on my system with Vegas, so all I can do is take a guess or two.
If you're using duping cables from the VCR to the Canopus and you're getting a blue preview, did you select the firewire (IEEE 1394) in Vegas as your capture device?
Possibly a setting is wrong on the VCR, i.e., do you have to select the correct output for the RCA jacks you're using?
Tex Wilson wrote on 2/4/2006, 9:01 AM
Hi Jacksmyname. At this point I am not connected to the Vegas software. I am trying to convert analog video to digital video into a file that I would THEN import into the Vegas software and then burn to a DVD. Isn't this the procedure your wife is using? As far as I know, I don't have the option of designating the firewire iEEE 1394 as my capture device.
Jacksmyname wrote on 2/4/2006, 9:14 AM
Yes, she's using Windows Movie Maker.
If that's what you're using and you get a blue preview screen, I'm inclined to think that something's not set right with your VCR.
I went through something similar yesterday connecting a small outdoor camera meant for monitoring birdfeeders. I connected the cam to the VCR and kept getting the blue window. Changed the input on the VCR using it's remote control and that solved the problem.
I'd look at the VCR and make sure everything is set properly there. Your setup should work fine, as it's the same as we have here.
Tex Wilson wrote on 2/4/2006, 9:33 AM
Well, that doesn't make any sense to me. I can change the input to the VCR all right with the remote, choosing either video 1, video 2 or the channel option from the antenna. I use the video 1 when I feed the camcorder output through the VCR to the computer. The OUTPUT is the same as I have always used, which gave me a picture in the window of the software I was using. I appreciate you're trying to help me, but SOMETHING must be different from your setup. One last question: on page 9 of the instruction manual , referring to the input Select button it says " A blue light signifies which mode the ADVC 110 is using. The Input Select button will not work while both status lights are blinking." The lights are not blinking- it is a steady light. The analog position light is bright, but you can see a dimmer blue light in the digital position. Is this normal or could that be the problem?
rustier wrote on 2/4/2006, 1:50 PM
May I suggest you try hitting the play button on your vcr and play the tape - then plug in your firewire. If everything is lined up right windows should pop up a window saying "a device blah blah blah, what do you want to use? and then you select vegas, then external device. it will use the vegas software to bring it in to your computer

I know for some reason my computer does not always "see" my camera - when I unplug and then plug it right back in it sees it and works fine. Should a second capture window pop up just cancel it and stick with the original.

gosh tex I hope this fixes your problem. The only other thing I can think of off the top of my head is - are you sure the vcr is outputing the signal - have you check it on a tv?
Tex Wilson wrote on 2/5/2006, 7:42 AM
Hi rustier,

Late yesterday afternoon I solved my problem. I found that it works fine in the Vegas Movie Studio software when I click on the DV button since the analog has been converted to a digital signal through the Canopus box. I captured one hour of video & audio & then burned a DVD in the DVD Architect Studio.

What had confused me was when I connected the Canopus this window popped up with different settings you were supposed to make & this nice little blue screen where you normally see the video you are capturing. I thought that the video had to be captured there, put into a file and THEN imported into the Vegas software. I never did get a picture in that little blue screen.

Thanks for your help guys.
Jacksmyname wrote on 2/5/2006, 10:59 AM
Glad you're up and running, Tex.
Jack