How to export to VCR ?

MrFizzbin wrote on 1/31/2002, 12:17 PM
That's the question. Here is the physical set-up and what I have tried so far. Very new to all this, so patience please...

Basic hardware/Software setup:
Win XP with 256 MB (pci133) ram
Aims Labs TV capture Card (old, I know). Has RCA video input connection
Vegas Video 3.0
ATI rage 128 Video card. Has monitor {RCA connection} output.
Soundblaster PCI 128 Sound Card
And no, I do not have FireWire....

What I have tried so far:
I was able to capture VHS clips using another app. by using the VCR's RCA-composite "line-out" video output connections to my TV capture cards RCA video input. Used the VCR's "audio Line-output" RCA connection to my Audio card's "Line-in" connection. (used an adapter to convert female RCA plug to male "Line-in" plug). I then saved it as an .avi file and import it into Vegas Video. There I was able to include it in my project. If your still with me, read on.

After rendering as an mpeg file, I figured I could simply reverse the process. I would play via Windows media player and "maximize" the playback screen while at the same time recording to VHS. I would do that by the following physical set-up. Video card has TV (RCA-composite output). Connected the RCA-composite output from video card to RCA input on VCR. As for the audio, I ran the "audio out" from soundcard to RCA line in to VCR.
Well, It did not work.. I figured it should have. Wahat am I doing wrong. Any ideas or options that you may believe will correct this? Or do you have an alternative suggestion?

Comments

wvg wrote on 1/31/2002, 2:21 PM
I haven't done it for a long time but... if you're trying to make a VHS tape, don't have a firewire/camera to feed to but do have a video/audio in/out card with a breakout box it seems your connections are OK, (you may want to hook up an extra monitor to the VCR outputs to monitor the taping) all that seems missing is to switch to TV format which usually requires making a change in Control Panel under monitor, usually under settings, then advanced. Dig our your video card manual for specifics. I've done this with both Matrox and ATI cards with no problem.

My method, a bit Rube Goldbergish, was to first render the file to your hard drive using a high quality setting. Then open in Microsoft's Media Player or some similar player, start it, switch to full screen mode, then push the record button on your VCR and bamb... it should copy fine. Depending on your audio setup you indeed may have to reroute the audio cable or simply get a "Y" adapter at Radio Shack or Best Buy, then leave one end going to your regular speakers and the extra for video recording, which you route to the audio in jack of your VCR.
MrFizzbin wrote on 1/31/2002, 2:41 PM
WVQ,
Thanks for the quick reply. Seems I was on the right track as everything you mentioned I tried..including the "Windows Media Player full-mode and record" trick..but still can't get it running correctly. I will give it another try with another VCR/TV and see what happens..
Stay tuned for further news..
:)

P.S.. Not 100% sure what your refering to when you mention a "breakout box". (Actually, I have no Idea. You refering to TV capture card..?)
wvg wrote on 1/31/2002, 3:09 PM
Hmm.. It depends. The two video cards I have that have video/audio out have a little plastic box where the cables go in. Yellow for video Red, White the two audio channels. One also has a composite feed.

One set of cables goes to the video card, the other goes to the VCR and accepts the cables. I guess it depends on what video card you get if you get this "breakout" box thing. :-)

I think the key is switching the feed so it is output to the video out jack in ADDITION to the video signal going to your regular monitor. Again, it may depend on your video card. My two video cards I needed to fiddle with a setting under Monitors under Control Panel like I said. Then I had the video playing on my monitor and also fed to the VCD at the same time. At least that's what was necessary on the two cards I tried. Otherwise like you, I was stuck and nothing happened.
Chienworks wrote on 1/31/2002, 4:01 PM
I've got an ATI Rage card too. In order to enable the "TV" output through the RCA jacks, do this:
Start, Settings, Control Panel, Display

in the Display properties window make sure your resolution is 800x600 or lower. If you need to reduce the resolution you will have to apply it and accept the change. Once your resolution is adjusted properly click [Advanced]

In the Rage properties window click on the Displays tab

In the Displays tab you should see your monitor and a TV listed. If you have the video cable from the ATI card to the VCR properly connected, the TV icon should indicate that it's ready; if not, it will say "Not Connected". You can click the enable button (looks like an O with a vertical line in it) over the TV to turn it on. This will probably alter the display on your monitor as well (on my monitor the display gets squished vertically and shifted to the right). If you have a TV connected to your VCR you should now see your computer screen displayed there too.

Now you can use Media Player to output your MPEG file to the VCR. I did find that the output from the ATI Rage card to be somewhat squashed vertically. I got narrow black bands at the top and bottom of the screen and everyone looked kinda short & fat. But other than that the quality of the picture was quite good.

When you're finished outputting to tape, go back to the Displays tab and turn off the TV. This will put your monitor display back to normal, and then you may also set your resolution back to where you had it before.
MrFizzbin wrote on 2/1/2002, 12:33 PM
Well,
Basically had done what you have all pointed out the first time arround. Turns out it was probably the VCR and/or cables. Tried it with a different VCR and it works fine. Quality is acceptable too.
Was wondering, however, there must be another way of doing this... Doing an output directly from Vr=egas Video to VCR tape. Would seem you can do it if you have a Digital Video devise (such as camera). Has anyone done this, to to analogue (VHS) tape?
Chienworks wrote on 2/1/2002, 4:07 PM
Yes. I used to use the ATI's NTSC output for printing to VHS. I now use an external firewire converter (either the Sony DVMC-DA2 or my Panasonic DV camcorder) to take the digital output from the firewire port into the VHS VCR. It works very well; much better than the ATI's output.
Caruso wrote on 2/2/2002, 4:35 AM
Chienworks:
Would you say this converter gives you better Firewire --> VHS than you get by using computer ---> Digital8 ---> VHS?

Of course, if you don't have a Digi8, you won't be able to compare, but, I'd be interested in comments from anyone who can.

VV30 is giving me great results, and I can print fine from computer to camcorder, and, for that matter, from camcorder to SVHS. What I'm not happy with is the results I get on plain VHS (whether recorded using a good VHS machine or my SVHS machine).

I've tried the broadcast colors FX and the HLS fx, but neither has helped noticeably.

Thanks for any input.

Caruso
Chienworks wrote on 2/2/2002, 11:25 AM
You probably wouldn't notice any real difference, as long as you're using your Digi-8 in digital mode. When i've used my camera as the converter, i didn't record on to a mini-DV tape. I just used the camera to pass the firewire signal to it's analog A/V outputs without taping. I then recorded on VHS directly from this converted signal. I don't know if the Sony Digi-8 camcorders allow you to do that without recording on tape inbetween though.