Still need expert help, advice...please...

1234567 wrote on 5/1/2002, 7:26 AM
I am having a problem with VV3 when capturing a less than great VHS tape. The tape is a concert for the Pat Travers Band. They shot the footage using 2 cameras and a cheap switch. When they switch between angles is when the problem ocours. It plays perfect on the TV and appears fine on the capture window, but on playback from VV3 the switching causes the sound and video to stutter a little. Has anyone solved a problem like this before? If I "stripe" a blank DV tape and the drop the VHS on to it and then subsequently capture it, will it work. I figure the VHS causes the capture to lose a/v sync temporarily. So what do you think? I would have thought the advc100 would have taken care of this by laying it's own time code down, but maybe the problem is too great for it to handle. Finally, is there anything (setting(s)) in VV3 that might work? Thanx in advance for all your help.

Comments

winrockpost wrote on 5/1/2002, 7:42 AM
Happening on play back from timeline ,or actual print to tape ? If on timeline playback ,try print to tape , things will flow much smoother
DuncanS wrote on 5/1/2002, 7:59 AM
"If I "stripe" a blank DV tape and the drop the VHS on to it and then subsequently capture it, will it work"

Well, do that then. It sounds like a sensible solution. Apparently some pro's do this to get continuous timecode anyway - so you're in good company.
Chienworks wrote on 5/1/2002, 11:25 AM
Actually striping doesn't really do anything for DV tape. The timecode will be overwritten when you make the dub from VHS anyway. The reason striping is helpful for VHS tapes is because the editing process only erases and overwrites the audio and video tracks and not the control track.

However, when dubbing the old VHS tape (which won't pass any timecode through the analog connection even if one did exist), the DV deck/camera should lay down a new continuous timecode as it records. You'll probably get some nasty pixelizations and other distortions on the DV capture when the switches occur, but at least you should be able to capture it continuously.
Former user wrote on 5/1/2002, 12:01 PM
It is not a time code problem. The glitches are being caused by a difference in the sync references between the cameras. Chances are they were not switched on a Switcher that had a proc amp and they were not using a common sync reference. Whenever the switch is made, the VHS has to resync. The TV is not as sensitive to this (in fact TV's will pass a lot of errors) but the convertor looks at every frame and is apparently sensitive to this error.

Dubbing to a another tape might help, but you would have better luck if you could dub thru a Time Base Corrector. Some higher end VHS decks have an onboard TBC, most consumer models do not. This will help to correct the Sync Reference Error. If you have a retailer that markets higher end video/audio, they might dub it for you (hopefully not too expensive.)

Dave T2
1234567 wrote on 5/1/2002, 4:59 PM
Thanx guys! Actually I am using a high end JVC S9800U VHS deck with the TBC turned on, this only helps moderatly. I have seen other seperate TBCs on the market. Are these more likely to fix my problem? I think DaveT2 is dead on with his analogy of the problem. Dave can you be a little more specific how a retailer would dub it for me. If this VHS tape was dubbed to another VHS tape would the resulting copy be okay to transfer through the ADVC100? Not that I really want to lose even more quality, I just want to know what my best possible option for saving this gem might be. This is a VERY rare tape and the only of it's kind. I REALLY want to have it come out perfect if I can. Many thanx for all your help!!
Former user wrote on 5/1/2002, 5:36 PM
I made the assumption that you might not have access to a TBC capable VCR. I suggested a retailer because they would likely have one and might make a copy for you. Since the TBC does help some but not much, then I am not sure what other course of action to take.

A larger TV production facility would have equipment that might clean the signal more, but you are increasing your cost. If cost is not a major concern, find a Post Production/Dupe House in your area and they could transfer the tape to a digital format. That way there is minimal loss in quality. No guarantee that it will fix the problem though. Only the engineers at the facility would be able to tell you that. But they spend a lot of time ensuring quality for all types of tape situations. Good Luck.

Dave T2
1234567 wrote on 5/2/2002, 7:25 AM
Hey Dave,
Thanx! That is what I though you meant. I will look into that option. Video sure can be a pain in the butt!
Former user wrote on 5/2/2002, 8:03 AM
Yeah, but it is a good pain. :)

Dave T2