VHS to DVD

dosin wrote on 3/31/2006, 1:38 PM

I am trying to convert VHS to DVD, but when I am downloading it to my computer the frames seem to freeze every 10 seconds or so. I am using the Prro A/V link for the conversion.
My computer is a Sony laptop PCG K35, 3.06 GHZ with 448 MB RAM.
I have plenty of space on my computer, so space is not an issue. I also notice I was getting alot of dropped frames. Could someone please help me.

Comments

jrazz wrote on 3/31/2006, 1:53 PM

Take a look at this thread. I purchased one of these and was given some great info on what to look out for concerning model numbers and firmware revisions. I would check that first to make sure you don't have a bad one.

j razz

dosin wrote on 3/31/2006, 2:34 PM

Hello, Thanks for your response. My model number is API 550 REV E

jrazz wrote on 3/31/2006, 2:50 PM

Try hooking it up to the firewire card by itself. I can capture from my camcorders via RCA, but for some reason, the VCR looses a lot of frams and jumps on the preview, while doing the same thing from the camera works great. If you have a VHS Camera with RCA outs, try that. If not, try another VCR to see how it works.

I can watch VHS Tapes on the monitor direct from the VCR. I can capture fine from the VCR direct to a pci card that records in mpg, but I cannot capture direct from the VCR into the Pyro A/V link and then into the computer. I don't know what the issue is. It is on its own firewire card and can capture RCA from the camera(s), but not the VCR.

I guess try the suggestions above and hopefully JohnnyRoy or DSE or someone else who has done what you and I are having problems with will chime in.

j razz

B.Verlik wrote on 3/31/2006, 2:51 PM

That sounds like a new enough version.
What you may be experiencing is what happens if you do not have a TBC (Time Base Corrector) or DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) on your converter. VHS or 8mm tapes tend to have drop outs, especially if recorded in EP mode. TBC and DNR eliminates most of these problems
For this type of problem, the Canopus ADVC 300 or a Sony Digital 8 Camcorder with Pass-through capabilities has both TBC and DNR.
If you use your Pyro to record from Satellite or Cable TV, using an S-video cable, you probably will never drop a frame.
If the original VCR that recorded it still works, it may play the same tape back a little better. (may)

JohnnyRoy wrote on 3/31/2006, 2:51 PM

Here are some things to check:

Can you capture DV from a DV camcorder to this computer? (just to prove it’s up to the task)

I assume you only have one hard drive and you’re capturing to the same drive that you Windows swap file is on. Is your swap file a fixed size or allowed to grow? (it should be fixed)

Is the drive defragmented? (it should be)

Is the drive in DMA mode? (it should be)

What speed is the hard drive? If it’s 4200RPM that’s marginal for capture. 5400RPM is better.

Have you disabled all other background software? I noticed this laptop comes with SonicStage MP3 software. Is it running in the background polling your USB ports every few seconds to see if you plugged in an MP3 player? I’ve had USB camera software that has caused dropped frames because it was running in the background.

All of these things can cause dropped frames but if your laptop can capture DV from a DV camera, then it will be able to handle the A/V Link. That’s why I asked that as my first question.

~jr

B.Verlik wrote on 3/31/2006, 2:58 PM

One more thing, if you're trying to copy a "macro-vision" encoded VHS tape, the Pyro may not allow copying. (datavideo will)

dosin wrote on 3/31/2006, 4:31 PM

I just used my sony digital 8 camcorger and I did not have 1 drop frame...WOW! Thank you all for your help. Just a quick couple of things:
1) will this damage my camcorder?
2) the picture was a little fuzzy, buy I guess that could be the tape.

Agin thank you

B.Verlik wrote on 3/31/2006, 5:17 PM

I bought a used Sony Digital 8 for strictly this purpose ($113.). It works fine. fuzziness probably due to VHS tape. The only problems I've encountered is, quite often I need to add some contrast to make it look normal, but not always. (10% or up to 15 to 20% if you add some text. example: I would use very large Hyphens to cover news scrolls or very large periods to cover logos and the large text would cause a washed out effect. This would vary depending on size. A real PIA to fix, but text rendered very quickly compared to other methods. Also contrast renders much faster than the 'color curves', which could be used instead of plain contrast.)
The Sony Dig 8s convert about as clean as I've seen. The washed out effect may be due to the way VHS comes out of the VHS player. That 7.5 IRE thing (the extra text I use, magnifies the problem)
You can always render a small portion of the project to a DVD-RW to test how it will look on a TV. (or reverse everything and Firewire back to TV) I may not have noticed how the problem occured, were it not for the fact that the news scrolls, I covered with hyphens, would only last 30 seconds or so, and the contrast difference, when my text covering was taking place, really was obvious.
What?.....Too much info?......that's my bad habit.