PCA Forums

Well, I'm having lots of issues trying to capture video via the video capture on my GF4 4800SE. It's very problematic.

Sometimes it works fine, and sometimes I get a lot of dropped frames.

Here's some adivise for people who want to capture video - get a DV camera with A/V inputs! I'm glad I did!

I have absolutely no problem capturing video from my VCR using the DV camera as a capture interface device. Captures from the DV camera via firewire NEVER drop frames and they look fabulous.

Only hassle is that some capture software is designed to treat ANY edit on the original VHS tape as a chapter point or break point. Ulead Video Studio does this (only when capturing via the DV however, not via the capture card) and there seems to be no way to disable it. Any edit on the original VHS and Ulead stops the capture

Because of that I started using Vegas Video's capture which has the same feature BUT can be disabled. Trouble is that if I'm not planning on editing, Vegas takes a LONG time to render a capture as MPEG2. Video Studio does it on the fly.

I don't mind capturing through the DV camera, although it is a hassle connecting the wires. I'd LIKE to use the GF4 to capture from VHS, but I'm just not getting any reliability. Dropped frames are no fun.

I'm transfering a bunch of old VHS stuff to DVD for archive and I can't afford to find out I've got dropped frames sometimes.

Anyone else experimenting with video capture? What luck are you having?

I gave up a few months ago. I had the same idea - to save some of my VHS tapes to a digital format. So I started with a simple USB capture card (not the best choice). I could capture TV statations just fine with no dropped frames, but I wanted to capture VHS tapes. My software that I used was VirtualDub. Usually in one minute, I would lose about 20 frames. No matter what I tried, I always would lose frames. After more searching and reading on the net, I discovered that USB is not the best method for capturing VHS tapes. Most experts on the subject recommended TV out video card, or a PCI capture card.

One of the biggest things that affects dropped frames are the quality of the VHS tapes. A new tape should have almost no dropped frames. All of my tapes were in the 10-15 year range, and even playing those back on my VHS player, showed the age of the tape. I also tried using a S-video cable instead of regular cable with the same results. I tried a different VHS player with the same results. No matter what I tried with hardware or software, I always had dropped frames.

I was using Win2k pro with 512 megs of ram with dual P3-550MHz cpu's. So I know it was not the pc causing the dropped frames. In the end, I decided it was not worth trying to copy them onto a CD, as the quality was worse than a VCD, even with the dropped frames.

I had the same problem with a WinTV USB. The problem is that any tracking problems or glitches in the tape will cause the capture software to drop frames. This is essentially because consumer capture cards are so inexpensively designed. Commercial devices are better (but much more expensive).

My tapes are also going on 15 years old.

By using a DV camcorder as your capture device you are essentially isolating that problem - the DV camcorder acts as a simple time base corrector and glitches on the tape won't cause dropped frames.

I've done a couple of captures to DVD today using the DV camcorder as a capture device for the VCR and it works great with stunning picture quality.

I'll probably just buy a second A/V cable and rig it up so I can plug in the camcorder easily, and give up on the capture card entirely.

I'm not dropping frames yet.

I'll have to experiment more, I've only done 2 mpeg2 movies though. Both about 90 minutes or so.
The rest I was capturing as lower quality VCD, and those are low quality, but no problems!

I've got the ATI AIW Radeon 7500 to capture with. APG 4X 64mb version.

Using the Iwill XP333, 512MB, XP 1700 (over clocked to XP2000). Hardrive is a Maxtor 60gig 7200rpm.
Using Win 2k and capturing using the ATI software. Sanyo VCR.

I installed a patch file I found and disabled the protection detection, now I can watch or capture any tape. Before installng the patch I had problems I could not even just watch some tapes because I got just one still image for 20-30secs then the next still. Does that no more

Then I had a problem with slight dim/bright flicker, installed a booster in the video cable and that went away too.


All my captures are comming out fine, although only 2 were DVD quality captures.
Only problems I was having is bad tapes or bleed through of the copy protections. Not positive which at the moment. I am backing up a few hard to find commercial tapes and some of the kids movies.

Sometimes I get a little banding, 2-4 very thin lines in the top 2 inches of the movies. It comes and goes, so I am not sure if it is bad tapes or not. The other video problem I had was distorted image at times, not a protected tape, so it was bad or maybe the vcr needs cleaned.

Basically though, what I see watching the movie is what I capture. Quality in Quality out, or Garbage to garbage.
I'm not dropping any frames though.

I'm thinking about adding capture to the kids computer. I may try FP's idea and use that as an excuse to buy a camcorder

Any suggestions as to what a good camcorder is, for not alot of money. Been buying lots of parts lately and starting to feel like a bomber pilot, I'm getting a lot of flack!!

Just barely skinned by ordering my DVD recorder, 80 gig WD, and another Z640 speaker set

I'm REAL happy with the Canon ZR45MC. I can highly recommend BuyDig.com. REAL good deal for the camera, spare battery, NICE camera bag and lens cleaning kit for $512. Came out to $546 shipped and I got it in 4 days.

Just checked and the price has gone up on this package to $569: http://www.buydig.com/shop.php?prod_id=EXECCNVZR45MC

Camera alone is $489: http://www.buydig.com/shop.php?prod_id=CNVZR45MC

If you want to save some money just get the camera, although the executive kit IS a good deal.

You can also save by getting the cheaper ZR40. The only major difference is that it doesn't have a memory card slot, but frankly you don't need it. Camcorders take lousy still images and it's only $409.

They all have A/V inputs.

Sounds like something I'll be checking out

You say the camcorders take lousy stills? If you take a video, then capture a still from that, is it any good? I wouldn't need to take stills really if I can video tape stuff then capture a still durring playback on the PC! Kid has been playing with the still capture from the DVD player. Nice desktop background and 8X10 posters for her room

Besides the AV connections, How goods the picture and sound when filming as a camcorder? I never tried anything newer than VHS C. That's been a few years too! Never really saw a recording from a digital camcorder. The VHS types have motors and I can always hear them in the films, and sound is other wise muffled too.

Does it have zoom, and if so is it anygood? Good for low light conditions, like night time at an amusement park or fire works and such, and does it record in bright sunny conditions well without sun spots?


I'll check the links for details of course, but I probably won't understand any detailed specs

Also what does it record to? Massive removeable media? And do the batteries hold up well for long periods or last about an hour like VHS C?

I think it was a Sony (mactiva?) I had my eye on, but at nearly a grand I wouldn't be getting one anytime soon! It was the one that wrote to the small CD's. I did see stills printed from it using the zoom and they were fantastic, but for me the price is nuts! But that's the only thing I ever saw results from in person.

Thanks.

Ok, I looked at the camcorder.
From what I saw I like it too
But not alot of information, I'll try looking at the Cannon site too of course.

Anything you can tell me about the camcorder from personal use would be apreciated.

One of the things I would use it for if I get one would be to record the elementary baskette ball games. I like those better than the PRO's
A game runs about 20-30 minutes I think and they normally have 4-6 games. 4rth, 5th, 6th, one each for boys and girls. That's about 3hrs plus extras at least. SO for say, 4hrs of movie what would I need for this camcorder? And can I record from it back to VHS VCR or need extra adapters, or run though the pc first?

And you say I can run the VHS through the camcorders AV connection to capture to the PC. Is this sort of a pass through, or do I need to actually record to the camera then send that to the PC?
Some of the parents have been taping the basketball games already. If I can borrow the tapes (mostly VHS) it might be fun to burn some elementary basketball DVD's!

If you take a video, then capture a still from that, is it any good?

Nope. The basic problem is that a camcorder's CCD is not optimized for stills, it's optimized for motion. I've never heard of a camcorder that can do decent stills. It'll never look anywhere near as good as even a cheap 640x480 still camera.

The zoom is great - something like 18x optical. I disable the digital zoom because unless you're doing surveillance digital zooms are worthless.

It's a nice feel in my hand (I have a big hand though) and the zoom control is in a comfortable place and has a smooth touch.

All small camcorders have a problem with hearing motor noise in the audio, but it's only noticeable if the scene is quiet (then the auto matic gain control opens up and you'll hear some motor noise).

On normal speed you get 1 hour, long play you get 2 hours out of a mini DV tape. This is a digital tape so quality is superb. Camera has A/V in/out jack (same jack for both in and out), USB (which is only for downloading stills from the memory stick), firewire (which is the ideal way to capture video to the computer), external microphone. It also has an S-video input/output.

This camera also comes with a wireless remote control for the tape deck.

You can connect it to any VCR with the included A/V cable to copy to a VHS. You can also use the A/V cable to connect it to a TV with video inputs for playback and use the remote control.

For recording something like a long sporting event you'll need a couple of batteries (you can hot-swap while the power supply is connected). You can also use it on a tripod and use the power supply to save the batteries.

So far I've had no problem making the larger battery (the 2nd one that comes with the Executive kit) last an hour easy.

I'd really recommend spending the money on the Executive kit from Buydig so you get the extra battery and the bag. The bag is VERY nice, not a cheapie.

The image does get a bit grainy in low light (to be fair most of them suffer from this). There's a proprietary hot shoe for a light on the camcorder, but I haven't gotten around to buying one yet.

It works outstanding in daylight. I got some great footage of a Rennaisance Festival we went to last month - bright sunny day.

You can get a MUCH bigger battery if necessary for more record time.

The only major negative is the fact that the tape loads from the bottom so if you have the camera on a tripod you must remove it fro mthe tripod to swap tapes. Although most of the smaller camcorders have this problem (my cousin's Sony is the same).

The camera has both a color viewfinder and an LCD display. The LCD is very bright even in day light. Nice big display with a sharp image.

The camera does not come with a firewire cable so you'll need one of those for transferring video to your computer, and a firewire card for your computer (about $35 at Best Buy for the card - I found the cable at Big Lots for $8).

The camera can act strictly as a capture device for the computer. I connect my VHS deck to it and just pass the signal through the camcorder to the computer. No need to record to the camcorder first.

You don't get any video editing software with the camcorder. The easiest one to use is Ulead's Video Studio for $80.

Some comparisons and revies here: http://www.dvspot.com/reviews/cameraList.php

There's no pro review on the ZR45MC on that page but there is one on the ZR50MC which is essentially the same camera with a few extra features and a slightly longer zoom (22x instead of 18x).

Rennaisance Festival ? You do those?

I haven't yet, but planning to get to one soon. heard lot about em, something I think I'd like.

Well, the camera sounds great, and thanks for giving me all the info on it.
I need one, I go lots of places with no way to get movies right now.

I'll read the reviews you mentioned, and start the wife in the direction of how we need one! SInce the kids a cheerleader and all

I'll see what see says about it :fight

Probably have one in a month or so. Maybe sooner I sell this extra system I'm building.

Rennaisance Festival ? You do those?

What ho yon varlet? :jedi

Yup, they're a lot of fun. We're not REAL serious about them, but we've collected some clothes and accoutrements.

Real nice pic!

Is that you, and what kind of camera was that shot with?

I've got too many things I am doing at once, nothing seems to be getting finished!

I am building a retort and forge. If I get it all done and useable I plan to make a ton of charcaol this summer and hammer some iron!

May forge out a 200 pound black iron modded case for the lan party

Seriously though, I like doing stuff like that. Plan to make a few swords and daggers for myself, see how they turn out. Will be a first time trying it, so I don't expect anything fancy.

If I get a new bike I'd like to cruise over to a festival somewhere, if not I could take the van I geuss.

When you do to those, do you camp out the weekend, or just go for the day?

Yeah that's me.

We just go for the day. We have 2 festivals in February - one in Leesburg and the other in Gainesville (Florida).

Good directory of Renaissance Festivals here: http://www.renfaires.com/

We have real swords, although that's a wooden one. My wife collects swords. Usually you need some kind of certification from the faire organizer to carry a real sword, but just found out that there's no certification for the local faire we go to. They just require it to be sheathed and have the handle tied down.