Backing VHS Tapes to DVD

[rerr1]

Hello,

This question has probably been asked and answered before so please forgive me.

I am trying to backup my family VHS collection to DVD using a VCR connected to my TV card via an S-video cable and audio cables.
Whilst I can capture real time tv programmes in colour, any tapes I try to capture are previewed and captured in black and white only. This includes stuff that is copyright free.

Where am I going wrong?

Thanks.

 

[Crowley16]

how is your vcr connected to your pc? via s-video or via something else?

you should be able to play your vhs and have it show on your pc in colour...

--------------------
Procrastinate Now!

 

[felixc]

What is your TV interface card?

 

[torturedmind]

also, it depends on the signal setting of your vhs and the signal setting of your video capture card - ntsc, pal/secam, whatever as long as both source and target have the same signal settings. on the target side (pc) you can do this thru the software you use in capturing your videos.

hope this helps. peace!

kilroy
philippines

"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get one million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside."

 

[rerr1]

Thanks for your help.

My VCR is connected to my Aver TV Studio PCI card via a S-Video cable and audio cables. My TV card is set to PAL-I which I understand is the appropriate setting for my region (Scotland/UK)and the video displays PAL setting when connected to a tv.

 

[felixc]

IT may be somethign else, but I know that there are video decoders that are very sensitive in PAL modes, mostly because they are just not tested in PAL (or with a pattern generator that delivers the perfect timings), assuming that if they work in NTSC they will in other modes. But the subcarrier decoder (the one that decodes colors) is more sensitive to frequency shifts in PAL modes than NTSC modes. The end result being that the color is not decoded properly if anthing isn't perfect with the source signal. A tape is seen like a very bad signal source, and as a comparison an antenna TV signal is remarkably precise and stable. I suggest that you try to communicate with Aver for support.

 

[Nelviticus]

Is it possible to use a composite connection instead, or failing that connect the aerial output of your VCR to the aerial input of your TV card? The quality would be inferior to s-video, but at least you should get colour that way. If not then it's probably as felixc describes - your TV card can't quite handle the low quality signal coming from the VCR when it plays back tapes.

Nelviticus

 

[stevie1]

My suggestion is to get yourself a basic video package. You can then connect up your vhs in the same way and easily capture a full colour and sound production. You can then add things like menus and soundtracks to liven up those boring old films!
I use Pinnacle.

 

[felixc]

You may be interested in these new DVD recorders that are coming to the consumer market. Some of them record the video directly to a DVD, and they are surely tuned to capture video from unstable sources, as everyone has tapes that they want to transfer to digital. Once they're digitized, then you can edit at will.