Inexplicably changed capturing outcome using iuVCR/MeGUI

[torpare]

As anything but an expert, I've embarked on a project to convert my collection of poor-quality vcr tapes of movies originally broadcast on UK TV (so PAL-I standard). Tapes are played-back with a JVC HRS8850EK deck and captured (Svideo) through an AVerMedia AVerTV DVB-T card with Wincap driver; audio goes in via the soundcard 'line-in' My system spec:-
ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 motherboard
VIA PT880 Pro/VT8237S chipset
Intel Core2 Duo E4500 2.2 GHz
graphics: Asus EN210 PCI-E X 4
GPU: GeForce 210 1024 MB
LG Flatron L194WT digital monitor
LG 32LC51 LCD TV
2048 MB DDR2 dual channel memory
Samsung SATA 160GB HDD
Samsung SATA 230GB HDD
Samsung Superwritemaster IDE multi-drive
Corsair HX520W PSU
Creative Audigy2 soundcard
TechnoTrend TV stick USB DVB-T card
O/s: XP Home SP3

I began, last week, using a trial version of iuVCR to do some test caps, then MeGUI to encode them - aiming to end up with MPEG-4 files; I envisage AVC video muxed with PCM stereo audio at 48 MHz (audio on the tapes is Nicam).

I've now come up against a roadblock which, try as I might, I can't surmount. From one cap to the next, MeGUI's AVS Script Creator tool ceased to be able to open the .avi files produced by iuVCR. I've no idea what triggered this abruptly changed behaviour, and I've tried everything I can think of to get back to the previous state of affairs - all to no avail. So I now have an impasse.

Having experimented with both no compression and with Lagarith, Intervideo and one or two of the other codecs iuVCR includes, nothing helps. VLC will play-back the .avi file (except when Lagarith is used, but then MPC will play that back anyway); however, GSpot cannot render the video, instead producing this error-message:- "Failed to create the source filter for the input file. E.AddSourceFilter failed. Error 0x80040241 [unknown]" (Googling suggests that that error code originates with Windows Media Player, which I haven't been using - the file association is with VLC).

Attempting to open the same .avi file with MeGUI's AVS Script Creator evokes the error message:- "Unable to render the file. You probably don't have the correct filters installed". But if I don't, how come I was able to open .avi files captured in exactly the same way previously?

It occurs to me that one change I definitely have made since I began this project has been to install VLC - but I can't say definitely whether or not it was from then that my troubles began (if it was that simple I probably wouldn't be in this situation). I'm mentioning this in case it has any relevance.

Can anyone suggest possible remedies, please?

[GrofLuigi]

Very odd it started all of a sudden. Maybe try general troubleshooting tips for avi files, check avi splitters (regsvr32 quartz.dll OR reinstall Haali splitter, if you use it OR install standalone avi splitter from MPC-HC), check if Windows Explorer isn't generating previews and holding the .avi files, check what's your antivirus doing, if any... Try a Codec tweak tool (http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Video-Tweak/K-Lite-Codec-Tweak-Tool.shtml), but be sure what you're doing... Also try rendering the problematic file(s) in GraphEdit or GraphStudio (compare with good ones) to determine/eleminate the possibility of some rogue filter/codec inserting itself...

GL

[torpare]

Hi GrofLuigi

Thanks for the response, and I'll experiment with your suggestions.

Meanwhile here's the graph. I'm very untutored in these matters, but didn't I read somewhere that File Source (Async.) was the Windows default - only brought into use as a fallback if all else had failed? Which would tend to confirm GSpot's and MeGUI's non-recognition of it?

[torpare]

Hi

The list of filters shown in GraphStudio includes 'AVI/WAV File Source'. Inserting this in the graph gets me nowhere - it just appears as greyed-out, and without any output pin(s). Incidentally, clicking on 'Locate file' brings up quartz.dll but if I subsequently enter this in GraphStudio's 'IFile SourceFilter Interface' dialogue box I get an error message saying "Cannot load specified file". Instead it loads what seems to be the generic AVI/WAV file source already referred-to above.

I don't understand any of this, being a complete novice in manipulating graphs. Does it give you any clues?

(Incidentally, I can't use my preferred app Graphedit because it seems to have developed a bug - or else Windows Explorer has - which prevents it from displaying as anything other than 'maximised' - which of course makes me unable to see or activate any other windows simultaneously and is thus totally useless as well as infuriating; so I've stopped using it. Uninstalling/reinstalling it made no difference, so I guess the problem is with WE. Heigh-ho!)

(edit)

I've not been using Haali media splitter because I don't seem to have need of it having - as you see - an AVI splitter already in place which (I think) must have come with iuVCR. And the problem seems to be with the first link in the filter chain anyway.

[torpare]

check if Windows Explorer isn't generating previews and holding the .avi files,How do I do this. please? Where do I look...?
check what's your antivirus doing, if any... I've had it both activated and deactivated - it seems to make no difference either way.
... Also try rendering the problematic file(s) in GraphEdit or GraphStudio (compare with good ones) to determine/eleminate the possibility of some rogue filter/codec inserting itself...GLAll that that did was generate an error message:- "Cannot render file":mad:

[torpare]

...and some more possible clues.

Experimenting with VirtualDub, activating 'Capture video' leads to error message:- "The current video format is not compatible with AVI files".

Have you any ideas as to how this is to be interpreted? "The current video format" refers to what, exactly? As already described, the video signal is coming from a VHS tape recorded from broadcast TV. Why would that not be compatible with AVI files? Or is it that my VDub settings are awry perhaps...?

[GrofLuigi]

How do I do this. please? Where do I look...?:

Reboot and don't open any Explorer windows, open your file directly in MeGUI. If you want to disable thumbnails permanently, unregister shmedia.dll. You can later register it again.

I'm sorry I can't answer you about the graphs (filesource etc.) - I'm not that profficient...

I see you replied while I was writing. I was just going to suggest that you open the captured files in Virtual Dub and post any error messages AND/OR file information as Virtual Dub sees it. Also try Mediainfo (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96516) to see more information about the files. Remember, trying to find the differences between good and bad files is essential, so always try to compare both kinds of files.

About the capturing error message, I'm not sure. Maybe you switched the tuner to DVB somehow? (I just googled the AverMedia card and it appears to be hybrid). I don't have any experience with DVB, by the way, but if iuVcr worked, I suppose it should be OK. Also, maybe the trial version has expired?

With any kind of complex/proprietary card, I'd suggest to use the software it came with, but I see many people say this one's sucks.

I think it's essential for now to determine the difference between the bad and the good files. Try MediaInfo first (be careful during installation, try to avoid unwanted ware OpenCandy).

GL

[Ghitulescu]

Maybe iuVCR just expired :p

[torpare]

No, as of today it still has 18 days to go.

I like iuVCR and would be happy to buy it, if only I could first find out what's going wrong and how to put it right - otherwise I'll just be wasting my money.

[GrofLuigi]

Can Virtual Dub open/play the files? If yes, can you try direct stream copy of both audio and video?

GL

[torpare]

Hi GL

Sorry about the delayed response.

VDub plays back both audio and video with 'Direct Stream' in the 'Video' menu checked (which is what I presume you mean by "copy" - I'm very inexperienced in using VDub). Incidentally the audio stream is uncompressed (PCM) and the video stream is compressed using Lagarith (YUYV).

Edit:
I meant YUY2

[GrofLuigi]

I am sorry, I was absent several days too.

Now I kinda lost the 'thread' of this thread. :)

If you want to 'rescue' the already captured segments, that's what Direct Stream Copy in Virtual Dub is for - like 'remuxing' the streams without touching them. Set both audio and video to DSC and save the video.

If you're looking for a permanent solution for the problem why some iuVCR .avi files can't be opened, I'm afraid you would need to talk to the author. I responded initially to this thread because I had a similar problem a long time ago when I tried iuVCR, but it was a configuration option in the program (something about length of avi segments or similar). Alas, it was so long ago and I used it for very short time, that I remember almost nothing. Either way, it's a fine program and it's worth giving a little effort to make it work. Maybe contact the author? Or give its successor, iuVCS, a try...

GL

[torpare]

Hi GL

To stop this thread wandering on aimlessly, I think I'd better wind it up here.

The fact is I'm getting nowhere with trying to capture satisfactorily. Whichever path I take, pretty soon I come up against some roadblock or other and I can't understand why - and not for want of trying, believe me!. Either something is basically wrong with my system (software or hardware? - dunno) or I'm just not getting it. So I think I'll have to just let it rest for a while.

A very frustrating state of affairs I must say. Meanwhile though, thanks very much for your attempts to help out - much appreciated.