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6th July 2006, 04:27 | #21 | Link |
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Image quality issues may have many sources... one common problem people have is RF Interference (I mention because you're using RF rather than composite or S-Video), or it could be your capture software configuration or driver, or something else entirely. Without a great deal more information, and perhaps sample images, all we can do is guess.
Switching to composite or S-video input will eliminate RFI -- if that happens to be your problem, or one of your problems. In addition, It should also improve the image quality, as both types of video signals are considered better than using RF. ---------- Let's talk sound.... When you use an RF connection ("Tuner") and select a channel, the sound is carried along with the video into the card. In order to get that sound out of the card, and into your speakers, it has to go from the capture card to your soundcard ... where your soundcard hardware and software will pump it out to your speakers. The path the audio must take is with a short cord, that runs from an "audio out" socket on the capture card to an "audio in" or "line in" socket on your sound card. It cannot travel digitally between cards on your motherboard, it travels outside your PC along an external cord, and is nothing more than simple stereo audio. When you use Composite or S-video as input, sound is NOT included in that signal, as you probably know. When using one of these two source types, you could route your sound from the source (VCR, cable box, etc.) directly to your soundcard. But, some people switch back and forth between Tuner (RF) and Composite or S-Video, and those people sometimes find that the "audio in" socket on the capture card is helpful. All that does is route the audio directly back out the "audio out" connection, but it is more convenient, as the user can switch between RF and video sources without having to reach behind the PC and swap audio cables around. There are Y-cables you can obtain from local retailers around the planet that have two RCA plugs at one end, and a single 3.5mm stereo plug at the other. For stereo sources, use both RCA plugs (Right = Red, Left = White). For mono sources, use either. Last edited by jggimi; 6th July 2006 at 04:31. |
6th July 2006, 20:48 | #22 | Link |
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I went shopping yesterday for a composite to svideo patch
cord again. Not much luck at the major stores so I'll have to get one from Jameco or someplace. At Radio Shack a converter is $20. Online the same gizmo is one buck US in quantity. I have quite a few 1/8 in sound patches and will dig those out. Jeez, I'm getting a real spaghetti factory going back in the work room. Work room has 2 pcs, both old, one given to me. I have one on an ironing board for easy access. :-) Thanks for the detailed reply. I'm going to follow your lead and get sound going and continue to search for an inexpensive (under $6) composite to s-video patch. From what you say, I should not have to get sound from one file and edit it into a video capture for final conversion to avi, is that correct? My software, the WinTv 2000 prog. has a simple one touch 'record' button.' I hope that when I click on that it will ask me about saving the file because I don't see where it says 'stop' recording. With the tweaks I've been able to do to get video working I'll have to see if VirtualDub kicks in for me. But I'm unclear if Vdub can be used as a simple player/viewer. I know what you are going to say: " go to the guides." Anyway, thanks for the detailed reply. |
6th July 2006, 21:01 | #23 | Link |
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I wouldn't use the Hauppauge program for capturing. You can save a lot of a/v resync work by using the latest VirtualDub.
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6th July 2006, 21:43 | #24 | Link | |
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Quote:
Ok. It might be easier to troubleshoot that prog since everyone recommends it. Today I'm doing the sound hookup-- or trying to. The color coding on the old SB Live card is blue red and green. Green is out to my sound amplification source: Radio Shack mini amp called the SA 155. That works. I did a streaming audio test of a news show and the sound plays ok. But neither the Red nor the blue has given any audio from what I see as line out on the Hauppauge. SB Lives have markings but they are not all that clear. I am still connected for video via the RF/cable connects. With this assembly, could I test the vhs player by going from RCA on the player to 1/8 line in on the card? I've blown up sound cards in the past by fooling around. Next time I'll give any news on the Virtual Dub prog. The one thing I've learned to do in all this is spell Hauppauge. ;-) |
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7th July 2006, 22:36 | #25 | Link |
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More success to report but some fresh questions.
A connect to the soundcard directly from the vhs player gives me sound now whereas no audio was coming from the RF connection. Also I got VirtualDub going with picture and sound by selecting Line in under the audio tab. While monitoring the audio and video, what i can't seem to get right is the brightness. I've tried to get some brightness on the picture but it remains very dark. Are there any chroma level controls within VirtualDub to get the picture viewable that I've missed? Also the image does not want to go full window in VDub. |
7th July 2006, 23:08 | #26 | Link | |||
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Quote:
When you use an RF connection ("Tuner") and select a channel, the sound is carried along with the video into the card. In order to get that sound out of the card, and into your speakers, it has to go from the capture card to your soundcard ... where your soundcard hardware and software will pump it out to your speakers. Quote:
Your driver may or may not allow color correction on input. Quote:
Unfortunately, I am forced to remind you to review our forum rules, in particular, Rules #1 and #1a, because you are still in violation of them. You are going to have to follow our rules if you want to survive here. You agreed to them when you joined us, and we insist you abide by them. You'll find a link at the top of every forum page. Last edited by jggimi; 7th July 2006 at 23:11. |
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7th July 2006, 23:24 | #27 | Link |
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All I did was bypass the audio at the capture card and plugged
direct to the SB Live. In VDub by activating Line In in the program and using a y -connector from the mono source, I'm getting the stereo level display in VDub along with the video. The program looks like it's working. So at this point I can start to make some sense of the text of the guide. How many "violators" do you usually get? |
7th July 2006, 23:34 | #28 | Link |
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I'm glad you've finally got it going.
We have approximately 90,000 members -- at all sorts of skill levels (both technical and social), and from all over the planet. Moderators are here both to guide and manage the various fora, and that includes upholding rules and sometimes enforcing compliance. In this case, you're a very friendly and polite violator. |
12th July 2006, 20:34 | #30 | Link |
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Ok. I'm back.
The guide is long and dense and I'm getting what I can out of it. I would prefer seeing this in printed form for a couple reasons which I will get to but I want to know if the guide has a pdf to print to paper? The first reason for this is: reading long involved pieces one screen at a time gives me a headache and makes me real crabby. The second reason is I found out that trying to have the guide loaded on the connection where I need it and opening Virtual Dub at the same time produces an error. I wanted to adjust the settings by flipping back and forth which, you guessed it, gives me a headache as well but the program locks up. So the alternative is load the guide on one machine and adjust Vdub on the other. I'm also not clear as to whether my capture source should be running while all this is going on. Lastly I have a composite to svideo adapter on order which hasn't come yet. Neither the capture guide nor the program seems to say where to stop and start capture unless that is in the buttons below the main window. Later for that. I'm still doing settings for NTSC. My sound is going and my picture is going. But I'm on the sneaker net to make program adjustments. |
12th July 2006, 21:04 | #31 | Link |
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Did you try downloading the compiled help file, the links are in the first post of the sticky thread? Maybe that can be printed in an easy way.
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12th July 2006, 21:28 | #32 | Link |
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My source for a printer is not here at home. I have to do
screen prints or pdfs. I'll see what I can do. Today nothing wants to co-operate. I am getting blue screened all over the place in attempting to do even the simplest setup. One of the page fault messages is: something something vxd having to do with a virtual device driver spoze. I couldn't get past the blue screen and went totally blank. What I managed to do was 'turn off overly" and select preview to keep the image going. Doing this does not display any stats in the stat window. Other weird thing that happens is the OS resets to 640x400 so there is some conflicts going on here. Also I could not find the Direct Draw acceleration option at all. This is where things break down in the "everything is in the guide" concept. I should be able to find the options at least. |
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