Capturing with Virtual VCR

[Hyphven]

I am trying to catpure footage from a VCR and my plan is to put it on DVD. I want the best quallity possible, size doesn't matter. I haved tried many programs, but I haven't got any to work for me. I read through the guide they have here but it did not help me much.

I am trying to capure with Virtual VCR I go into the setting change the settings to NTSC, and the format to YUY2 (that's for DVD's right?) and set the resolution as high as possible (720x480) then click apply, i says "This format is currently not available." I tried different settings but it gives me that error to all of them. I beleive I have the latest drivers installed, their date is 7/2/2004. The only program i have got to work capturing is the software that came with the card, it's KWORLD's PVR plus, it's not that good, the audio gets horribly out of sync.

Please help me out, thanks.

[tigerman8u]

I have the ATI AIW 9000pro. I have used Virtual vcr to capture with ati's chipset and I like the results. I use YUY2 to capture from tv and vcr.

[AVIL]

Hi,

You can use "custom settings". Open the settings. In the window for "Video" check "Use custom settings" and choose Frame size 704 x 480 or any other of your preference. Choose also the colour format and framerate appropiated for your capture card (YUY2 and 25.000 usually)

Good luck

[Hyphven]

I just tried what you said AVIL, I thought it was going to work for a sec, then i click ok and said "Error rendering the preview. Try using the 'Smart Tee' option for previewing."
So I went in and selected Smart Tee, and I think it is working now. I need to test it. Thank you a ton if it works.

[GrofLuigi]

I just tried what you said AVIL, I thought it was going to work for a sec, then i click ok and said "Error rendering the preview. Try using the 'Smart Tee' option for previewing."
So I went in and selected Smart Tee, and I think it is working now. I need to test it. Thank you a ton if it works.

Or you could disable previewing altogether.

GL

[Hyphven]

Now that I have captured some video successfully I realize that I need to compress it, it is far too large. What my final goal is to import it into Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 using DVD Builder. But the only format it recognizes is the uncompressed format. There is a compressor in Virtual VCR that is called Roxio MPEG2 Encoder, but Roxio will not import it. What compression method should I use and how do I do it?
Thanks again guys, :cool:

[Cogar]

Now that I have captured some video successfully I realize that I need to compress it, it is far too large. What my final goal is to import it into Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 using DVD Builder. But the only format it recognizes is the uncompressed format. There is a compressor in Virtual VCR that is called Roxio MPEG2 Encoder, but Roxio will not import it. What compression method should I use and how do I do it?
Thanks again guys, :cool:
I have not used Roxio products lately, but most programs (I use VirtualDub for post processing and Tsunami Video Encoder XPress for encoding) will accept output using the following codecs:

For completely lossless, use huffyuv (freeware):
http://neuron2.net/www.math.berkeley.edu/benrg/huffyuv.html

For essentially lossless, and a lot smaller file size, use PICVideo ($28 for non-commercial use):
http://www.pegasusimaging.com/picvideomjpeg.htm

After installing, to use them, you open VirtualVCR's settings and select the video tab. You then select the "Use Compression" box and select either "Huffyuv 2.2.1" or "PICVideo M-JPEG 3 VfW Codec" as the codec. It will output a compressed file.

[abyss]

I am trying to capure with Virtual VCR I go into the setting change the settings to NTSC, and the format to YUY2 (that's for DVD's right?) and set the resolution as high as possible (720x480) then click apply, i says "This format is currently not available." I tried different settings but it gives me that error to all of them.

I wander what this error mean? I also get this error to whatever resolution I set exept default. Why VirtualDub doesn't show such error and I can set desired output format without any problems. Does it mean that Virtual VCR captures video at resolution defined in capture pin dialog box and then resizes it to my custom resolution indicated in Video tab? I guess I'm asking too many questions... :)

[Cogar]

I wander what this error mean? I also get this error to whatever resolution I set exept default. Why VirtualDub doesn't show such error and I can set desired output format without any problems. Does it mean that Virtual VCR captures video at resolution defined in capture pin dialog box and then resizes it to my custom resolution indicated in Video tab? I guess I'm asking too many questions... :)
If you are where I think you are (the Device Setting "Video Capture Pin" property), it is controlled by your capture device. In other words, it reflects what your hardware can deliver. FWIW, my setup will allow such settings, so I do not believe it is a bug.

[FlimsyFeet]

The only program i have got to work capturing is the software that came with the card, it's KWORLD's PVR plus, it's not that good, the audio gets horribly out of sync.
In my experience, VirtualVCR is not very good at keeping audio sync either. Maybe it's because I capture from old VHS or 8mm tapes and get dropped frames from defects in the analogue source.

VirtualDub works better for me.

[zacoz]

I am trying to capure with Virtual VCR I go into the setting change the settings to NTSC, and the format to YUY2 (that's for DVD's right?) and set the resolution as high as possible (720x480) then click apply, i says "This format is currently not available." I tried different settings but it gives me that error to all of them. I think this was the error message I used to get if I tried to change settings while preview was turned on. I got into the habit of turning off preview, then change settings, then turn on preview again. I also need to use the Smart Tee option, so maybe this has an impact (?).

As for compression, I've been using PICVideo MJPEG. It gives a good balance between size and quality. Unless my HD is rather full, I try to use it on 18-19, making sure I leave enough room to process it down to 2 pass Xvid later. I've used it down to a setting of 16 and still been satisfied enough with the trade off. Haven't tried any lower.

Anyone else experience the frustration that I do with VirtualVCR, that it resets the Device Video Capture PIN properties - Colourspace to RGB555 & Output Size to 352x288 each time the program is opened. My capture card is an inexpensive "WinFast TV2000 XP" - BT878 chip

[matrix]

Anyone else experience the frustration that I do with VirtualVCR, that it resets the Device Video Capture PIN properties - Colourspace to RGB555 & Output Size to 352x288 each time the program is opened. My capture card is an inexpensive "WinFast TV2000 XP" - BT878 chip
Have you put a checkmark in use custom settings, in video tab?
Anyway, after you set up everything the way you want, close the settings dialog, and click on the second button on virtualvcr, save current settings. It's supposed to keep those particular settings every time you open it.
Don't worry about video capture pin (I never set that up), the settings you use, resolution and collor settings, appear at the bottom of the screen.
I use virtualvcr for ages, and I'm very satisfied with everything about it.
But then again, I have a different card so, I don't know.

[WoodsieLord]

Hi there, I would like to capture some TV like everyone here!
I have 2 hardware pieces cappable of capturing: asus Ati9600XT and pinnacle pctv pro pci. Right now I'm trying with the ATI card.

I'm encoding on the fly, but I'm having some problems. My Audio will go out of sync unless I left it uncompressed. This way the audio gets out of sync only for a half of a second within ~10 min of capturing.

I wish for help in solving the Audio Issue*, and I would like to know which Resolution and bitrate should I use for best video quality without loosing frames.
My sistem: pentium 2.4 northood, 512ddr 266, 2x 80GB sata raid0 (ICH5-R).
I'm using VirtualVCR because I get a lot of noise if I use VirtualDub.

Thanks for your answers and I'm really sorry about my poor english.
Woodsielord.

*EDIT: I think I solved the Audio issue with Virtualdub, thanks to the Vdub tutorials at Doom9.org. Thanks a lot!.

[Mug Funky]

K-World, huh? i've got one of these - DVB-T PCI w/ composite and YC analog capture ability.

it does sort of suck... the software that comes with it will cap to mpeg-2, hgh rate if you want, but it only supports raw uncompressed 8-bit yuy2 and an unknown divx codec (certainly not the latest).

i've had it capturing in vdubmod before, but it's usually dumb luck if it works or not (i get access violations when i try these days, but i didn't change anything... go figure).

if you DO get it capping, then here's a couple tips:

- allocate hard disk space before capturing. vdub will drop about 40% of your frames if there's no allocated space. even 100 megs will do - just enough to get it started.

- try huffyuv capping. i got dropped frames on everything else, even on my moronically fast new machine. i don't think it likes me.

but seriously, just cap straight into mpeg-2. VHS doesn't preserve enough detail to worry about capping uncompressed. certainly get the audio uncompressed if you can (i'm not sure this is the case), but the video is most probably a lost cause without expensive comb filters and a time base corrector (to stop wibbly lines).

[zacoz]

Have you put a checkmark in use custom settings, in video tab?Thanks Matrix. I was saving settings, however didn't have the checkbox ticked. It's now remembering the size and colorspace. :thanks:

[WoodsieLord]

I would like to know if its possible to save the capture pin configurations..
As I'm having problems with all shedulers for VVCR, I'm using VNC to start capturing remotely when needed. Today, I captured perfectly BAD. The capture pin changed from PAL-N (right) to NTCS (default?).
Is there any way to change those 'settings' forever? Do I need to flash my VGA's Firmware to ERASE those other formats forever?? I will do it if necessary!! I'm wrathful :mad:
I'm using custom format, and also I have my settings saved to a profile config file.

Thanks for any answer.
Woodsielord

[mic]

I would like to know if its possible to save the capture pin configurations..
As I'm having problems with all shedulers for VVCR, I'm using VNC to start capturing remotely when needed. Today, I captured perfectly BAD. The capture pin changed from PAL-N (right) to NTCS (default?).
Is there any way to change those 'settings' forever? Do I need to flash my VGA's Firmware to ERASE those other formats forever??
To my knowledge it's up to the software, whether it remembers a configuration or not, so no need to worry about firmware etc.

Have you considered using another program besides vvcr? There are a lot of capture programs out there, some free, some extremely inexpensive. Many contain a scheduling function, or do the scheduling as you are now, just use something that remembers how you've got the video set up. What happens if you open vvcr and set everything, then leave it running, uring your current method of scheduling, or even the scheduler built into windows?

[niv]

Hi,
I found VVCR to be limited to stations picked by channel numbers.
However when I scan by frequency (iuVCR) i get a lot more stations from my cable provider.

Is there a way t scan by frequency?

Niv

[Darksoul71]

@niv:
You can apply the "agressive" mode during scanning with vvcr. This should solve your problem.

-D$

[niv]

@niv:
You can apply the "agressive" mode during scanning with vvcr. This should solve your problem.

-D$
Thanks Darksoul,
I did that - still got fewer stations then iuVCR at freq. scan.
any other thing comes to mind?

[Darksoul71]

Hi Niv,

unfortunately I´ve no other idea. If you have set up the rest correctly (cable or antenna / TV norm), I don´t know what could cause the problem.

Sometimes this WDM stuff can be a real pain in the neck. Esp. setting / enforcing your TV norm if you live in a Non-NTSC country :(

Best regards,
D$

[mic]

A total guess, could the difference between apps be a threshold for signal strength? If so maybe could adjust that in registry or ini file?

Otherwise, some of these prog store an editable channel list with frequencies, either in file or the registry. If so could you add the freq you find with one prog. to the other?