[Novice Question]: Video capture problem

[John Smith]

Hi all,

I have the following problem:
I've captured a home-video of my kid and would like to digitize it.

My equipments are pretty dated but here is the list:
- Sony Handycam (Hi8, not digital).
- ATI Rage 128
- Creative AudioPCI (ES1371) (I think 16-bit)

I've not successfully captured NTSC at 29 fps...
OK, but shaky at 25 fps. Better at 15 fps.

The sound is terrible at all frame capture configuration, with distorted
noises interspersed with the "real" sound (conversation, etc.)

Q1. Short of buying new equipments, what am I doing wrong here? What can I
do to fix the sound?

Q2. If I need to buy new stuff, what do I need? Sound card? Video card?
Don't tell me a new digital camcorder (while ok, and easiest, I still need
to transfer stuff from my current tapes)

Thanks for your help beforehand.

~ Js.

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

I still shoot with a Hi8 Sony Handycam, and don't own a digital one yet. So
I won't suggest that you need a new camcorder. What model is yours?

Tell us what computer you are using. CPU speed, how much RAM, how much free
hard drive space and how fast it turns. And can we assume you are running
Windows XP as you are posting to an XP newsgroup?

And see the notes on the Analog Video Capture > ATI page of www.papajohn.org

PapaJohn

 

[John Smith]

Hi PapaJ,
Sorry I was a bit unclear, I had assumed only info regarding my video card
and sound card were needed.
But here is some more info on my equipment. Like I've mentioned it's pretty
dated, but for the most part works still. That's why I posed my question 2
different ways. First if anything can be done at all without replacing
anything, and second, if I need to replace things what do I need to replace?

It's a P3 450 Mhz;
RAM: 512MB;
OS: XP;
App: Movie Maker 2;
Plenty of hard drive available, at least 40G.
Sony Handycam CCD-TRV108 NTSC

The last post you have on your website (02/02/2004) is similar to the
problem I'm having.
2/2/04 - I'm unable to capture any audio with the video in MM2 from an
analog device (8mm camcorder or VHS VCR). From the camcorder I've used both
the S-video output and 3 color-coded (2 audio/1 video) cords to no avail. I
am able to successfully capture audio with video from a DVR. I've got a ATI
Rage video/capture card and have selected each of the devices (Line In to
Stereo Mix) on the Audio Input source drop box in MM2.

Is that the response (starting with the line prepended with a ">")?
Thank you again.

~ Js.

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Hi John,

I think you have plenty to get started with... a 450 Mhz CPU should be able
to preview and playback lower quality movies.... just expect
hesitations/pauses with higher quality ones. It falls below the 600 Mhz
minimum stated in the MM2 Help file, but it should still work.

You don't mention the speed of your hard drive. If' it's 6400 rpm or higher,
just keep it in good shape (defrag often). If it's less, then you might have
problems capturing and exporting smoothly playing files.... but you have
enough if you keep the files on the computer and the internet.

Dig in with what you have... the learning will be great for whatever you do
in the future, and you can learn more about what you might want to add as
you go along. I'd think of using your current computer for all the learning
and playing.... and then a new computer rather than upgrading parts in
piecemeal manner.... when you ready to move upwards.

PapaJohn


Maybe someone else can help with the ATI issue(s). I've never used one. Yes,
the > symbol indicates a response to the post.

 

[John Smith]

Hi PapaJ,

The hard drive speed is I think 5400 rpm.
Acceptable for the moment, I think.
I will take your advise and just play around with what I have currently.

I found on the net a similar audio distortion problem, with a different
sound card though.
But I suspect, the explanation may be applicable. I'm gonna try that. Worse
comes to worse I'll just get a new 24-bit sound card just to test if it'll
make a difference. The cheapest piecemeal upgrade.

"You may notice some audio distortion when capturing video at 320x240
resolution. It is most noticeable at 16 bit stereo, 22kHz. In order to get
around this problem, decrease the WAVE in Multimedia Mixer Dialog box. Refer
to page 2-6 of Pro Audio Spectrum User's Guide (v1.1.1). "

Thanks for all the advise and your time.

~ Js.