No audio with S-Video cable

[Guest]

Hello out there!

I'm using WMM2 to capture analog video from an old Sony HandyCam. If I use
the Composite cable with "Line in" checked, I get audio on playback but not
while recording. If I switch to the S-Video cable I get no sound both during
recording and playback.

I would like to use the S-Video cable and have sound during recording and
playback. I've tried to change the "Line in" setting but have had crashes of
WMM2 while doing so, which is probably no coincident. I've been through the
threads and found no solution. Does anyone know the answer?

By the way, while I'm at it, I'm wondering if I could improve the quality of
these digitalized (prev. analog) videos by buying a digital camcorder and
running them through it. My current method (with the composite cable)
directly to my capture card on the PC results in some loss of quality, in
particular, a loss of clarity always and major blurring during action scenes.

Would be grateful for some hot tips on these issues.

Thanks.
Steven

 

[Alan]

S-Video only carries the video signal - you will still need to attach audio
leads....

hope this helps,

al

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

You are aware that the S-Video cable carries video only...that is why it is
called an S-*VIDEO* cable.

Bobby

 

[Guest]

Thanks Alan (and BadDog), that would explain why I'm not getting any audio.
It's the first time I ever used an S-Video cable. (I always figured if you
used one of these to hook up a VCR to a TV you wouldn't need an additional
wire for sound!!!) It is also my impression that the quality of the
digitalized video did not improve with the use of the S-Video over the
composite cables, which brings up the question: What's the benefit of using
an S-Video over composite???
Thanks again.
Steven

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

A VCR delivers low-res video at best. The resolution of RCA cables can
deliver the resolution of a standard VHS signal with little or no
degradation. Using an s-Video cable from a regular VHS signal will not
"improve" the picture, as the picture is low-res to start. If the original
signal is of sufficient quality and is recorded in S-VHS, then the resultant
recording will benefit from the use of the S-Video cable.
Bobby

 

[Guest]

Hello again Bobby,
My mention of the VCR to TV was just hypothetical. I just performed a test
comparison of my camcorder to PC digitalization under the conditions
mentioned in my original message, except that now I alternatively used the
S-Vid. and then composite. The result: SVid. was noticeably better in terms
of reduced blurring in action scenes. This is what I was looking for. Thank
you.
Steven