13 replies to this topic

[fourkeys]

I have gone through more than 1 year of posts related to video capture problems with no success in finding a solution to my problem: I have captured several VHS videos using the video capture USB device without a single problem doing so at different levels of quality settings.

Then I found that more than a few additional vhs recordings began to do the same thing when monitoring the import both before and after initiating the "capture now" mode. The video is stable and smooth for brief spans and then begins rapidly "jumping", "flickering", "bouncing" or whatever else it could be called.  The disruption comes and goes for brief periods and somtimes for longer periods.

I have played the VHS tapes on two newer VCR's and a new DVD/VCR combo unit and the video is trouble free in every instance. When I record the tape (composite video) and playback the saved file, the distortion/movement is captured and when I burn the file to DVD disk and play it back on both my PC and new DVD player, the problem is clearly still there. I tried the video capture using all of the possible "capture settings" to no avail.

I have also tried every solution I could find in the forum postings (no other running programs/antivirus/malware, installed the most recent Roxio 9 program version and driver file, defrag hard drive, etc., etc.), and all of the support recommendations for Roxio 9, all to no avail. My new PC has more than enough "power" to handle Roxio and a lot more, but there could be some system setting/option I'm missing.  

I hesitate to buy into Roxio 11 without knowing if that would help and not knowing the cause. Again, it only happens in certain portions of the vhs tape and only certain tapes with no apparent difference in the quality of the vhs recording from one to the other or any portion of the tapes. Any trouble shooting advise will be appreciated.

Edited by fourkeys, 12 September 2010 - 05:41 PM.

[gi7omy]

when you talk of a new PC - did it come with Windows 7?

If not, then try rendering in software mode rather than hardware and see if that improves things

[Brendon]

Remember too, that your Roxio 9 is 4 years old.

Since then there has been
Easy Media Creator 10,
Creator 2009,
Creator 2010,
and now Creator 2011

[fourkeys]

gi7omy, on 12 September 2010 - 06:00 PM, said:

when you talk of a new PC - did it come with Windows 7?

If not, then try rendering in software mode rather than hardware and see if that improves things

That was one of the previous posts that I tried, also to no avail. Thanks for the reply.

[fourkeys]

Brendon, on 12 September 2010 - 06:44 PM, said:

Remember too, that your Roxio 9 is 4 years old.

Since then there has been
Easy Media Creator 10,
Creator 2009,
Creator 2010,
and now Creator 2011

Considered the latest version, but am afraid I'll have the same problem if it is inherent in the USB capture device. Thanks for the reply.

[ogdens]

fourkeys, on 12 September 2010 - 07:44 PM, said:

Considered the latest version, but am afraid I'll have the same problem if it is inherent in the USB capture device. Thanks for the reply.

Try a simple test....use a different video source. Use the output of a camcorder or DVD player instead of VHS.

[fourkeys]

ogdens, on 13 September 2010 - 02:59 AM, said:

Try a simple test....use a different video source. Use the output of a camcorder or DVD player instead of VHS.

I'm not sure I understand how to do that.

"I have played the VHS tapes on two newer VCR's and a new DVD/VCR combo unit and the video is trouble free in every instance. When I record the tape (composite video) and playback the saved file, the distortion/movement is captured and when I burn the file to DVD disk and play it back on both my PC and new DVD player, the problem is clearly still there."

[fourkeys]

Brendon, on 12 September 2010 - 06:44 PM, said:

Remember too, that your Roxio 9 is 4 years old.

Since then there has been
Easy Media Creator 10,
Creator 2009,
Creator 2010,
and now Creator 2011

My one last trouble shooting step was to install Roxio on my XP Pro computer and the results were no different than when running Vista.

Here are the specs on the Roxio application:

Roxio Creator 2009 Special Edition (I believe the “Special Edition” refers to the fact that I purchased it at Sam’s Club who may have been the only distributor).

Version: 1.1.110 SP4: 4.50.05A
Build: 111B10E, R05; 411B33A, R05

When I open the application I get a large menu screen with icons, one of which is “Capture Video” and that opens the Roxio Media Import function where I’m having the problem. That screen gives me the option of selecting a device or video source and the only option is the “USB 2861 Device”. The “Input” selection menu gives me the “Composite Video” option (which I choose) or the “S-Video” option which is not available on any of three VCR’s I have been using. As indicated before, I have tried using all of the available “Capture Settings” options always with the same results.

If I was sure that the problem was NOT with the USB capture device and I was sure that the device would work with Creator 2011, I would be willing to upgrade to that version, but I don’t know how to get either of those answers.

If it’s any help, the Roxio Creator 2009 Special Edition, in addition to the Roxio Media Import function, includes the following applications: Cine Player, Creator Classic, Label Creator, Media Manager, Music Disk Creator, My DVD, Photo Suite, Sound Editor, Video Copy & Convert, and Video Wave.

There must be somebody out there that all this makes sense to, but finding them may be another story. Thanks for any input.

[ogdens]

fourkeys, on 13 September 2010 - 09:56 AM, said:

I'm not sure I understand how to do that.

"I have played the VHS tapes on two newer VCR's and a new DVD/VCR combo unit and the video is trouble free in every instance. When I record the tape (composite video) and playback the saved file, the distortion/movement is captured and when I burn the file to DVD disk and play it back on both my PC and new DVD player, the problem is clearly still there."

OK, on your DVD/VCR combo unit instead of putting in the VHS tape use a DVD and use that as your source video to the Roxio USB unit.

If the above works ok, then you know that the cables/usb/software is ok, but lets see what happens with this test.

Edited by ogdens, 13 September 2010 - 03:21 PM.

[ogdens]

fourkeys, on 13 September 2010 - 11:24 AM, said:

My one last trouble shooting step was to install Roxio on my XP Pro computer and the results were no different than when running Vista.

Here are the specs on the Roxio application:

Roxio Creator 2009 Special Edition (I believe the "Special Edition" refers to the fact that I purchased it at Sam's Club who may have been the only distributor).

Version: 1.1.110 SP4: 4.50.05A
Build: 111B10E, R05; 411B33A, R05

When I open the application I get a large menu screen with icons, one of which is "Capture Video" and that opens the Roxio Media Import function where I'm having the problem. That screen gives me the option of selecting a device or video source and the only option is the "USB 2861 Device". The "Input" selection menu gives me the "Composite Video" option (which I choose) or the "S-Video" option which is not available on any of three VCR's I have been using. As indicated before, I have tried using all of the available "Capture Settings" options always with the same results.

If I was sure that the problem was NOT with the USB capture device and I was sure that the device would work with Creator 2011, I would be willing to upgrade to that version, but I don't know how to get either of those answers.

If it's any help, the Roxio Creator 2009 Special Edition, in addition to the Roxio Media Import function, includes the following applications: Cine Player, Creator Classic, Label Creator, Media Manager, Music Disk Creator, My DVD, Photo Suite, Sound Editor, Video Copy & Convert, and Video Wave.

There must be somebody out there that all this makes sense to, but finding them may be another story. Thanks for any input.

Did you get this going?????

[fourkeys]

ogdens, on 15 September 2010 - 03:19 AM, said:

Did you get this going?????

I just borrowed a friend's VCR that's newer than mine and tried the capture video. I can't explain it, but the problem doesn't exist when playing the VHS tapes on his VCR. I hesitated to post that as a "solution" because it doesn't explain anything, at least not to me. The good news is that the problem apparently doesn't rest with the USB capture device so I'm encouraged to try an upgrade to the latest Roxio version. Especially if I can get some assurance from Roxio that the USB capture device can still be used. Otherwise I'll just swap VCR's with my friend until I'm done and hope for the best.

I HATE technology problems that get fixed with trial and error "magic" without understanding the root problem. Example: I just started getting IE8 tool bars with black background colors. Search on that one and you'll get dozens of answers on various forums (do this or do that), but none that definatively explain why it happens and 100% how to fix it (work-arounds???).

Thanks for asking even though I can't provide a very good answer, just another "work-around".

Edited by fourkeys, 15 September 2010 - 07:09 PM.

[gi7omy]

I'm using Creator 2011 now and I'm using the same capture gubbins that I got with an earlier version with and it works perfectly - so you needn't worry unduly on that score.

Difference in two VCRs - speaking as a former electronics service manager, this could be down to a lot of variables, guide roller alignment during servicing not being optimal, head wear, aging components causing signal degradation anywhere from the input to the circuitry to the A/V or RF output and so on. A slightly increase in the ohmic value of a resistor beyond the normal tolerance levels, a capacitor that is leaking. When you consider that the majority of passive components in any piece domestic electronic equipment is normally plus/minus 10% on most, it's a wonder some of them work at all As VCR quality is normally low (in comparison with digital quality, you may accept this when viewing on a TV screen (small glitches tend to be overlooked) but when you try to convert that to a higher quality, then things do tend to go adrift far faster, causing the problems that you experienced

Your problems with IE and so on - it could be time to bite the bullet, back up your data and consider a 'format C:' and a complete re-install of everything on a clean drive (and get rid of a lot of accumulated left over entries in the registry, caches and so on)

Edited by gi7omy, 15 September 2010 - 07:10 PM.

[fourkeys]

gi7omy, on 15 September 2010 - 07:07 PM, said:

I'm using Creator 2011 now and I'm using the same capture gubbins that I got with an earlier version with and it works perfectly - so you needn't worry unduly on that score.

Difference in two VCRs - speaking as a former electronics service manager, this could be down to a lot of variables, guide roller alignment during servicing not being optimal, head wear, aging components causing signal degradation anywhere from the input to the circuitry to the A/V or RF output and so on. A slightly increase in the ohmic value of a resistor beyond the normal tolerance levels, a capacitor that is leaking. When you consider that the majority of passive components in any piece domestic electronic equipment is normally plus/minus 10% on most, it's a wonder some of them work at all As VCR quality is normally low (in comparison with digital quality, you may accept this when viewing on a TV screen (small glitches tend to be overlooked) but when you try to convert that to a higher quality, then things do tend to go adrift far faster, causing the problems that you experienced

Your problems with IE and so on - it could be time to bite the bullet, back up your data and consider a 'format C:' and a complete re-install of everything on a clean drive (and get rid of a lot of accumulated left over entries in the registry, caches and so on)

I'm glad to hear your USB works on the 2011 version. I'm more likely to try it myself with that in mind.

The reason I mentioned the "IE8 black tool bars" is that I just bought a new hard drive and had it installed without loading any software. Put a from scratch XP Pro install on it, SP3, and other necessary MS update files including latest IE8 version. Two days later, black tool bar problem surfaced and am still sorting through numerous forum posts for a bonafide MS support fix to the problem. Changing display settings and other similar "fixes" doesn't keep the problem from coming back after re-booting the machine either the next time or a few times later. Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and upgrade to Win 7 and hopefully Roxio will run on it.

Thanks for the feedback!

[gi7omy]

Actually in the short term I'd just roll back Internet Explorer to IE6 and install Firefox instead (even tho I have IE8 installed here by default, I always use Firefox)