Video Import Problems

[Guelph Newbie]

Hi, I have recently purchased Creator 2009 with the Roxio USB Capture Device. I'm experiencing the following issues when trying to convert from old VHS tapes:

 

1.) If I save in anything less than HD then the picture occasionally jumps. IN HD I get huge files (i.e. 2GB for 5-10 minutes of footage)...this seems like over kill for VHS quality input

 

2.) The sound occasionally becomes muffled...it is ok on the original

 

3.) I also experience the "no input" problem caused by gaps in the recording. I've also tried pausing the input tape - the picture is in the preview window - but still get no signal...I seem to lose the first couple seconds on the original by the time Creator recognizes a signal.

 

This is on an HP desktop, XP SP2, 1GB memory, Intel video chipset.

 

Any help appreciated. This is all new to me but not a great out-of-box experience yet.

[Guelph Newbie]

With the Roxio software, the only choice you have with capture is DV AVI or MPEG2, neither of which are HD and nothing will make them better as that is all the device is capable of.

 

IF you are getting 'jumps' using MPEG then it is because your PC cannot keep up with the pace of the incoming signals. DV AVI was always the solution for that.

(DV AVI and MPEG2 are the same. Difference is that MPEG2 uses compression)

 

The No Signal means what it says. I have wanted to play with this but have not been able to spare the time. – I suspect a double player may be needed. Play on a VCR output to a TV or other VCR that has pass through and hook the Roxio Device to the second unit.

(One user suggested recording it to another VCR. My theory is the same without the second recording)

 

Another thought – use the Capture feature of Window Movie Maker in place of Roxio.

 

Check out the Tips & Tricks article but I know there is nothing concerning these 2 issues in it.

 

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for the suggestion...the import feature on Windows Movie Maker works great...no jitters and it ignores the black spots between recordings on the original tape.

 

 

[Jim_Hardin]

With the Roxio software, the only choice you have with capture is DV AVI or MPEG2, neither of which are HD and nothing will make them better as that is all the device is capable of.

 

IF you are getting 'jumps' using MPEG then it is because your PC cannot keep up with the pace of the incoming signals. DV AVI was always the solution for that.

(DV AVI and MPEG2 are the same. Difference is that MPEG2 uses compression)

 

The No Signal means what it says. I have wanted to play with this but have not been able to spare the time. – I suspect a double player may be needed. Play on a VCR output to a TV or other VCR that has pass through and hook the Roxio Device to the second unit.

(One user suggested recording it to another VCR. My theory is the same without the second recording)

 

Another thought – use the Capture feature of Window Movie Maker in place of Roxio.

 

Check out the Tips & Tricks article but I know there is nothing concerning these 2 issues in it.

 

[Jim_Hardin]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the suggestion...the import feature on Windows Movie Maker works great...no jitters and it ignores the black spots between recordings on the original tape.

Thanks for that info!

[ggrussell]

3.) I also experience the "no input" problem caused by gaps in the recording. I've also tried pausing the input tape - the picture is in the preview window - but still get no signal...I seem to lose the first couple seconds on the original by the time Creator recognizes a signal.

When you fast forward a tape, it will be blank which means there is no signal. So the device and software is working as designed. I'm not sure exactly how that bad habit started. The exact same thing will happen when using digital camcorders via firewire.