Pinnacle Studio 10 & S-video

[wolfe70]

Pinnacle Studio 10 & S-video

I am trying to copy(capture) a VCR tape using Studio 10 QuickStart.

It works using RCA cables but I want to use an S-video cable to see if the transfer would be less fuzzy.

I only get audio, no pic when I use the S-video cable.

There is a "Video input" setting for "Composite" or "S-Video" in Studio 10 which I have used. Works on "Composite" but not "S-video".

Any ideas?

[fink]

From what you're saying you're plugging the composite out of the vcr into a video capture card? Then trying the same with S-video out into a capture card?

What video capture card/device are you using? and do you have audio patched separately? And what type outputs does the VCR have?

[wolfe70]

It's going from S-video out on the VCR to the Pinnacle apparatus that then plugs into my computer via USB.

The device looks like the one on the following site although mine in Windows and not Mac. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Video+Capture+for+Mac.htm

[wolfe70]

Ops! http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Video+Capture+for+Mac.htm

[wolfe70]

Sorry, the address won't "past" correctly. It looks like Pinnacle™ Video Capture for Mac although it's for Windows. It has 3 RCA ports and 1 S-video.

[fink]

So as I surmised it has separate stereo audio inputs and they work regardless which video input you use. Composite does work but S-Video doesn't.

Two things I'd check are the cable itself..using S-video cable can be a bit tricky. The connectors/jacks are prone to bending/breaking and cheapy cables aren't much better than composite. Using a good quality, short as possible S-Video cable is the thing to do. Less than 6-8 feet if possible. Borrow one, any kind, first just to see if the cable you have is broken.

Also worth double checking the S-vid output of the VCR to make sure it works too... plug it directly into a tv if you can to test it (you can test a cable that way too).

Reinstall the drivers.. should only take a minute and won't hurt anyway.

Ultimately if/when you get it working S-video signal will be better than composite but only if you use a short-as-possible good quality cable. Using a long cable will make it prone to RF interference as well.

[wolfe70]

I just bought the cable and it's 6'. I'll see if I can borrow one to try. And I'll try the T.V.

I'll post back and thanks.

[wolfe70]

Tried the S-cable with the VCR and a TV. Still no pic.

Answer at this point.....bad cable.

[fink]

Likely but remember there's also a small possibility it's the VCR... odds probably 90/10.

It would be 98/2 if you got 'some' signal from the vcr
since there's 2 conductors inside the S-video cable. Sometimes one of them is enough for a bad signal as opposed to no signal at all.

[wolfe70]

Well..I say sheepishly. I checked the DVD/VCR manual again and on the back page, not in the "Connections" section, it has an asterisk and says that the S-video cable will only work with the DVD side.

Really sorry about the "wild goose chase".

[fink]

hehehe. No problem...

They're all like that as far as I know. Mine is too... if I'd known it was a combo player I probably would have twigged.