SCART sockets - do they all output?

[Chicken_Satay]

I'm trying to convert VHS to digital using the Elgato Video Capture device. The software is working fine but I cannot get a video signal and I think it's the connected analogue device that's causing this.

The device is a crappy Daewoo combi CRT TV/VHS player. It has only one SCART socket and I have connected the SCART to USB Elgato device to my PC. The SCART plug is set to OUT (has in in/out toggle slider switch).

Is it possible that the SCART socket isn't capable of sending an OUT signal? I'm thinking that it can only accept an input e.g. from an old games console or similar. If so, it looks like I'll have to get another VHS player from somewhere.

[Mr Pointy]

Is the Elegato looking for composite or RGB signals? I think RGB is into the TV only, composite may be bidirectional.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART

[gmasterfunk]

Normally back in the day a combo would accept a scarf in but not output.

I think you need a standalone vhs player.

[Chicken_Satay]

Mr Pointy said:

Is the Elegato looking for composite or RGB signals? I think RGB is into the TV only, composite may be bidirectional.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART

Yes it's a SCART plug adaptor with the composite sockets to connect the lead to the Elgato device so it should be bidirectional.

[Chicken_Satay]

gmasterfunk said:

Normally back in the day a combo would accept a scarf in but not output.

I think you need a standalone vhs player.

Useful to know. I'm keen to hear any other feedback like this.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Scart sockets can come with all sorts of signals present or missing. There's no easy way to find out what signals are present other than look at the back and see which pins are connected.

I think you probably will need to find a proper VHS deck. Sounds like the Scart on that thing is just so you can use it as a monitor (IN).

[Lucid_AV]

It's likely that the SCART will output for the analogue TV tuner only, and since there are no analogue broadcasts, then it's now redundant.

The VCR output is directed to the built-in TV screen only. I think that might have been some way of reducing the import duty on these.

[bristoltype603]

Lucid_AV said:

It's likely that the SCART will output for the analogue TV tuner only, and since there are no analogue broadcasts, then it's now redundant.

The VCR output is directed to the built-in TV screen only. I think that might have been some way of reducing the import duty on these.

Yes, I think this is right. Would recommend OP gets a good quality used VCR. That's always going to be the weak link in the chain.

Sorry to go slightly off topic but recently read an article about how people were digitizing analog laser discs. They were getting signal directly off the read head on to an open source PCB (by-passing the original video out signal pathway) and straight to a digital caputure device. The software and hardware for all this originates from the project to preserve the BBC Doomesday 1986 discs. Interesting stuff.

[Chicken_Satay]

Ok, I'm on the hunt for a separate VCR now. Holding onto that combi player for the last couple of decades has obviously been a bit of a waste of space !

Murray and Martin's 1997 F1 review will be coming to YouTube later than planned.

[Chicken_Satay]

To conclude the thread, I managed to pick up a decent standalone Panasonic VCR for only £5 on Gumtree! Not only does the VCR work fine, it also works with the Elgato video capture device.

Therefore, if you want to transfer old VHS tapes to digital, don't try it with a combi player.