Video capture to PC

[hornet]

Can anyone help with this?

Got a load of stuff on VHS I want to transfer to VCD, but don't have the necessary video capture card installed in the PC, so I've bought a USB capture device (Belkin Videobus II). Got all the leads and what not, but try as I might I can't get any signal into the PC using either Windows Movie Maker or VideoWave III.

I'm guessing there's something not quite right about the connection to the video, as Movie Maker is picking up my webcam ok. The leads I've got have a left and right audio output plus one video output. Don't seem to have the right line out sockets on the video recorder, but have tried plugging the three leads into a SCART socket via a connector from the PS2, but to no avail.

Anyone got any ideas why I'm still getting a blank screen? The only thing I can think of is that the PS2 adaptor is line in only (to the TV from the PS2), not the line out I need from the VCR. Other than that I'm stumped.

[kanes]

Right, from what I understand you've got a composite & 2 audio cables, that is what the PS2 would output as IIRC (US TV's don't have scart, composite and audio instead so Sony produces the output as this and converts it to scart, etc for other countries). So the cable SHOULD be universal, but i can't be certain.

Do you have anything else with a composite output you can test with? camcorder, dvd etc

I've tested Belkin capture kit before, it's pretty straight forward so i wouldn't expect it to be a software problem.

[hornet]

Right, checked using a DVD player and the lead/software works ok, so it must be something to do with the signal out of the VCR - I'm guessing the PS2 adaptor can't handle output. Hopefully such a thing exists as a scart > composite lead. Least I know I don't have a duff bit of kit anyway.

[kanes]

Which output did you use for the DVD? i take it you've got a straight composite DVD output or is it a scart?

[hornet]

kanes said:

Which output did you use for the DVD? i take it you've got a straight composite DVD output or is it a scart?

Composite output from the DVD, yes. My VCR doesn't seem to have a composite output, which I think is where the problem lies. It DOES have a set of what I assume to be inputs for a camcorder, but I've tried using those and nothing happened. Perplexing.

[kanes]

the camcorder inputs will be inputs, not outputs, you're wanting something that'll output a signal.

Just need an adaptor, about £3 from maplins/dixons etc

[hornet]

kanes said:

the camcorder inputs will be inputs, not outputs, you're wanting something that'll output a signal. Just need an adaptor, about £3 from maplins/dixons etc

Will that just be a scart to composite output lead?

[kanes]

it'll have 3 outputs, one for video, 2 for audio channels, scart the other end

[hornet]

Right then...got the required lead and I can capture video no problems. Trouble is I can't get any sound. Windows Movie Makers says it doesn't preview sound when recording, so that's fair enough, but I'm not getting any sound when playing back the captured clips. It gives me a choice of devices to capture audio (soundcard or Belkin USB), and I have the Belkin selected - I've selected that as the default input device too, which may or may not be right.

I'm sure there's something glaringly obvious I've overlooked, but at the moment it's got me stumped. Only thing I can think of it that I'll have to capture audio via the line in rather than the USB device, which seems a bit odd if you ask me, as I expected the Belkin to do the lot.

Anyone got any ideas?

[kanes]

a little test but try plugging one sound output into your line in socket on your sound card rather than the belkin (make sure line-in isn't muted in volume properties, that goes for checking the belkin isn't muted too).

See if you get any sound

[hornet]

Success!

Video in via the Belkin USB with audio looped in via the soundcard. Hoorah! Thanks for the help.