Power Director 12/ Silver Crest Video Grabber

basildonandyh1

Newbie Joined: Oct 21, 2020 11:34 Messages: 4 Offline

Solved by

Oct 22, 2020 12:26

Hi all,
I hope someone can help me. I bought a SilverCrest USB video grabber several years ago with the intention of digitising my VHS video cassettes. On the box it says "For easily digitising analogue video recordings". Intentions were good, but it didn't happen.
But now, with Covid-19 and a long winter ahead I thought there would never be more or a better time to tackle the job.
I have a Hitachi DV-PF3E(UK) DVD/VCR Combo (DVD playback not record), a laptop running Windows 10, the kit that was in the box, a DVD (Cyber Link Power Director 12), which I have downloaded. a SCART connector, Red, Yellow, White AV leads and S-Video connectors. I have connected everything up but cannot access the output from the VCR on Power director on my computer screen.
I can get the camera from the computer screen but not the VCR. I am probably doing something very stupid wrong, but I am a technophobe. I have looked at the help section, but could find nothing that mentioned how to upload VHS recordings to the computer.
If anyone out there can help I would be very grateful.

tomasc

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 25, 2011 12:33 Messages: 6464 Offline

Oct 22, 2020 15:20

Quote I can get the camera from the computer screen but not the VCR. I am probably doing something very stupid wrong, but I am a technophobe. I have looked at the help section, but could find nothing that mentioned how to upload VHS recordings to the computer.
If anyone out there can help I would be very grateful.

This video may help: https://youtu.be/ii_0Qhon6Ys?t=112 . As shown at 1 min. 52 sec in the video, go to the Capture tab of PD12 and click the analog TV button which is the third button on the top left. That is the only button that will allow capture from the setup.

basildonandyh1

Newbie Joined: Oct 21, 2020 11:34 Messages: 4 Offline

Oct 22, 2020 16:21

Quote

This video may help: https://youtu.be/ii_0Qhon6Ys?t=112 . As shown at 1 min. 52 sec in the video, go to the Capture tab of PD12 and click the analog TV button which is the third button on the top left. That is the only button that will allow capture from the setup.

Thanks I will try this tomorrow but still unsure as it seemed to skip over the settings needed in about a second. Will try and let you know how I get on.
Thanks again

basildonandyh1

Newbie Joined: Oct 21, 2020 11:34 Messages: 4 Offline

Oct 23, 2020 08:03

Quote

This video may help: https://youtu.be/ii_0Qhon6Ys?t=112 . As shown at 1 min. 52 sec in the video, go to the Capture tab of PD12 and click the analog TV button which is the third button on the top left. That is the only button that will allow capture from the setup.

Have tried but on a first run all I got was a flickering green screen (see attachment)

Filename	IMG_0102 (1).MOV	Download
Description
Filesize	12800 Kbytes
Downloaded:	53 time(s)

tomasc

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 25, 2011 12:33 Messages: 6464 Offline

Oct 23, 2020 08:50

Quote Have tried but on a first run all I got was a flickering green screen (see attachment)

This is good that you are making progress and getting something on the PD12 capture preview window. Try this: Leave the S-Video disconnected. Connect a yellow rca composite video cable from the scarts adapter to the SilverCrest USB video grabber. Play the vcr with a recorded tape in it. If there is no picture then click on Settings/Plolaris Video Capture and a Driver window with tabs should popup. Change the setting from S-Video to composite. If needed click on the tuner tab to change from NTSC to one of the PAL settings. Change until one of the PAL settings gives you the best picture. Write all this down for future reference.

basildonandyh1

Newbie Joined: Oct 21, 2020 11:34 Messages: 4 Offline

Oct 27, 2020 14:30

Quote

This is good that you are making progress and getting something on the PD12 capture preview window. Try this: Leave the S-Video disconnected. Connect a yellow rca composite video cable from the scarts adapter to the SilverCrest USB video grabber. Play the vcr with a recorded tape in it. If there is no picture then click on Settings/Plolaris Video Capture and a Driver window with tabs should popup. Change the setting from S-Video to composite. If needed click on the tuner tab to change from NTSC to one of the PAL settings. Change until one of the PAL settings gives you the best picture. Write all this down for future reference.

Thanks for all the help.
Your advice has worked a treat, and I have now been able to make a start on digitising my old VHS tapes.
Once again thanks
Andy