Video Capture Software

[David Timms]

Robert L. Cochran wrote:
> Is there video capture software that works similarly to Pinnacle
> Studio? I need to capture video from a bunch of 16-20 year old VHS
> tapes from a VCR. I'd like to do this in Fedora if possible. If such
> software exists, do I need a specific video capture card. Or is any
> old capture card okay? Like the Pinnacle 500-USB?
If it has composite video input connector, that's all you would really 
need. Haven't used that device particularly (used the video in video out 
version of an nvidia fx5600 VGA card). Check out some linux hardware 
databases like:
http://www.smolts.org/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/

Hopefully someone will have updated their smolt profile to say whether 
the device just works etc.

You can probably use XawTV / TVTime for playback to the screen, and once 
you sure you have this working, then look for a specific capture app. 
It's possibly best to do your capture and manipulation work in an 
uncompressed format, and output to eg mpeg2/dvd profile so that you can 
make a dvd.
Look at videodog, kino, mlt (in RPM Fusion RSN ?)

> One last question. Is there software that can fix defects in captured
> video?
I think kino has such filters, but you would need to check most recent 
version.

> Well, that is not the best question for me to ask, there are
> so many reasons why the defects can be present. I have a one hour
> sample capture from a 16 year old tape that has so many reddish
> off-color frames,
Do you see those on a normal TV monitor ?

> so many jerky "motions"
Sounds like the capture hardware couldn't keep up system it was 
outputting to couldn't keep up. Was this with the Pinnacle ?

> and other unnatural breaks
> in the playback that I wonder if it's 

a) the tape
Yes.

b) the VCR
Yes. If you haven't used your deck for a long time, use a head-cleaning 
tape before entrusting your tapes to the deck. Preferably, get a VCR 
tech to perform a proper head / transport path clean, for best results.
Can you playback to TV / capture to PC a brand new (never opened) bought 
VHS movie OK ?
Some decks need you to adjust picture tracking manually if the tape was 
recorded on a different deck, or the alignment changed since you 
recorded the material.

c) the cable
No. unless you are wobbling the cable/connection and it occurs as you do 
this. Use a direct composite video cable if possible, rather than an 
antenna connection cable to your TV.

DaveT.