I'm trying to capture/view/record a black and white (no color) videotape,
using the Hauppauge WinTV-Go 878 chip based card.

The composite out of the VCR is connected to the composite in of the card,
and the software is set to select the composite input of the card. The
audio out of the VCR is connected to the line input of my sound card.
Everything works, except...

When the video signal from the VCR first is detected by the card, the image
quickly becomes brighter all over, so that the picture is all white - that
is, appears washed out. Adjusting the card's software to reduce brightness,
saturation, or contrast is to no avail. No discernable picture detail is
available, except enough noise near the borders to show the video is indeed
received and detected by the card.

I must add that this problem occurs only with one tape, one which is a dub
from an old Sony portable black and white reel to reel video recorder used
in the 1970s. The problem does not occur using any video recorded off the
air from a TV broadcast signal, nor with video dubbed from newer camcorders.

Sound is fine.

I've noticed a similar effect with the Hauppauge card when its software is
first started, while it is set to its own TV tuner, but in that case,
although there at first is a rapid blooming to brightness, some sort of
automatic adjustment kicks in and restores the TV picture to normal
saturation and brightness and contrast and gamma or whatever - that is, the
picture, within a second or less, is stabilized and normal.

But, as I said, when the same "blooming" happens at the outset of viewing,
or attempting to view, this particular videotape, what I call the blooming
is permanent - it is not rectified as with the card's own tuner. Most of
the picture is a very uniform, very bright, white.

Other tapes, which were recorded off TV, whether color or B&W, work OK from
the VCR to this card.

Just not this one B&W tape, which is a dub from a recording made on an old
portable Sony reel to reel recorder in the early 1970s. This dubbed B&W
tape plays just fine when the VCR output is connected to a TV; it just won't
display using the Hauppauge 878 chip card. It could be this one tape lacks
some color signal or something the card is looking for and not finding.

Is there a software setting, or are there different drivers, I can change
or use that will make this material visible, so I can record it?

Or do I need to try different hardware - i.e. a different capture card?

Please don't tell me the problem is with the source tape - after all, it
displays fine on any TV monitor.

"Don Enderton" <Enderton@nosuchaddress.duh> wrote in
news:8eVZb.28576$aH3.905795@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net:

It still might be the source tape, so I really can't obey your
request :-)

But I can suggest this: make a VHS copy of the tape and try to
capture that. It's a bit of a pain, but if it works you'll be
smiling...

My idea is that since it plays OK on TV, it just might record OK on
a VCR.

Gino

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino) phone 650.966.8481
Call me letters find me at domain blochg whose dot is com

Thanks, Gino, but I already have a VHS copy of the tape. Same thing
happens. I forgot to mention that.

If it is the source tape, I wonder what about the source tape is the
problem. If I knew that, maybe I could modify it in some way next time I
make a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Gino.

Anyone else have any ideas?

- Don

"Gene E. Bloch" <hamburger@NOT_SPAM.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns9496DC087D2ADAstrolabe@63.240.76.16...

"Don Enderton" <Enderton@nosuchaddress.duh> wrote in message
news:nsYZb.68358$hR.1445241@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Timebase Corrector (TBC) and particularly
a video ProcAmp, a waveform monitor and
an operator who knows how to use them.

Thanks, Richard. Where would I find those things? I'm in Sacramento,
California, USA.

- Don

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley7@xprt.net> wrote in message
news:103glgfqc3f8pb3@corp.supernews.com...

"Don Enderton" wrote ...
There's probably at least a dozen places in SAC that
can do video dubs with TBC, ProcAmp, professional
video signal adjustment for you. Likely not practical
to buy (or even rent) >$1000 worth of equipment for
just one or two dubs.

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 03:20:36 GMT, "Don Enderton"
<Enderton@nosuchaddress.duh> wrote:

The DC10 card has an AGC setting. Does the Hauppage have the same?

AGC is not manually adjustable on my Hauppauge card, according to Hauppauge
tech support.

- Don

"Bariloche" <bariloche@bariloche.com> wrote in message
news:f5ro30d4mkp5absole7hcp1q1j12jlc4tv@4ax.com...