ADVC 110 - PAL black and white caps?

[japniz]

I'm in the UK and am using a product bought in the US. Since the packaging made clear it could be set up for NTSC or PAL, I thought there would be no problem in using it here. However, on setting up the dip switches to capture PAL, I get audio and video but no colour.

The dip set up is nos. 1 and 6 are on, the others are off. (I changed no 1 to on since the instructions suggested that was a way of curing the problem. It made no difference.)

I'm capping from a Hitachi video in Analogue mode with a SCART plug in the vid going into the two audio inputs and one S-video input for the 110. I use the six-pin Firewire connection to the PC (p4 3.4, 1gb of 667mhz ram, GT 7600 256mb PCIe graphics card, on a Win XP service pack 2 system).

I've previously capped the video (archive of 8mm analogue home footage) using Pinnacle's DV500 card and break out box. The colour was present, although the overall quality once burned to DVD was not good - hence trying the Canopus for the first time. I'd hoped to compare the two caps side by side. (Capping inside Prem. Elements 2.)

Any suggestions as to how to correct get colour captures would be very welcome indeed.

[kbosward]

See ADVC Family Common Problems & Solutions (last item on that page) for tips. I presume you have tried the same SCART to S-video cable on a TV to check that it is indeed sending colour?

Ken.

[GrassValley_BH]

...and you power-cycled (unplug, wait 30 seconds, reconnect) the ADVC unit after changing the DIP switch settings, right?

[japniz]

...and you power-cycled (unplug, wait 30 seconds, reconnect) the ADVC unit after changing the DIP switch settings, right?

Thanks, guys.

The set up is exactly the same as for the DV500, which -despite the quality - worked fine and in colour. And yes, I did the dip switch and 30 second wait (indeed more) and even rebooted with the new settings.

I will double check the cable, though, since you suggest it, Ken.

In capping, I also note that the LED indicator switches back to Digital In after each reboot, despite the dip switch position for it to be on Analogue In all the time. Is this significant?

Again, thanks.

[GrassValley_BH]

What software are you using to capture the stream? Maybe it's somehow "stuck" in NTSC mode...

You can try WinDV as a simple no-frills capture to reduce the number of variables here.

The switch to Digital In shouldn't be a problem - it's just "noticing" the reconnect.

[japniz]

What software are you using to capture the stream? Maybe it's somehow "stuck" in NTSC mode...

You can try WinDV as a simple no-frills capture to reduce the number of variables here.

The switch to Digital In shouldn't be a problem - it's just "noticing" the reconnect.

Thanks for that. As mentioned, I'm using Prem. Elem. 2 for capping. Everything is the same as when used for the DV500 captures, the only change is using the Canopus box.

[GrassValley_BH]

You completely uninstalled the DV500 software, drivers, etc, correct?

[japniz]

You completely uninstalled the DV500 software, drivers, etc, correct?

Actually, I haven't. I thought that, since the box was external, there would be no conflict - just a Firewire connection receiving a signal, just as it would be with taking caps directly from a digital camcorder. I'll take it out and have a try and see if that makes any difference.

[japniz]

Have taken out the DV500 card and have tried to capture again from both video and a DVD player - again no colour!! The only thing left to change is the scart cable, despite it working with the original Pinnacle card.

Very frustrating - I had hoped I was buying something that would work straight out of the box.

[GrassValley_BH]

Pinnacle software tends to leave things behind... I remember I installed a DC2000, then uninstalled it later, but the plug-in pop-up still showed up in Premiere.

Before you go to great lengths, I'd try it on another machine if you can.

[adil75]

Actually I was facing the same problem or a similar one. I am in North America with a PAL based Analog Video Camera purchased in the UK and I an ADVC 110 from here and as soon as I tried to import I got the same error. Even after changing the pins I had the same problem but try this:

1. Set NTSC Setup (PIN 5) Level to the '0 IRE' setting i.e off
2. Set Video format (PIN 6) to ON
3. Remove power wait 30 second

This has worked for me.

[GrassValley_BH]

Yes, it is essential to power-cycle the unit after making DIP switch changes - they don't change on-the-fly.

[japniz]

Thanks for the advice, guys. Thankfully I can now capture in PAL and the colour is fine. A great relief!

However, I now have the reverse problem - capping from an NTSC video (the Hitachi can play NTSC). Again, the picture has no colour. All dip switches are correctly set for NTSC.

A further question - I'm now using Premiere Elements 3. This, at least, sees the CAnopus device (Elem. 2 couldn't and I had to cap with Studio 7 in the end). Has anyone used the 110 succesfully with Prem. 3? Although it sees the device, it crashes a few seconds into playing the tape and no cap is made.

[GrassValley_KH]

However, I now have the reverse problem - capping from an NTSC video (the Hitachi can play NTSC). Again, the picture has no colour. All dip switches are correctly set for NTSC.

Likely, your player is outputting PAL-60, which cannot be captured/converted by an ADVC.

Only a true NTSC device will output the correct signal.

[japniz]

Thanks for that. I'll have to look at the tech spec of the Hitachi, though it's advertised as being 'NTSC' compatible.

On the other point, can anyone recommend editing/capturing software which has no problem recognising the 110? I've now tried Sony Vegas, Edius and Prem. Elem 3 without success. Is there a glitch somewhere in my system or don't these titles support the Canopus?