DCTV Digitizer help
7 messages in this thread
Hi All:
I'm having some problems digitizing with DCTV, perhaps someone can offer
some advice. I have the hardware hooked up ok, and I can capture images.
The problem is 10% of the scan lines are shifted to the right by about
20-30 pixels.
I start DCTV and select the digitize button with everything hooked up.
At the digitize screen I use the default setting, but click on tape, since
I'm using a VCR tape image. I click on the scan button and hit the play
button on the VCR. I can then see the VCR images just fine on my A1080. I
click on the VCR pause button until I get a distortion free image on the
A1080 screen. This image is just fine, no distortion, no weird scan lines,
a perfect rock solid picture. (I thought this image was what I could expect
in the final saved version). THEN, I click the left mouse button to start
the scan.
After the automatic scanning and processing, the image that is displayed
is very bad. Every 10-30 scan lines, there will be 1 or 2 scan lines that
seem shifted 20-30 pixels to the right. This destroys the image. I have
tried changing all the buttons tape/lace/filter/quality/ and speed. No
change in the result.
Why can't I capture the rock solid image that appears on the A1080
before clicking the mouse button to start the capture? Thanks for any help.
– via Whap!…….from Chicago
Bill –
I would guess that, unless you have a digital freeze-frame on your VCR,
a visually steady image probably isn't. It's a general problem with all
slow-scan devices. Digi-View has the same problem.
A possible solution would be a TBC (like the DPS Personal TBCs) that
will retain the last frame it was buffering if the video signal is
interrupted. That way, you play 'til the scene you want is displayed, then
hit pause or stop. The TBC will retain the last image and the DCTV should
handle that OK. Or, get a digital-freeze VCR.
Harry
Harry:
Thanks for the reply, I'm beginning to think you are correct. Once I use
the camera to do a live scan from an immobile subject, the captured image
improves significantly. Using the JVC HRS6600U Super VHS VCR or the Olympus
VX-S405 super VHS Camcorder VCR section (while either unit is delivering a
rock steady image in paused mode) produces absolute garbage. I know these
are not professional video units, but they were among the very top for
consumer gear less than 2 years ago. If these units won't produce an
acceptable DCTV image in pause mode, then I seriously question what
consumer units would do so. Nothing in the DCTV promotional literature, the
manual, or the magazine ads mentions either a TBS or digital freeze frame
at all, much less indicates that they are reuired equipment.
The DCTV manual says,"DCTV's "slow scan" digitizer uses any color video
source, such as a video camera, still video camera, VCR or laser disk, to
capture a full color composite video frame in about 10 seconds." (page
Intro-2). I seriously question the accuracy of that statement based on the
garbage images I can capture on my equipment.
– via Whap!…….from Chicago
Bill –
Actually, the only misleading thing in the manual quote you gave was the
unqualified mention of "VCR", rather than "VCR with digital freeze". All
the other sources mentioned produce a stable signal for the slowscan. The
laserdisk is by nature a digital freeze, and the still-video camera is
analogous to the "live", immobile camera with an immobile object.
Harry
I've got a Canon Xapshot and it works GREAT with DCTV I also use my Pioneer
1080 Laser Disc to do Japanese Animation Digitizing
If ya have a Video Camera set it up on a Tripod and get it to where the
image ya want is centered correct hit record on the camera and digitize the
non moving object that way.Ya "Should" get pretty good results that way
Seems like yer getting a Bad signal.Is yer VCR a 4 head one? Yer Best bet
for Digitizing tho would be a TBC or a Laser Disc p[layer or a Canon
Xapshot still Video Camera