@johnebaker @VHS-lady

It looks like the camera can do both aspect ratios but with limitations at 16:9 so probably not recorded at that aspect ratio?

Hi Trine.

Can you help us out and say what exactly you change settings wise and possibly an extra few screen shots of the options? That screen shot in itself is obscuring half the settings.

Ray.

Thanks for trying to help. Here are some screenshots:

The camera was bought in USA in 1993.

@johnebaker @VHS-lady

Hi Trine.

In your second shot, if the video is indeed recorded to PAL specifications the frame rate should be 25 fps not 29.970, so still a bit confusing as to which format it really is. Second, as far as I'm aware these would be interleaved files and there is nothing showing in the interleaved section of the settings. Top field first is a common setting but I would need John to confirm that. I have next to no knowledge of these recorders, This is more Johns field of expertise so these are just my observations based on my limited use of handling VHS. I noticed earlier you said your earliest tape was from 1992. That is a long time for a magnetic tape medium not for professional use to be stored without some degradation. If it is an interlacing problem though you may still be in luck.

Ray.

@VHS-lady

Hi

Thanks for the additional information - one thing that immediately stood out is that you appear to be using the S-Video connector and cable.

Have you tried capturing with the Composite cable (Yellow/Red/White connectors) ?

John EB

@CubeAce @johnebaker

Hi,

I am using both the S-video and the Composite cable. And I have tried both. It is the same with Composite capturing. I am not able to change the frame rate should to 25 fps from 29.970. It seemea to be a fixed rate. Are there other settings where I can change this?

Thanks, Trine

@VHS-lady @johnebaker

Hi Trine.

Neither John nor myself has this program. We use Movie Edit Pro Premium (Video deluxe in some parts of Europe) and Video Pro X. Hence my request for more screen shots as neither of us has any experience running that program. In theory Rescue Your Video Tapes should be a simpler program to set up. However, without seeing all the options from the various drop-down boxes it is hard to advise settings.

I don't think John answered your question earlier as to which drivers you should be using either. I don't know if that has any relevance here. I don't think so or you would not be getting any signal at all.

Also have you no way of knowing which version of the camcorder you have? I have tried my best to look at the Sony site for information but the manuals and tech specs are much to be desired. The pdf manual doesn't give any clues either.

The fact you have managed to use the program to get video from other cassettes though is beginning to make me think that either that one recording used different settings or the tape has degraded too much.

Also I can't figure out why you are getting vertical stripes showing and not horizontal ones. Please look closely at the tape edge. Does it appear even slightly wavy? Compare it to a tape you know plays with no problems.

Do any of the tape guides in the camera look as if they have slight ridges to them? (Not perfectly cylindrical?)

I'm looking to see if there are signs of wear. Even really hard to see ridges in the tape path of the recorder could cause playback problems.

Ray.

Hi

@CubeAce commented:

. . . . I don't think John answered your question earlier as to which drivers you should be using either.. . . .

I did not need to as @VHS-lady has already commented that other tapes (PAL) record fine, which leads to the question I should have asked earlier, and picked up on, when you commented. It "feels" like there is a NTSC-mode missing and is also supported by your comment that PAL M was better.

Is the camera you are using to play back the NTSC tapes the same one as was used to record them?

We can rule out an issue with the camcorder as it can play the NTSC tapes correctly internally or to TV.

I suspect the camera is outputting the NTSC video on the PAL carrier frequency, ie what is commonly called NTSC 4.43 - most TVs can handle this with no issue, however the black video capture device does not support this 'format'.

I can find no reference to NTSC 4.43 in the manual or specs for the  CCD-TRV108E, nor did I see this option in any of the pictures showing the settings for recording in RYVT.

There are 2 options:

1. try a different video converter which supports NTSC 4.43 - though there is no guarantee this will work.
2. use a true NTSC camera for playback if one is available.

HTH

John EB

@johnebaker @CubeAce

Is the camera you are using to play back the NTSC tapes the same one as was used to record them? YES

I suspect the camera is outputting the NTSC video on the PAL carrier frequency, ie what is commonly called NTSC 4.43 - most TVs can handle this with no issue, however the black video capture device does not support this 'format'.

I can find no reference to NTSC 4.43 in the manual or specs for the  CCD-TRV108E, nor did I see this option in any of the pictures showing the settings for recording in RYVT.

There are 2 options:

1. try a different video converter which supports NTSC 4.43 - though there is no guarantee this will work.
2. use a true NTSC camera for playback if one is available.

 

Thanks. Then it iseems to be as I initially assumed - about the NTSC format or the camera - and the program that is not fully capable to handle this if I understand you correctly.

I think the only screenshot I have not shown you is this with the PAL and NTSC formats, I have tried them all:

the second shot is the options for the program. If I choose NTSC format, I can not select different modes, it only goes to NTSC_N.

Thanks for all your effort to try to help.

Kind regards, Trine

@VHS-lady

Hi Trine

. . . . the program that is not fully capable to handle this if I understand you correctly . . . .

Not quite - the program will only have the options that the converter/drivers support, if you had the older red/white converter it should have the NTSC 4.43 option.

. . . . I have not shown you is this with the PAL and NTSC formats, I have tried them all: . . . . the second shot is the options for the program. If I choose NTSC format, I can not select different modes, it only goes to NTSC_N. . . . .

This is possibly a US requirement, PAL and SECAM not being allowed.

John EB

@johnebaker I have a black converter... purchased last year.

@VHS-lady

Hi Trine

. . . I have a black converter... 

That is the one that does not support NTSC 4.43.

JohnEB

@johnebaker is it possible to get hold of the old converters?

@johnebaker I could use Adobe Premiere, but there are no cables for this camera. There are no USB cable to connect, and no output. I think the next step is to find another camera or converter to handle the cassettes.

@VHS-lady

Hi.

I personally think the cheapest option may be to look for a used camera. They seem to be as cheap as some of the convertors that may not work. A bit risky to find one in good working order but some sellers have good reliable ratings.

Ray.