@Moose

The dark and mysterious world of analogue video capture beckons!

Analogue capture is a non-binary thing: it depends entirely on the time, effort and money you want to throw at it. There are the perfectionists and then there are the rest of us.

Ray has pointed out a couple of salient points regarding the use of Magix. MXV is a proprietary format, and while it is pretty good, quality-wise if you go for the higher quality settings, you won't be able to use it in any other program.

Would it be easier to transfer the movie to the hard-drive using the Elgato software only (which I have done successfully with one VHS tape) and then import the file into the Movie Studio Platinum 2022 program for editing?

I assume the Elgato software produces MP4 files. If you're happy with the quality, you can import that into MMS for editing. Re-rendering lossy video (as MP4 is) is not ideal, but if the original quality is good and you keep the export bitrate up, the result will be good.

The advantage of using the Elgato software is that you can keep your original captures for editing later, or indeed passing on to other family members for them to edit at a later date.

I suggest you capture a couple of minutes with Elgato then bring that video into MMS, do some edits then export it to see how it looks. Go for a high-quality setting if it's adjustable.

so that all of the movies will be in the same place and I won't have to import anything before editing using the Movie Studio Platinum 2022 software.

No problems with this. You can capture with Elgato, then move those MP4s to your project folder (a good idea, if for no other reason, to keep track of where your source files are) and then bring them into MMS for editing. There is no problem mixing and matching video files, provided they are the same frame rate (you can mix framerates but it is not ideal as MMS has to adjust the odd-one out). For example, you can use both your DV files and your Elgato MP4s in the same movie/timeline.

When I try to start the transfer, I can hear the audio but there isn't any video in the preview window. The video preview box is checked.

If you want to use MMS:

Make sure you are connected with a Composite cable and not an S-video cable. Or if you are using an S-video cable, use the Plus or Minus buttons to select S-video as the "Input".

Your settings look ok. Do some experimenting with the NTSC settings: click the settings cog next to the "Video Device" and on the Display button, "Video Decoder" tab, choose each of the NTSC options to check.

As far as "Quality" goes, I suggest you use at least "MXV User Defined" and on the cog, set the quality to Max, 720x480 4:3 at 29.97 frames per second.

@Moose

A warning: MMS does not correctly interpret analogue AVIs (including it's own-recorded MXVs!) so that they show as 5:4 in the monitor and export, instead of 4:3. You have to go to the Size {Position Rotation function and click "Original Size" to get the correct ratio. The Section and Camera/Zoomshot functions cannot be used because of this bug. Panning and cropping/zooming can only be done by using the SPR functions.

MMS does correctly interpret all other files eg DV AVI and MP4s.

Thank you so much for this information. I noticed that the preview window seemed to have an odd aspect ratio.

Sorry, I didn't get back sooner, I've been having some health issues.

@Moose

Hi Moose and welcome to the user to user forums.

I'm not really into analog video capture so I will leave that to others to recommend to you what to do.

But.

If you can import VHS tapes with the capture cards software and the results are looking OK to you there should be no problem importing the files from whatever folder they reside in. If there is a problem it may be with varying quality of files. MXV as you may gather is a file type only usable in a Magix editor and personally one I would not choose for archiving purposes. It locks you into a system which is never (in my opinion) a good idea. I assume the other program converts the files to another wrapper (Codec) which would be more generally versatile.

I'm sure AAProds (Al) will be here with more accurate wisdom soon.

Ray.

 

Thanks so much Ray. Apologize for not getting back to you sooner (health issues). Growing old isn't for sissies. It looks like Elgato saves the transferred videos in an MP4 file format. I reviewed the first video I transferred to my hard drive, and it doesn't look as good as the original preview window video during the transfer. Maybe if I can find a way to transfer it using the MXV software and the Elgato hardware it will be more clear (not as fuzzy). The only problem I had the first time was that there wasn't any preview video, but I got some suggestions from AAProds that I am going to try. I'll let you know how that works out. If I'm to understand you correctly, AAProds is an artificial intelligence program that answers questions (AI)? I don't want to offend anyone by not recognizing their help with a thank you, but don't want to appear out-of-touch thanking AAProds. As you can tell I'm very new to this type of communication

@Moose @AAProds

No apologies necessary. Few of the members answering questions here are under 65.

You should be able to alter the quality settings of the recording section somewhere. Again AAProds may be able to help more on that one.

If I'm to understand you correctly, AAProds is an artificial intelligence program that answers questions (AI)?

Almost 🤣🤣🤣 I think he is Australian which is as good as 😂.

I think AL (Not AI) may be short for Allen or Alistair.

We were all new here once so don't worry.

Ray.

@AAProds, @CubeAce

Hi Alwyn

.. . . . AAProds is an artificial intelligence program . . . .  Allen or Alistair . . . .

Looks like you have been 'converted and renamed' to the Matrix.

John EB

Looks like you have been 'converted and renamed' to the Matrix

👽👽😄

I want to sincerely apologize to AAProds for referring to him as Artificial Intelligence. I'm sure he is authentic, real intelligence, nothing less! Thank you for all your help.

Marcus

I had a few other questions if AAProds or anyone else could give me some advice. I was trying some different settings when transferring VHS tape audio and video through the Elgato hardware into the MAGIX Software so I was doing some trial runs and ended up with several files that I tried to delete. I got the following message when I right clicked delete on the file in the transfer/edit window...File in Use...The action can't be completed because the file is open in MAGIX Video deluxe Plus...Close the file and try again...Ploof Family Videos - 43.mxv...Type: MXV File...Size 232MB etc. I'm not sure where to go to close the file.

Also, I got the following message in a pop-up window when trying to delete a file: Movie Studio...Some of the selected files have internal project files. Do you want to delete these files as well? Selections: Yes, Only selected files, Cancel. I don't know what is the best selection to use. Any ideas? I am just trying to delete the test or trial transfer used to try out various settings.

The following settings are the last ones I tried that seemed to work ok. Do any of these present a red flag that anyone can see?

Video Device: Elgato Video Capture (USB - DShow); Cog: Video Standard: NTSC M

Input: Note: I clicked on the + next to the NTSC Label once

Audio Device: Elgato Video Capture

Quality: MXV User Defined; Cog: Resolution: 720 x 480; Frame: 29.97; Ratio: 4:3; Interlaced Mode: Progressive; Audio Properties: Stereo; Sample: 48000

Thank you so much for any help!

Marcus

@Moose

The “cannot delete” error message is saying that the specific file is “open” in MS. IOW, you apparently have it “in use”, I.e., physically present somewhere in your project Storyboard or Timeline.

If you remove it from the actual project the error message should disappear and the file deleted.

Jeff
Forum Moderator

@emmrecs @Moose

The “cannot delete” error message is saying that the specific file is “open” in MS. IOW, you apparently have it “in use”, I.e., physically present somewhere in your project Storyboard or Timeline.

If you remove it from the actual project the error message should disappear and the file deleted.

IIRC this came up recently? I too have had MEP/MMS refuse to delete a file because it thought it was using it when it wasn't. Not all the time though. Only solution was to close Magix, then delete the file.

Also, I got the following message in a pop-up window when trying to delete a file: Movie Studio...Some of the selected files have internal project files. Do you want to delete these files as well? Selections: Yes, Only selected files, Cancel. I don't know what is the best selection to use. 

This what should happen. The "internal files", as far as I can tell, are to Magix HO and HDP files (being the graphical audio and video timeline displays). If you're deleting the actual source file, then you won't need those other ones so you can accept the prompt to delete all of them.

@Moose

Video Device: Elgato Video Capture (USB - DShow); Cog: Video Standard: NTSC M

Input: Note: I clicked on the + next to the NTSC Label once

Audio Device: Elgato Video Capture

Quality: MXV User Defined; Cog: Resolution: 720 x 480; Frame: 29.97; Ratio: 4:3; Interlaced Mode: Progressive; Audio Properties: Stereo; Sample: 48000

They're all good. The important one for video quality is the last one: on the Config screen, set the quality to max (100). Only wind it back if you get dropped frames.

A "cannot delete" example: Open a project, then open a new project (so the first one is closed). I can't delete the folder containing the first project MVP because it's in use, even though it is obviously not, as that project (the first one) has already been closed.

Thank you for all your assistance!

I want everyone that has helped me to know that I think I'm on the right track right now. Thanks for all your help!

Marcus

Well, I guess I have a couple more questions. Thought I was ready to go but not quite. In the Create Project window (the first selection window that pops up for Movie Studio 2022 Platinum under Movie Settings: there is a choice HDTV, UHD/UHD-2, Social Media, 360 degree, SD PAL/NTSC. Since I'm not sure what these represent, what selection should I make here for transferring analog VHS Tape source to the hard drive on my desktop using Elgato Video Capture cable? Also, in the same section there are three choices: FullHD 1080p (1920x1080) 16:9, HDV1 720p (1280x720) 16:9, HDV2 1080i (1440x1080) 16:9. Again, not sure which selection to make.

Thanks for any assistance,

Marcus

@Moose

Use SD PAL/NTSC. The other options you list at the end of your post are then unneeded.

Jeff

Forum Moderator