For those on Win 11, beware. I have a Pinnacle 710-USB from Lordsmurf and it no longer captures analogue video. It is basically unresponsive. I'm running the latest Pinnacle driver from the Pinnacle CDN site here.

Interestingly, the DV to USB transfer/conversion function works fine.

Each successive OS has stopped working with the most reliable of cards.

- ATI AIW did not official work with Windows Vista x86 or Windows 7 x86, but could actually be hacked. However, the hack would undo itself at reboot.
- Windows 8 and 10 updates corrupted output from many cards, including ATI 600 USB and clones.
- Windows 11 is essentially the latest "Windows 10" update, with a new GUI. Remember, there is no "Windows 10" or "Windows 11", in terms of a single OS. Each update, every 6 months, is more like a new OS than a mere update. Windows 10 and 11, the OS of the 2020s, are not what you should be using for the 2000s-2010s task of capture video. Microsoft doesn't care about video capture anymore. Apple and Linux never cared.

All cards will eventually cease to work properly with new OS. Even the junk Easycap cards are failing now.

If the card itself fails (no longer works with any OS), odds are that the failure was not caused by the OS, but it's merely coincidence.

All new OS insist on being online at all times, and capture needs to be done on an offline computer anyway. For those offline systems, use WinXP or Win7.

....and every time they come up with a new version they make it even worse, Whose hiring these coders? For example, I use to select open browser tabs from the bottom of the task bar with one click, in Win11 I have to hover over the browser tab, wait for it to generate all open tabs, then select the tab, Why?. Prior to that in XP I believe the selected tab actually looks like it's pushed down so you know that's the displayed tab, In Win10, if I have two tabs I can no longer know which one is the selected, I often click both to go to the other tab, because it is only slightly highlighted.

I tried one of the Tevion ATI 600 clones and it actually works with Windows 10 using the Vidbox3 Driver attached. Can't take credit for that, found it on some other post.

Issue is though that I haven't figured out how to get it output in interlaced mode - Seems that it is currently just throwing away one of the fields. I didn't see any deinterlace settings in the driver, but someone smarter than me might know how to get it to preserve the interlace? I'll probably make a separate post eventually asking if anyone has ideas.

PM sent about order status and shipping

PM sent about one of the Pinnacle USB capture cards

-- merged --

PM sent about shipping status of the capture card

PM'd you about one the listings!

I spoke to Lordsmurf via DM, two weeks ago, about buying one of these, and a TBC. The last I heard from him was that he had received the payment we discussed, and was going to send them to me the following day or so and tell me the tracking details within the week.

That was 12 days ago. I haven't heard anything back since and he did not reply to a recent follow-up DM. I know he is a reputable, long standing member of this community so I don't suspect dishonesty but hope all is okay with him. Has anyone else had any luck contacting him recently?

I must have missed your message. :depressed:

There's also something larger going on around the area, vandals attacking internet infrastructure, cutting fiber, tower issues, etc. It's really starting to piss people off around here.

Hey LS! Sorry to hear about your issues - crazy times out there!

Sent you a DM as well:D

Very sorry about the issues... Hope to hear good news soon!

Odd, I have 3 Tevion and have no problem getting interlaced captures from Amarec, Vdub, and, ahem…cough cough, PowerDirector…

Hello,
I'm new around here.
I'm looking to buy a universal usb vhs converter - with dv port.

I'm looking to buy a capture card in order to digitize my old family vhs tapes.
assuming i could get a computer with any OS needed, what do you think will be the best quality card for that task from your collection?

thank you.

Hi @lordsmurf,

Thought I'd try it now through the forum instead of a PM. I wired the money for the Tevion card at January 24th, but haven't heard anything from you since. Figure you're busy, but if you could spare a moment? :)

Cheers,

drmacfaulty

Just be patient, it may take lordsmurf a few days to respond. I just got my tracking number for shipment on a capture card I just bought from him a few days ago. He will get back to you:)

Hi, can you please tell me what is the model number of the pinnacle USB?

-- merged --

Is this the Pinnacle card that is for sale?
Pinnacle PCTV Mini USB-2 TV Tuner with remote control
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255595879317

No, that is not what I have. That's not a suggested card. :no2:

I have a few cards available again.

Hello, and many thanks for this forum, it really is an unvaluable source I wish I had found earlier.

I am in the process of digitizing about 20 hi8 tapes recorded with a Sony CCD-TR705E VCR (NTSC).
I currently run windows 10, but I might be able to use an old laptop for windows 7 or Vista.

I'd be interested in any of the USB devices that might work best for my use case.

What's up, @lordsmurf

I have a laptop running Windows 11. I had been using Diamond VC500 for capturing through VirtualDub-1.10.4.
I have a JVC and a DVD player (forgive me, they're both in storage so I can't remember the model info). I had trouble getting the video to stabilize instead of bouncing, so I used an S-Video cable to run the feed through the DVD player. It worked like an absolute charm! I don't believe the tape(s) bounced at all.

Unfortunately, this was almost two years and got away from the video project I was embarking on. I was interested in the capture USB cards you had remaining. Which do you believe would work the most efficiently given what I am working with?
Also, can you assist me in how to run the feed through the DVD player, if possible?

I forgot which forum I had read on how to do that.

Thanks.

@amill19 - If you're going to be using Win11, I believe your only options are as presented, i.e., Tevion's ATi 600 clone or the Pinnacle stick (I assume you're in Europe and, therefore, need the PAL version). Both should be fine, although my understanding is that the Tevion requires minor tweaking in VirtualDub in order to bring out the best quality.

As for your setup, I'm assuming you're talking the infamous Panasonic ES10/15 player, which acts as a cheap frame TBC of sorts (not exactly but close enough for most people). You run the deck through the DVD player and then run the DVD player into the capture card. There should be plenty of posts about this setup if you go searching on the forum, including specific setup instructions for the player.

Good luck!

@meljr

I appreciate the assistance, my guy. However, I am actually in the USA. Everything strictly NTSC.

Also, the JVC I own has a TBC that was part of its' design. That could possibly explain why running the feed through the DVD player worked so well.

Do you happen to know the minor tweaking involved with VirtualDub?

Ahhh, cool. The late-night posting led me to assume Europe. Sorry. :) Anyway, just to be clear, the TBC in the JVC deck could be called "line TBC." It's different from "frame TBC," which is kinda sorta what the DVD player may be applying if it's the one I mentioned. Both TBCs are different and, in an ideal world, used to together to both maximize image quality (reduce geometric funkiness and individual image glitchiness) and smooth out the outgoing frames from the VCR (prevent frame drops and other nastiness that can mess with the resultant file).

Regarding the Tevion, here's what LS told me in an email recently about the Tevion. Nothing crazy but something to keep in mind.

PM'd. :congrats:

Actually, no. ES10/15 is a strong+crippled line TBC, with non-TBC frame sync. It's not a transparent device, and adds noises and unwanted alterations to the image. It's "better than nothing", but still not good in terms of a half-baked "TBC replacement".

Ahhh, sorry, my memory got mixed up on the exact nature of the TBC. :) Time to go back and double check my notes....

I appreciate it, @meljr!

I must apologize, gentlemen. I have had some pressing matters to attend to lately, so I have not been able to respond back to you for a little minute.

I’ve never seen the note that states the much loved Tevion is better with VDub2. Is this new information?

-- merged --

I’d like a response on the Tevion/Vdub2 combo. Maybe this is not the correct place, but what is the difference from Vdub 1911? Is there a specific Vdub2 that is suggested? I’ve never seen this note.

In WinXP, the Tevion does tend to work better with VirtualDub2, due to the way it interacts with the audio driver on preview. Possible VirtualDub2 issues still exist, but just monitor it.

This note is "new" as in with the past few years.

-- merged --

Listing updated. :)

If there is 1 Pinnacle left can you please use that one for my replacement please? I urgently need an update.

Have you been getting my PMs?

LS: please check PM inbox :)

Also sent a PM :)

PM'd, PM'd, PM'd. :congrats:

___

FYI, to anybody reading this post, know that I always PM reply within days. But apparently I have to reply in public to a PM request, not just send the PM. Because if I don't, apparently people then think I don't PM when requested in public, which is not case.

<sigh> I hate over-communication. :wall1:

TPS reports, anybody? :laugh:

Got a Tevion clone from LS. Can anyone please confirm the correct timing settings in VDub and any other necessary tweaks please for this device?

Wow, Lordsmurf is coming to us live from the far-off year of 2027!

:laugh:

I left the reply in the middle of a server maintenance. Date was wacky, fixed.

Interested, PM'd.

Listing updated. :)