Clipped audio distortion from VirtualDub2, Hauppauge USB-Live2?

[Morku]

Hi, I found this wonderful forum in search to find a solution for my VHS recordings.

For many, many years I used Pinnacle Dazzle DVC100 in combination with VirtualDub without issue. Then Microsoft came up with 2004 and was like "hey, how about breaking working stuff again? Yeah, why not". Since then using Capture AVI produce a lot of Inserted frames with all distorted audio, with the same settings as usual.
With anything =<1909 all was fine, so I started to use a very old laptop to use 1809 LTSC as temporary solution, but I was looking for something new.

Since VirtualDub compatibility is very important, I found the recommendation for Hauppauge USB-Live2 in this thread: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...ti-wonder.html

So I wanted to give a go and installed the latest driver form March 2018.

In the first moment I was happy, because the recording is fine again, without any droped/inserted frames.

I am using utvideo and PCM audio.

Then, sadly, I noticed some scratchy audio, when it cliped over 0dB. I would say, it's also the fault of the tape, because the audio is "to loud". But when I use my Pinnacle, I don't have the issue.
I have also tried Win10TV (it's horrible) and the audio is fine here, too.

So it is only, when I use the USB-Live2 grabber. Is there anyway to clean up this during recodings?

I have uploaded one extrem example.

VirtualDub2 with clicking audio noise:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yrycp7e2vd...audio.avi?dl=0

Win10Tv with clean audio:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tmaydne54f...inTV10.ts?dl=0

(Notice how much sharper the VDub2 result is!)

Since other user may use the grabber, too, what can I try here? Is there any way to lower the audio output from VHS recorder?

The audio recoding is set to: "0 Capture device". Other input sources like "1 Analog Audio In (Hauppauge USB-Live2)" do not work. The preview window goes black and nothing shows. So changing the Analog Audio In recoding level in Windows mixer doesn't effect it.

The VHS recorder is a Panasonic NV-HS960.

Do anyone have an idea how to solve this? Thank you very much!

[Hushpower]

Similar Hauppauge discussion here:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...turn-down.html

[Morku]

You are right, it sounds very similiar.
And an analog volume regulator may workaround this.

But I wonder, even when the volume is clipping in some tapes, why Win10TV can handle it fine with same hardware and why my Dazzle can handle fine (in VirtualDub). They receive the same input.
Is there no other way to circumvent?

[Hushpower]

You could try routing your audio from the VCR straight into your motherboard/sound card (light blue 3.5mm socket), then choosing the Audio Line In option in VDub; however this may require some mind-torture as you try to work out Windows audio. You'd then be able to use the Windows Recording Controls audio levels to reduce the audio level. I did have this working with video I was capturing some months ago but I think 2004 may also have borked my Realtek HD audio and I can no longer do this. All audio now has to come through the grabber.

[Morku]

I see. Thats a bummer, even if the original software is capable for a clean audio recording.

And before I start into invest more money in hardware without a guarantee that it will work, I am going to return the Hauppauge USB grabber and stay with my old laptop and Dazzle solution. Hopefully, the hardware run fine in future.

Thing is, I want keep it simple. I know there are many better A/D converter and at the end, you only need to input an HDMI signal, but I transfer tapes only for family and friends, so I am looking for a video grabber without the mentioned issue.

Any other VirtualDub hardware recommendation would be great where I can plug-in S-VHS and audio to digitize on current Windows 10 generation.

Or Microsoft could simply fix the issue the Dazzle has with OS version 2004............... nah, jk.

[lordsmurf]

This is why Win10 is a terrible OS for video capture. This is why we maintain WinXP and Win7 systems.