Does Pinnacle 710-USB capture PAL video?
 

I bought a Pinnacle 710-USB from LS with the intent of capturing my family's VHS tapes. I'm in the UK so they should all be in the PAL format. Specifically PAL_I.

I'm encountering a problem though. When I set the Video Filter to PAL_I in Virtualdub 1.9, I don't get any video preview... well, that's not entirely correct.... The really odd thing is that every once in a while (maybe 1 in 100 attempts), when I have the Video Filter set to PAL_I, I will get a few seconds of preview video from my test tape. The tape itself contains a few minutes of a UK soap opera before cutting to news footage... the tape dates back to 2001 apparently.

In the Video Filter window, it's saying that 525 lines are detected but no matter what I try, it never detects the 625 of the PAL standard. Which leads me to wonder whether the 710-USB can't actually input / output PAL video.

Can anyone confirm whether the Pinnacle 710-USB is capable of handling a PAL_I 625 line input?

I'd especially appreciate your two cents please, if you're around @lordsmurf.

PAL-I and PAL-B are essentially the same, try that.

I can confirm that the 710 works well in Windows XP through 10, I am using several of them. I take it that your are using the correct driver & Crossbar?

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I can confirm that the 710 works well in Windows XP through 10, I am using several of them. I take it that your are using the correct driver & Crossbar? Also as L.S. suggests, use Pal_B

Sorry for the slow reply but I haven't had and free time this past week. I've just managed to grab 20 minutes to have a quick play around but I'm hoping to find more time over the weekend.

I've just tried changing the Video Filter setting to both PAL_I and PAL_B, along with changing the framerate between 25fps and 29.???fps. I also restarted Virtualdub after each setting change, and I tried the various settings with the 710-USB connected to a USB2.0 port rather than a 3.0 (both ports being located on the mobo's rear I/O). It didn't appear to work when connected to the USB2.0 port but that's an avenue I left unexplored for until I have a bit more time.

The behaviour remains the same... I can't get any video output unless the Video Filter is set to NTSC with and 29.???fps. The Video Filter box never shows more than 525 lines detected.

Just to double check, I am changing the format in the correct place right?

I forgot to mention in my original post that I'm using Windows 7 on a Lenovo TS140. It has no discreet GPU, so I'm using the Xeon E3 1226-V3's iGPU (and avoiding any more Nvidia driver headaches). I should have also mentioned that I am using CrossbarThingy and the Pinnacle driver, both of which were downloaded from the links LS provides elsewhere on the forum.

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As somewhat of an aside. I bought a Matrox MX02 Max RACK a few days ago. It was complete (aside from a power cable), in working order, the last one in stock and the price was just too good the pass up. I still fully intend to find the issue with my 710-USB though.

So you hear the USB connect chime when you plug the 710 into the PC?. You see the light on the device. You open Crossbarthingy and tick the Related pin box having selecte s-video or composite and then minimise the app (not close) to the taskbar? You open Virtualdub 1.9.11 and select capture mode and select device. Under video select capture pin what are the settings there?

One quick update on the MX02. It has been delivered, it's in good physical condition and seemingly in working order. It can also handle / output the PAL signal from my RTV-950. It has one or two issues that need to be worked around but I first, I need to order some RCA to XLR cables to handle the audio (as the Rack version of the MX02 doesn't have RCA inputs). This will be the last I mention of the MX02 in this thread (unless it in some way becomes relevant to the 710-USB), because I don't want to go any further off topic.

Hmm... that's the first I've heard of just minimising CrossbarThing. In fact, I'm sure I've read guides that said to close it. Either way, I'll give it a go tomorrow and see whether it makes a difference... oh, and "yes" to all your questions. As for the Pin settings, I've tried settings the correct settings for PAL but aside from one seemingly freak exception I mentioned above, I never get a picture when set to PAL. Only when I set it to NTSC and an NTSC framerate.

I do believe we have identified your problem. The crossbar Thing should be launched and then select Pinacle 710-USB Crossbar then click "Open selected Crossbar" Here, select input i.e. s-video and tick box "Link related streams", click apply. Then also click Pinacle 710-USB and again "Open selected Crossbar" This will launch the Pinacle software. In video decoder tab select Pal_B and tick VCR Input box. Often the signal is not detected and "Lines detected" reads 525. This is not necessarily a problem. Now MINIMIZE Crossbar Thing (do NOT close it) to the task bar and open virtualdub then "File" > "Capture AVI" > Select the Pinacle under "Device" then "Video" and check that capture Pin and capture filter are correct - change the setting if not and click "Apply". Again under "Video" tick "Preview". Sometimes it seems to crash. If this does happen, close VD and Crossbar thing and unplug the Pinacle USB lead for a few seconds, plug back in and follow the procedure again.

After changing it to preview push device, device settings, then save current display mode as default. It will save your settings so you won’t have to switch to preview next time you open Vdub.

Nice tip, thanks. Do you ever get that hang/freeze when entering preview mode and the only way to resolve it is to disconnect and reconnect the capture device?

It used to freeze up on me when I had to switch from overlay to preview.

Then that tip is excellent as I often had to reset it and now hopefully the annoyance is gone, thank you.

You’re welcome. I got that tip off of this forum also.