I'm trying to capture VHS material through my Mojo SDI using S-Video. When selected in the capture tool I get no picture until I switch it to Composite and then it's a black and white picture only. Also, the top of the picture is distorted and jittery during playback.

I tried connecting the CV B-Y cable directly to the video out port on the VCR, got color, still jittery and the same distorted picture on playback.

Am I connecting the devices wrong? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Sounds like you need a Time Base Corrector/Frame syncronizer at the output of the VCR. VCR playback is unstable by it's very nature. You might try playing back the VCR tape and recording it to a digital deck or camcorder, then capturing from the decl/camcorder.

Good luck!

Steve

Can you copy to a DV tape and capture that? Most effective way, without expensive equipment, I know.

have you tried swapping out your Mojo cable for another one?  i had a similar issue with my Mojo SDI right out of the box, when i first got it.  finally figured out that the Chroma (red) strand of the cable was not working at all, thus the b/w video when in S-Video mode.  i only nailed down the problem while checking the output on a monitor; Avid may not recognize the Luma half of the S-Video signal to pass through without the matching Chroma (when trying to input the bad signal).  that would also prevent Component video in/out.

Avid replaced my cable under warranty & overnighted the new one the next day (once i got them on the phone)... problem solved.

just last week my other, original Mojo cable just stopped working in the same way (3 years after the first cable), red cable not functioning.  this cable has been BABIED... so who knows why.  i suspect that they're poorly made, though i doubt Avid will warranty this one for me.  hope this helps...

shane

Ha! I never thought about the cables being defective on a brand new item, but that's probably the case since all input through S-Video turns out B&W. I will contact Avid and get replacement cables.

I had thought about transferring the VHS to DV originaly, but thought it would be twice the work. Oh well, whatever works!

Thanks everyone for you comments on this subject. You rock!

Glen

i hope it is only a cable issue.  but as i said, i would recommend swapping out the input & output cables to make sure it is isolated to the one cable.  no point calling avid & waiting on hold unless it IS a defective cable.  if it's the same with both cables, or if you are able to input/output Component video without any trouble, it probably isn't the cable.

good luck.

shane

I swapped out to the other cable with the same results, B&W. Just in case it was the VCR, I hooked it up to a DV camera and got B&W as well.

Additionally, I cannot get a component signal from my client monitor, so I'm guessing there is something up with the red cable. I have the client monitor hooked up with a composite connection using the Blue cable only. 

I'm planning an early morning call to Avid so the wait is not too long.

Thank you for your reply and suggestions!

Glen

Glen: 

If you can borrow or rent one, the Sony SVO-5800 Super VHS recorder/player has a built in TBC to stabilize playback. This should solve your problem.

Thanks Larry. I  don't know anyone that has that deck and it looks like the average rental is $125 a day. B&H sells the AV Toolbox AVT-8710 TBC for for $200. Have you hear anything about it?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/276891-REG/AV_Toolbox_AVT_8710_AVT_8710_Multi_Standard_Time_Base.html

No, but it certainly appears to be up to the job, inserted between the output of the tape deck and the Mojo. A scope would be handy to set optimum levels when capturing.