Grabster AV350

Mr Terp

New Member
Hi,


I am trying to digitize my old VHS tapes using the Grabster AV350. The video quality is very good, but OBS does not record any sound.
When I use the same hardware on another software, I do get sound, but the video quality is very poor.


Does anyone know how to fix this in OBS?
 

Mr Terp

New Member
Here are some more details:

I'm working on Windows 10 (22H2) and OBS 31.0.3 (latest stable version).
✅ Video capture works perfectly — high quality, smooth picture in OBS.
❌ However, no audio is recorded, even though:
  • OBS detects the audio input device ("Line (2-Grabster AV350)").
  • The audio device initializes properly at 44100 Hz.
  • "Monitor and Output" is enabled in the Audio Mixer.
  • The correct audio track is selected and active.
  • No errors or invalidations appear in the OBS log.
I also tested:
  • Playing a VHS tape — no green bars move in the Audio Mixer (no live sound).
  • In Windows Sound Control Panel — Line (2-Grabster AV350) device is present, but no live sound levels.
  • If I use Terratec Video Easy software (which came with the Grabster) — both audio and video work correctly,
    BUT the video quality is clearly worse compared to OBS,
    AND the recording stops automatically after about 20 minutes (even though the VHS tape continues playing).
  • If I use AmarecTV — audio works, but video quality is much lower.
  • OBS and Windows seem unable to "wake up" the audio chip correctly.
Important:
This issue only happens in OBS or with generic Windows capture software.
It works fine in specialized capture software using custom drivers (Video Easy), but with serious limitations.

Questions:
  • Is this a known driver limitation with Grabster AV350 and OBS?
  • Are there any driver settings, DirectShow filters, or workaround tricks that could help OBS capture sound correctly?
  • Would using something like a manual DirectShow device filter (LAV Filters?) help?
  • Should I use a second USB grabber for audio only and combine inside OBS?

Extra info:
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-10850H
  • GPU: NVIDIA Quadro T2000 Max-Q
  • Windows 10 Pro 22H2 (Build 19045)
  • OBS version: 31.0.3
  • Audio sample rate: set to 44100 Hz in OBS
  • Video resolution: 720x576 (PAL), 25fps
  • Log file: available on request
Thanks in advance for any advice or ideas!
 

Suslik V

Active Member
Code:
...
20:08:57.119: WASAPI: Device 'Line (2- Grabster AV 350)' [44100 Hz] initialized (source: Mic/Aux)
...
20:08:57.723: [Loaded global audio device]: 'Mic/Aux'
...
20:08:58.279: [DShow Device: 'Video Capture Device'] settings updated: 
20:08:58.279:     video device: Grabster AV 350 Capture
20:08:58.659:     using video device audio: no
20:08:58.659:     audio device: Line (2- Grabster AV 350)
You likely need to disable global audio devices in OBS Settings. Because when you capturing VHS tapes you don't need to capture the mic and speakers. OBS uses "Default" setting for global devices and Windows may make recently plugged device the default one. So, device will be busy...

Look at OBS main menu File > Settings > Audio > Global Audio Devices (group) > Mic/Aux and set it to "Disabled".
Same should be done for the File > Settings > Audio > Global Audio Devices (group) > Desktop Audio set it to "Disabled" too.

If you need some device (source of audio/video) in the selected scene - you can add it manually at any time later.

When capturing tapes you add only one device ("source") in the scene - "Video Capture Device" - the audio from it will be added automatically to the Audio Mixer pane. No need to added other sources to the same scene.
 

Mr Terp

New Member
Thanks for your reply. I did the changes you recommended, but that didn't help.
Here is the log file from my test
 

Attachments

  • 2025-04-28 18-49-54.txt
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Suslik V

Active Member
Code:
19:11:03.782: WASAPI: Device 'Line (2- Grabster AV 350)' Terminated
19:11:08.405: signal_handler_connect: signal 'file_changed' not found
Strange line in the log from the signal handler.

After you restart OBS, and start the capture again is the level meter moves in the Audio Mixer pane of OBS?
 

Mr Terp

New Member
Now i have deleted all settings in OBS, starting from a fresh start, just activating the grabber.
Dont understand why the grabber works with other software but not OBS (which gives the best video quality)
 

Attachments

  • 2025-04-28 21-24-33.txt
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Suslik V

Active Member
Code:
21:24:37.570: [Loaded global audio device]: 'Mic/Aux'
...
21:24:37.632: WASAPI: Device 'Line (2- Grabster AV 350)' [44100 Hz] initialized (source: Mic/Aux)
I think, that the global audio wasn't disabled in OBS. Probably, previous session failed and OBS settings wasn't saved. So, Global Audio Devices in OBS should be disabled again (see few posts above).

Sometimes, running OBS as administrator (higher privileges) may help to access capture devices. Sometimes you need to set in the OS settings special permission to use the mic from this device (usually needed for cheap devices that emulates webcamera with build-in mic - by security reasons OS may restrict access to such devices from "unknown" programs like OBS).

Anyway, OBS is not the best tool for audio capture. You likely need to set your PC audio devices running in Shared Mode to 44100 Hz just to avoid sampling rate conversions (and, possibly, some other issues), because these changes wasn't implemented yet:

Software alternatives (different capture device mentioned there, but this is info from the users and their experience with different programs and cheap capture devices):
Shotcut application - https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/hi8-tape-to-laptop-out-of-sync.183529/post-671606
VirtualDub - https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/best-settings-for-digital8-tape.184584/post-677106
 

Suslik V

Active Member
OBS developers mentions that some modern devices from this list was tested with OBS, and should work out of the box (yeah, most has only digital interfaces as inputs, so no go with VHS):
 

bcoyle

Member
Hi, I've captured vhs tapes before using a video capture device. I've always had trouble with the audio, mostly out of sync. The simple solution i found was to run the audio from the vhs recorder directly into the pc audio mic input. You might have to adjust the gain. Also just mute the video capture audio. 'worked fine with for me.
 

Mr Terp

New Member
OBS developers mentions that some modern devices from this list was tested with OBS, and should work out of the box (yeah, most has only digital interfaces as inputs, so no go with VHS):

Hi, I've captured vhs tapes before using a video capture device. I've always had trouble with the audio, mostly out of sync. The simple solution i found was to run the audio from the vhs recorder directly into the pc audio mic input. You might have to adjust the gain. Also just mute the video capture audio. 'worked fine with for me.
Thanks for both trying to help me :) I think I will try to get such a cable :)
 

Mr Terp

New Member
Hi, I've captured vhs tapes before using a video capture device. I've always had trouble with the audio, mostly out of sync. The simple solution i found was to run the audio from the vhs recorder directly into the pc audio mic input. You might have to adjust the gain. Also just mute the video capture audio. 'worked fine with for me.
I have now tried the came and as you can see I am now getting sound into OBS.
1745954036087.png


BUT for some reason the sound it not recorded
 

Mr Terp

New Member
The grabber is not connected to the sound output from my vhs. The sound is connected directly into my headset connection onto my pc.

This is not working but if i connection my headset again the sound work and is recorded.
 

Suslik V

Active Member
By default OBS is not playing back audio what it is captures. If you need to hear in real-time what is captured right now, then you need to use "Audio Monitoring" feature of OBS. The "Audio Monitoring" able to output sound not only to the main output (file or stream) but also to standalone device (usually headphones or PC speakers). The main menu Edit > Advanced Audio Properties opens window where you can specify which source of audio you want to monitor. Device through which you can hear specified audio source can be set in OBS main menu File > Settings > Audio > Advanced (group) > Monitoring Device. If you are using monitoring feature, make sure it is NOT set to "Default", because recently plugged device may become the default one without your knowledge (OBS don't has indication in the UI that the device for audio monitoring was changed recently or not available anymore).

Usually, during VHS capture, you don't need to monitor the sound. You seeing that sound is active in Audio Mixer pane (level-meter moves and is not grayed out), and the sound automatically outputs to the file. You can playback the recording later by VLC Player or mpv player.

Edit: of course, monitoring through the "PC speakers" while capturing these speakers is not wise. OBS will try to prevent this whenever possible.
 
Last edited:

Mr Terp

New Member
Hi, I've captured vhs tapes before using a video capture device. I've always had trouble with the audio, mostly out of sync. The simple solution i found was to run the audio from the vhs recorder directly into the pc audio mic input. You might have to adjust the gain. Also just mute the video capture audio. 'worked fine with for me.

Hi, Just to be sure, this is the type of cable you are talking about right? and just putting the plug into the headset plug and that is all?
1746003024687.png
 

Suslik V

Active Member
No way.
The PC's mic-in 3.5mm jack is one thing (pink color). The line-out 3.5mm jack is another thing (green). The line-in 3.5mm jack is different thing (blue).

In the simplest Stereo mode, PC's jacks has next meaning:
The Mic has 3-pins:
  • power and signal ground;
  • +2.5v out to power up the mic;
  • signal in.
The Line-in has 3-pins:
  • signal ground;
  • Right channel signal in;
  • Left channel signal in.
The Line-out has 3-pins:
  • signal ground;
  • Right channel signal out;
  • Left channel signal out.
(in all cases order of pins can be different)

You should read manual for your laptop before plugin into it anything. Laptops combines a lot of functions in one port, so way more sensitive to the connected equipment.
 

bcoyle

Member
you basically have a jack on the computer for your head set. There is another that is mic/hi level input. Thats the one I use.
 

Mr Terp

New Member
you basically have a jack on the computer for your head set. There is another that is mic/hi level input. Thats the one I use.
I am using my laptop where I do not have a mic/hi level input. So I guess that is why I need the U-Control UCA222 USB
 
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