Question / Help Multiple images

[NCBill]

I am trying to record a VHS tape that has been converted to input through a USB port. The screen shows 4 images - all in the upper left corner. The rest of the screen is black. The four images appear to be the correct image cut into 4 quarters and then rearranged. When I record this, I get the same effect. Audio is OK.

https://obsproject.com/logs/56nWT3K0UKFa6yhm

 

[koala]

The image cut into 4 parts seems like an issue with your capture device. OBS just shows what it gets from the capture device. See how you you can fix this with the settings of capture card.

Regarding the image being in the upper left corner: Your canvas resolution is 1280x720, but the capture device resolution is 640x480. To get the best quality, both resolutions should match. So change your canvas and output resolution to 640x480 as well, and in case you change the resolution of your capture device, change the OBS canvas and output resolution accordingly.
In addition, your capture device seems to capture with 25 fps. This should match the fps of OBS as well, so set the fps within OBS to 25, and in case you change the fps of the capture device, change the OBS fps accordingly.
You find these OBS settings in the Settings->Video tab.

 

[NCBill]

Thanks for a quick response. Now for another question. How do I change the canvas to the lower setting? Under Settings/Video/Base(Canvas) Resolution, 1280 by 720 is the lowest value available. The output resolution can be changed to many values, with the closest being 640 x 360. Also, 25 fps isn't available with NTSC, but I can use 24.

 

[NCBill]

It does seem that if I can get the canvas value down to 640 x 480, it might solve the problem.
I just tried with the values nearest what you suggest. Under Edit/Preview Scaling, I can choose scale to window, canvas (1280 x 720) or to output (640x360). However, the image is still the same.

 

[koala]

You can click into the fields and enter any value. The resolution values from the dropdown list are only proposals with common resolutions.

You can also right-click your capture device source in OBS while the source is showing some preview -> resize output (source size) to set canvas and output resolution to exactly the size of the source.

With the fps, look what the capture card will provide. Copy this value to OBS. This is something you have to read from the capture card. In your log, it was exactly 25 fps:
10:15:30.879: [DShow Device: 'Video Capture Device'] settings updated: 10:15:30.879: video device: AV TO USB2.0 10:15:30.879: video path: \\?\usb#vid_534d&pid_0021&mi_00#6&6af79c6&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global 10:15:30.879: resolution: 640x480 10:15:30.879: fps: 25.00 (interval: 400000) 10:15:30.879: format: MJPEG

If your tape material is NTSC, then you should change the settings in the properties of the capture card to match the fps of your material. For NTSC, it may be 29.97 or 24 NTSC, depending on the tape and on the tape recorder. I'm not that familiar with NTSC, I would try 29.97 first, since the Wikipedia article about VHS says there are 60 half frames are recorded, thus 30 fps - and as far as I know this is actually 59.94/29.97.
If you capture or record with mismatching fps, you might perceive stutters in your recorded video. You should match the fps of the original material with both the capture card and OBS.

 

[carlmmii]

Recording from NTSC video tape should be exactly 29.97fps for 480i. There's no real 59.94fps for capture unless you're talking progressive scan (which is not happening with VHS).

Make sure your framerate is set to 29.97 under your capture device settings (right-click the source, go to properties), along with the output tab of OBS.

If it's not possible to fix the issue of re-arranged quadrants direct from the capture card, what you can do is try to re-arrange them yourself within OBS. Basically include the source 3 more times, and crop each one to a different quadrant, then position them back to where they're supposed to be.

 

[NCBill]

You can click into the fields and enter any value. The resolution values from the dropdown list are only proposals with common resolutions.

You can also right-click your capture device source in OBS while the source is showing some preview -> resize output (source size) to set canvas and output resolution to exactly the size of the source.

With the fps, look what the capture card will provide. Copy this value to OBS. This is something you have to read from the capture card. In your log, it was exactly 25 fps:
10:15:30.879: [DShow Device: 'Video Capture Device'] settings updated: 10:15:30.879: video device: AV TO USB2.0 10:15:30.879: video path: \\?\usb#vid_534d&pid_0021&mi_00#6&6af79c6&0&0000#{65e8773d-8f56-11d0-a3b9-00a0c9223196}\global 10:15:30.879: resolution: 640x480 10:15:30.879: fps: 25.00 (interval: 400000) 10:15:30.879: format: MJPEG

If your tape material is NTSC, then you should change the settings in the properties of the capture card to match the fps of your material. For NTSC, it may be 29.97 or 24 NTSC, depending on the tape and on the tape recorder. I'm not that familiar with NTSC, I would try 29.97 first, since the Wikipedia article about VHS says there are 60 half frames are recorded, thus 30 fps - and as far as I know this is actually 59.94/29.97.
If you capture or record with mismatching fps, you might perceive stutters in your recorded video. You should match the fps of the original material with both the capture card and OBS.

Thanks for your help. I am closer to a solution, as I can now get the image in one piece with some color distortion and occasional blinks with multicolor bars crossing the screen. I do note that if there is a very quiet screen (or example film credits) the image is steady and never blinks, so the complexity of the scene affects what I can see. It seems that there is a limit to how fast the CPU can interpret the data. I would sent a copy of the settings, but I've forgotten how to do that.

OK, here it is. https://obsproject.com/logs/CD_ZBkw2FV8bMYP_

 

[carlmmii]

Ok.... so it looks like your capture card is actually giving a cry for help as far as OBS is concerned. I wouldn't blame your CPU in this instance.

12:54:12.930: warning: Found EOI before any SOF, ignoring

This line is repeated so many times in the logs that it actually has prevented any further writing into the log file. This was apparent in the first log file you posted, but with this one it seems to be a very real problem.

Go to your capture device properties (double-click your capture device), and set the resolution/FPS Type to custom if it's not there already. Do you have the ability to change your Video Format? If you have an option other than MJPEG, try it and see if you experience the same issues.


As a side note, just to cover the bases... is there any reason you're running the 32-bit version of OBS? Also, with the 2nd log file it says you were running a 2nd instance of OBS -- was there anything extra that may have happened that wasn't "normal"?

 

[NCBill]

Last answer first. My PC said there is another version running, but I couldn't find it until I ran task manager and saw a second version which I deleted. That didn't seem to make any difference, but at least it's gone.

Next - I'm running the only version I am aware of. If there is a 64 bit version which might help, I'd be glad to try.

Resolution FPS is already set to custom, Video format is "any"

A couple more bits of information. One tape - very old, shows things correctly (i.e., no more image cut in 4 pieces) , but with lots of color bars, diagonal stripes, and blinks
A second tape copied from TV years ago runs with a tolerable level of problems. No blinks, diagonal stripes, moderate color distortion.
I would be happy to delete the 32 bit version and reinstall with 64 bits if that might help.
Re: 64 vs 32 bit. I'm now running the 64 bit version, but with similar results.