VHS to mp4 audio working but black screen

[cathbel]

Hi folks,

I've been trying to convert my old VHS tapes to an mp4 format using an AV to USB type of thing. There are movies in there as well as home videos. However, I seem to capture the audio only. The screen is blue at the beginning and I see the PLAY on the screen when I press it, but after that I only record the audio and the screen is black. I've tried changing computers, changing the VHS machine, changing the VHS tape of course, updating OBS, changing the AV to USB stick... Nothing works. Help? Here is the log file: https://obsproject.com/logs/1LHVOqS2h26gVdOZ

 

[AaronD]

If you're getting the VCR's overlay, then all of the setup is probably good. If the content itself is blank, it could be a bad tape, and either the VCR or the capture device just gives up.

Can you see it on a TV? Those tend to be much better with bad signals than most capture devices.

 

[cathbel]

I don't have a TV so can't try it, but I have the same problem with at least two dozen tapes, it seems unlikely that they all have bad signal, no?

 

[AaronD]

I have the same problem with at least two dozen tapes, it seems unlikely that they all have bad signal, no?

If they were all in the same damaging environment, they might. How and where were they stored? Microweather around the boxes, like possibly humidity? Magnetics, like possibly speakers? Etc.

Likewise for all of the VCR's that you tried.

 

[AaronD]

Another possibility is NTSC/PAL/SECAM. If the VCR's generated overlay matches what the capture card wants to receive, but the tape doesn't...

 

[cathbel]

If they were all in the same damaging environment, they might. How and where were they stored? Microweather around the boxes, like possibly humidity? Magnetics, like possibly speakers? Etc.

Likewise for all of the VCR's that you tried.

They were not even in the same house (my moms, my dads and mine). Still dont feel like its the issue.

 

[Lawrence_SoCal]

The issue with getting the VCR player overlay but not any content means output through adapter most likely working... though for basic troubleshooting, I'd start with taking your capture setup to a TV or bringing one to you.. you add 1 or more magnitudes of complexity by going straight to OBS Studio and NOT making sure output actually working as expected (and what OUTPUT from adapter, EXACTLY, are you getting (technical details are critical to understand and configure properly)
- the challenge is if your adapter has RCA inputs, and USB on other side... that won't work... you need a RCA to HDMI out adapter to confirm on modern TV the output.

Next part is manual on your part of making sure frame rate, encoding format, interlacing vs progressive, etc are all configured in a compatible manner (as Aaron mentioned yesterday). If you don't know this, then safe bet this is where the issue lies

as to what settings... it depends... there isn't a single answer

Oh, and be sure to NOT ignore the big warning in OBS Studio (that is there for a REALLY good reason) about NOT recording to MP4 format (auto-remux within OBS Studio to MP4 once Recording complete)