Choppy, stuttering Videos when Capturing

[Logan289]

First, let me point out that the video has perfect audio. There is no audio stuttering or desync problems. I am recording videos from video games, mainly Super Smash Bros. Brawl replay files.

Now, I have the EasyCAP program using the Vista/7 drivers. It records video and audio just fine using the program that comes with it: Ulead Video Studio SE. I also use Pinnacle Studio 12 as it seems to save videos in better quality.

My problem is when I save videos on either program, every few seconds of video there is a "choppy" or "stutter" in the video as if there were frames lost or sped up. The audio and video stay synced the entire time, but that stuttering is hurting the video's quality.

I have noticed it happens more frequently in Ulead than it does in pinnacle studio 12, but the problem remains there for both.

My capture settings ranged from low to mid to high and it seems nothing is changing the stuttering video every 5-10 seconds.

Here are my current normal capture settings for both programs, according to several "Best Video Quality" guides on youtube and online forums:

-MPEG2
-720x480 (Game is set in widescreen)
-Data Rate 6000-8000 (Recommended, but I have tried lower and higher with no different results)
-Sound is 16bit Stereo w/ 48kHz Sample Rate
-Constant Bitrate set. Not Variable Bitrate.

I use Windows 7 PC, have an Intel Pentium D CPU 3.00GHz, and 4GB of RAM. My Graphics Card, which is a GeForce 8800 GT with recently updated drivers. Also, I turned off all my background programs so my PC can use no extra memory and focus only on the capure card and the capture program.

So, what seems to be my problem? Is it my Capture device? My capture program? My capture settings? Something else?



tl;dr version:

-Audio captures perfectly
-Video stuttering every 5-10 seconds regardless of capture program
-Using EasyCAP with Windows Vista/7 drivers
-Capture settings are:
MPEG2
Bitrate 6000-8000 (recommended by guides)
I have tried lower and higher with no different results
720x480 (Game is set in widescreen)
Sound is 16bit Stereo w/ 48kHz
Constant Bitrate set. Not Variable Bitrate.
-Using Ulead Video Studio SE and Pinnacle Studio 12
-GeForce 8800GT Video Card

[bigweeal]

Excellent post.

1. You have a driver conflct with anything else that uses USB port 2. (camera?, printer?) It does not need to be plugged in. It just needs the drivers installed.

2. You have bought a duffer (most likely)

Normally when you get a stutter, it is your RAM that cannot handle it. (Especially when you record in AVI mode) But as you have plenty of RAM and you are recording in MPEG2, I favour No2.

If you have exhausted No1, send it back and get an EzCAP116

[Logan289]

#1 makes sense since I have 4 USB ports on the back. I use all of them and they tend to get switched around often. How do I check which ports have what drivers so I can try and stop the conflicts?

Regarding #2 - What is a duffer?

[bigweeal]

1. Make sure you have nothing else plugged in to your USB ports.

2. Go into your device manager, and right click and then select "disable" on any (printer, camera, etc) drivers you know that are set to your USB ports.

3. Reboot the pc.

Also make sure nothing else is running in the background just in case (internet/anti virus etc)

Plug in the easycap and try capturing now.



>Regarding #2 - What is a duffer?
This means a faulty one. A cheap copy with a cheap integreated circuit inside. One that will never work properly.


If you have tried all of the above and the results are the same, it is time to send it back and get a refund.
Get yourself an ezcap116. It will work straight out of the box.

[x FaTaL SHoTz o]

I used to have that problem with my pinnacle capture card using Studio. It was mainly because of the size of the software. When I bought my easycap, I was given a copy of ArcSoft Showbiz, a really simplistic piece of software, and the stuttering stopped.

Might just be coincidental, but I'd say it'd have something to do with the size of the software running slowly on your computer. You could try, making it so that Studio is the only piece of software running at one time.

Just a guess, but worth a shot.

[chrisy76]

Hello, can anyone help me? I recently puchased the EZ CAP 2.0 and eventually got it to work. But when using the video studio SE DVD the playback stutters via my video, stops and starts. Its very annoying. I have upgraded my USB ports to 2.0 and have 4 available slots. I dont have anything else plugged in, nothing running in the background. My system is a 32bit and 512Ram. And i use the AVI or MPEG format in video studio, it looks good quality but just stops and starts. Is there anything i can purchase like a booster to plug in to stop all that? or any other solutions?
Not only that but when taking a picture its not that good. Is there anyway of changing that so it can be good quality.....
Thank you

[bigweeal]

This is usually a ram issue on the pc. I take it you are capturing gaming?
 
Are you capturing for a long time? Always capture in Mpeg-2 and try capturing 2-4mins as a test.

Reboot the pc before you capture to clear all cache. As soon as you have captured, reboot again before watching the playback (to clear all cache.)

[chrisy76]

Thank you very much for contacting me and the link to the UK site. It's not gaming, i want to try and watch videos from my VCR through my computer via Video Studio SE, infact the outcome is the same in Windows Movie Maker. I will try to clear the cache and see what happens. Will it automatically clear when i start up? And as i have a 512Mb, will i have to improve it to 1Gb? What about taking a picture? Have you any ideas of improving the quality?

Thank you

[bigweeal]

Yes, your cache will clear after a restart. I think 1gb of ram would solve your issues.

Taking a picture.
I don't use Ulead anymore. I have an EzCAP116 that came with Arcsoft capturing software. The EzCAP also has a snapshot button that you press anytime you want a still. The quality I get is exactly the same quality as I am looking at in the capture screen. (very good) but please bear in mind, none of these devices enhance the quality of what it is you are capturing. So, if you are trying to capture a poor quality vhs tape, it will record in poor quality.

[chrisy76]

Thank you very much for being helpful. Looking on ebay, how do i know what to buy for a 1GB, there are so many different modules

[bigweeal]

I'm not too sure, I will all depend on your motherboard what type of ram you will require. I do not know much about that line of things.

Before you go down that route, look at "x FaTaL SHoTz o" post a few lines up this thread. He had the same problem but found different software fixed it.

Try this software. (good and free)
http://www.nchsoftware.com/capture/

Click the download link in the first paragraph.


When you have installed and opened, click on "device" at the top.