Who remembers Betamax ?

[SeZo]

So the audio was muted then.

Sorry I meant after you set up VLC to play the video

[Emegra]

Ok It's back to giving me no video again, like I said in a previous post I never done anything to get it working in the first place so this doesn't surprise me,  But here's the output you asked for anyway incase it gives you any clue why it's so fragile

Code: [Select]

=-1 :v4l2-backlight-compensation=-1 :v4l2-band-stop-filter=-1 :no-v4l2-hflip :no-v4l2-vflip :v4l2-rotate=-1 :v4l2-color-killer=-1 :v4l2-color-effect=-1 :v4l2-audio-volume=-1 :v4l2-audio-balance=-1 :no-v4l2-audio-mute :v4l2-audio-bass=-1 :v4l2-audio-treble=-1 :no-v4l2-audio-loudness :v4l2-set-ctrls= :live-caching=300

Many thanks


Graeme

[SeZo]

Thanks, but that line is not complete.

In VLC Go to:
Media>Capture Device>Advanced Options:
       >Frequency <input number part of saved frequency for betamax>
Then press OK

Post the Edit line
Try to see if you get picture

[Emegra]

At the moment I'm working on VHS the old Betamax started eating tape to add insult to injury, I assumed for the purpose of getting this working it wouldn't matter what machine I was using, I hope my assumption hasn't caused any problems if it has I apologise

 

Code: [Select]

:v4l2-standard=PAL_BG :input-slave=alsa://hw:0,0 :v4l2-chroma= :v4l2-input=0 :v4l2-audio-input=-1 :v4l2-width=-1 :v4l2-height=-1 :v4l2-aspect-ratio=4\:3 :v4l2-fps=0 :v4l2-use-libv4l2 :v4l2-tuner=0 :v4l2-tuner-frequency=-1 :v4l2-tuner-audio-mode=1 :no-v4l2-controls-reset :v4l2-brightness=-1 :v4l2-brightness-auto=-1 :v4l2-contrast=-1 :v4l2-saturation=-1 :v4l2-hue=-1 :v4l2-hue-auto=-1 :v4l2-white-balance-temperature=-1 :v4l2-auto-white-balance=-1 :v4l2-red-balance=-1 :v4l2-blue-balance=-1 :v4l2-gamma=-1 :v4l2-autogain=-1 :v4l2-gain=-1 :v4l2-sharpness=-1 :v4l2-chroma-gain=-1 :v4l2-chroma-gain-auto=-1 :v4l2-power-line-frequency=-1 :v4l2-backlight-compensation=-1 :v4l2-band-stop-filter=-1 :no-v4l2-hflip :no-v4l2-vflip :v4l2-rotate=-1 :v4l2-color-killer=-1 :v4l2-color-effect=-1 :v4l2-audio-volume=-1 :v4l2-audio-balance=-1 :no-v4l2-audio-mute :v4l2-audio-bass=-1 :v4l2-audio-treble=-1 :no-v4l2-audio-loudness :v4l2-set-ctrls= :live-caching=300

I notice tuner frequency is listed as 1 but under advanced options it's listed as -1, don't know if that means anything

Many thanks


Graeme

[SeZo]

Nope, it does not matter which video you are using for the input
Could you change the tuner frequency to match the previously recorded frequency for the VHS
then try again to see if you get a picture.

[Emegra]

Code: [Select]

VHS Frequency
graeme@Linux1 ~ $ v4l2-ctl --get-freq
Frequency: 12532 (783.250000 MHz)
graeme@Linux1 ~ $ 

I tried changing tuner frequency to 12532 that didn't work then I tried 783,250000 but it wouldn't allow me to enter that I then tried reducing the integar to 783.25 but it wouldn't let me enter that either

SeZ o I really feel I'm being a royal PITA with this now and I feel I'm just pestering you, honestly if want to tell me this can't be done with this hardware I'll accept that look for other hardware to do the job, you've give this everything and I appreciate all your effort I really do, I'll go on as long as you and Mark are prepared to, but please don't think I'll be offended or disappointed if you think I should give up


Graeme

[Emegra]

I don't know if this helps, but here goes

if I try to load the movie in VLC I get no audio or video, however if I load xawtv and tune in to channel 60 I get audio & video but will not record , if I then close out of xawtv and open VLC it will load video only and it will record (no audio) (in other words VLC will only play video if the signal has previously been tuned in by xawtv) if I reboot the PC I have to go through the same procedure again, so it seems it's a frequency problem with VLC and once xawtv tunes the card in VLC will play, the same happens with Cheese so to summarize

xawtv will play audio & video but will not record (but doesn't crash)
Cheese will play video only but crashes when I try to record
VLC will play & record video only (no audio)


Graeme

[SeZo]

It is up to you if you want to give up.
it seems that the stumbling block is getting stable (reliable) channel tuning set up which works every time
You could try to input in VLC for frequency 783250 and see if that gives the right channell

Alternatively (before you start VLC):

Code: [Select]

v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 -f 783.250

and as a test run:
Now test it works:

Code: [Select]

mplayer /dev/video0

You should now see the video on the PC screen corresponding to the input of the card.
Enter 'q' to quit mplayer

To record it as a file issue the command:

Code: [Select]

mplayer -dumpstream -dumpfile capture.mpg /dev/video0

Press ctrlc-c to quit when you are finished

[Emegra]

It is up to you if you want to give up.

I don't really want to give up I just don't want to be a pest that's all

Anyway I rebooted the PC and ran your command (v4l2-ctl -d /dev/video0 -f 783.250) and that worked perfectly although still no audio

Code: [Select]

mplayer /dev/video0

gives this output 

Code: [Select]

graeme@Linux1 ~ $ mplayer /dev/video0
MPlayer2 UNKNOWN (C) 2000-2012 MPlayer Team
mplayer: could not connect to socket
mplayer: No such file or directory
Failed to open LIRC support. You will not be able to use your remote control.

Playing /dev/video0.
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!
Seek failed
Cannot seek backward in linear streams!

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

I'm still wondering if using Ubuntu 12.04/Mint 13 with the older gstreamer might help.
(or even Peppermint 3, if we can get cheese installed and working)

Lot of work, I know .. but I still think this is sommat to do with gstreamer 1.0

[Emegra]

I'm still wondering if using Ubuntu 12.04/Mint 13 with the older gstreamer might help.
(or even Peppermint 3, if we can get cheese installed and working)

I have no idea Mark I lost track of this 7 pages ago, I know this is unrelated but I remember having a problem with gstreamer playing mp3's when I first installed peppermint 3 and you helped me sort it out, strangely enough VLC supplied the solution.

I don't know what's wrong with Cheese in peppermint I'm sure it did work, I've tried re-installing but that didn't help, but I haven't tried opening Cheese from the terminal to see if there is an error reported that could give me a clue (not that any of the error descriptions mean a lot to me).

Anyway I'm never gonna find the solution myself so I'm relying on you and Sezo to find one for me (which I know you will given time) so I'll follow whatever you both think is the best path to take, if you want to move this to peppermint that's what I'll do


Many thanks


Graeme

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

In Mint .. can you post the output from:

Code: [Select]

lsmod

and

Code: [Select]

cat /proc/asound/pcm

At some point it might be worth finding out if there's any output from:

Code: [Select]

cheese

in Peppermint

[Emegra]

Code: [Select]

graeme@Linux1 ~ $ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
des_generic            21191  0 
md4                    12523  0 
snd_hrtimer            12648  1 
tuner_simple           22016  1 
tuner_types            18998  1 tuner_simple
parport_pc             31968  0 
ppdev                  12817  0 
bnep                   17707  2 
rfcomm                 37276  0 
bluetooth             183228  10 bnep,rfcomm
tuner                  26797  1 
nls_utf8               12493  6 
cifs                  279812  7 
fscache                50234  1 cifs
msp3400                35561  1 
gpio_ich               13159  0 
coretemp               13168  0 
arc4                   12473  2 
snd_hda_codec_realtek    63356  1 
microcode              18209  0 
bttv                  112147  1 
videobuf_dma_sg        18714  1 bttv
videobuf_core          25097  2 bttv,videobuf_dma_sg
btcx_risc              13400  1 bttv
joydev                 17161  0 
rc_core                21266  1 bttv
tveeprom               17009  1 bttv
snd_hda_intel          32515  3 
snd_hda_codec         111547  2 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep              13272  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm                80163  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi           13132  0 
snd_rawmidi            25382  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event     14475  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq                51255  3 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer              24411  3 snd_hrtimer,snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device         14137  3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
ath9k                 116549  0 
v4l2_common            15767  3 tuner,msp3400,bttv
videodev               95841  5 tuner,msp3400,bttv,v4l2_common
serio_raw              13031  0 
mac80211              461161  1 ath9k
i915                  457161  3 
ath9k_common           13783  1 ath9k
mac_hid                13037  0 
ath9k_hw              376155  2 ath9k,ath9k_common
ath                    19187  3 ath9k,ath9k_common,ath9k_hw
snd                    61991  16 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
drm_kms_helper         45271  1 i915
lpc_ich                16925  0 
cfg80211              175375  3 ath9k,mac80211,ath
drm                   230463  4 i915,drm_kms_helper
i2c_algo_bit           13197  2 bttv,i915
soundcore              14599  1 snd
video                  18847  1 i915
snd_page_alloc         14036  2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
lp                     13299  0 
parport                40753  3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
hid_generic            12445  0 
usbhid                 41702  0 
hid                    82142  2 hid_generic,usbhid
usb_storage            39350  0 
uas                    17556  0 
r8169                  55976  0 
graeme@Linux1 ~ $ 

Code: [Select]

graeme@Linux1 ~ $ cat /proc/asound/pcm
00-00: ALC888 Analog : ALC888 Analog : playback 1 : capture 1
00-02: ALC888 Analog : ALC888 Analog : capture 1
graeme@Linux1 ~ $

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

What's the output from:

Code: [Select]

amixer -c 0 controls

?

[Emegra]

graeme@Linux1 ~ $ amixer -c 0 controls
numid=32,iface=CARD,name='Front Headphone Jack'
numid=34,iface=CARD,name='Front Mic Jack'
numid=35,iface=CARD,name='Line Jack'
numid=31,iface=CARD,name='Line Out Jack'
numid=33,iface=CARD,name='Rear Mic Jack'
numid=30,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Switch'
numid=29,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Volume'
numid=11,iface=MIXER,name='Headphone Playback Switch'
numid=10,iface=MIXER,name='Headphone Playback Volume'
numid=36,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume'
numid=20,iface=MIXER,name='Front Mic Boost Volume'
numid=15,iface=MIXER,name='Front Mic Playback Switch'
numid=14,iface=MIXER,name='Front Mic Playback Volume'
numid=3,iface=MIXER,name='Front Playback Switch'
numid=2,iface=MIXER,name='Front Playback Volume'
numid=5,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Switch'
numid=4,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Volume'
numid=8,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Switch'
numid=6,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Volume'
numid=9,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Switch'
numid=7,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Volume'
numid=17,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Switch'
numid=16,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Volume'
numid=21,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Switch'
numid=22,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Switch',index=1
numid=23,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Volume'
numid=24,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Volume',index=1
numid=18,iface=MIXER,name='Auto-Mute Mode'
numid=28,iface=MIXER,name='Beep Playback Switch'
numid=27,iface=MIXER,name='Beep Playback Volume'
numid=1,iface=MIXER,name='Channel Mode'
numid=37,iface=MIXER,name='Digital Capture Volume'
numid=25,iface=MIXER,name='Input Source'
numid=26,iface=MIXER,name='Input Source',index=1
numid=19,iface=MIXER,name='Rear Mic Boost Volume'
numid=13,iface=MIXER,name='Rear Mic Playback Switch'
numid=12,iface=MIXER,name='Rear Mic Playback Volume'
graeme@Linux1 ~ $