Canopus ADVC-110 DV/analog converter , flickering and black and white

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Canopus ADVC-110 DV/analog converter , flickering and black and white

Hello, I have a Canopus ADVC-110 DV/analog converter that bought eight years ago, which used to work fine with my PowerBook G4. I haven't used it for over five years, so the other day I found some vhs I wanted to convert and plugged the Canopus ADVC-110 to my iMac using FireWire 400 to FireWire 800 cable and was not recognized by my iMac. So, I tried on my MacBook Pro and still no luck. The iMac and my MacBook Pro are both running Mavericks. I pulled out my old PowerBook G4 I try to connect with FireWire 400 cable, still no luck. I pulled out my old PowerBook G4 I try to connect with FireWire 400 cable, so, all 3 computers are not detecting the Canopus.

i tried the front 4 pin FireWire port and all 3 detected it. (using an external power source to the Canopus) However, the picture was black and white and its Flickering. More like a VHS Player that needs tracking.

I tought it was my vhs player and tried it connecting it to a DVD player, but same result.

I've swapped all cables and I don't thing it's a cable issue.

any help will be appreciated.

Thanks!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on May 26, 2015 8:56 PM

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Answer 1

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Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

May 27, 2015 3:36 AM in response to dereje100

the picture was black and white and its Flickering.

That is usually a sign of a bad cable connection. You need a 4-pin to 6-pin firewire cable.

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Answer 2

dereje100 Author

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May 27, 2015 4:46 AM in response to Klaus1

Thanks K, however, i've tried it with 2 different 4 to 6 cable. I also tried it with 4pin to FireWire 800 cable as well. No luck.

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Answer 3

Klaus1

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May 27, 2015 5:27 AM in response to dereje100

Could be the pins need resetting?

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Answer 4

dereje100 Author

Level 1

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May 27, 2015 6:08 AM in response to Klaus1

Are you referring the 1-6 switches on the back? If so, I believe it's set as the manual says. I switched the back and forth but no luck.

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Answer 5

Klaus1

Level 9

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May 27, 2015 6:13 AM in response to dereje100

It was, yes. Not all long-shots work! 😉

Look on page 17 of the manual if you have it, under the section Bus Power. Could still be a cable or power problem.

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Answer 6

dereje100 Author

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May 27, 2015 7:47 AM in response to Klaus1

I'Ve tried to power it with two different power supply. It gets power. But the same issue. I also tried to power it with FireWire 400 using my PowerBook G4 while I'm connected to my MacBook using the 4 pin. No luck. The voltage and the amp is 5 volts 2A.

It is really frustrating. I was thinking about buying another one but the price is as high as it was 10 years ago.

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Answer 7

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

May 27, 2015 8:14 AM in response to dereje100

Copied this from an FAQ on the Canopus forum:

Problem: The captured video is black and white. What's wrong?

Solution 1: Check that the NTSC/PAL switch matches the type of video you are capturing. For PAL, you might have to set the NTSC Setup Level to the '0 IRE' setting. Note that for ADVC300, the IRE Setup Level switch also doubles as the PAL/SECAM input toggle in PAL mode.

Solution 2: If you are connecting to the source using S-Video, verify that the S-Video cable is okay. S-Video carries brightness and color information on separate lines, so if the color line is broken, the signal will be black and white.

Solution 3: If you are connecting the source using S-Video through a SCART adapter, verify that your source device is sending a S-Video signal through the SCART connection. Not all devices do, and not all devices do in all cases.

Solution 4: If you are playing an NTSC tape in a PAL deck, note that not all decks output a true NTSC (NTSC 3.58) signal. Many PAL decks play NTSC tapes as NTSC 4.43, which most PAL display devices can handle. The ADVC units require a true NTSC 3.58 signal, and the output of the ADVC units in NTSC mode is a NTSC 3.58 signal. So for input, your source device should be sending NTSC 3.58 and not NTSC 4.43, and for output, your receiving device needs to support NTSC 3.58 recording as well.

I always connect the camera to the Canopus using the RCA cables for the audio but the S-Video for the video.

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Answer 8

dereje100 Author

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May 27, 2015 8:43 AM in response to Klaus1

I'm using an old vhs that does not have S-video out. I tried it with a DVD player using the s-video but the same issue.

ITs to not only Black and white. It goes up and down really fast. Like when a vcr needs tracking. I've been trying to upload a clip to show you what's doing. But I have no luck with that either. Here is a picture,

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Answer 9

Klaus1

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May 27, 2015 8:59 AM in response to dereje100

It could be the VCR that is at fault.

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Answer 10

dereje100 Author

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May 27, 2015 9:18 AM in response to Klaus1

I doubt if the VCR I've tried it with the DVD player and I'm getting the same result. And I know it's not the cables because I have tried many cables

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Answer 11

Klaus1

Level 9

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May 27, 2015 9:35 AM in response to dereje100

Sorry, I am out of ideas. Try posting in the ADVC110 forum:

http://forum.grassvalley.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=8

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Answer 12

dereje100 Author

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May 27, 2015 9:39 AM in response to Klaus1

Thanks for your help !

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Answer 13

Ziatron

Level 5

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May 27, 2015 10:32 AM in response to dereje100

the picture was black and white and its Flickering.

Sounds like the old Macrovision. Macrovision is an old type of copy protection used on some videotapes.

It is legal for you to transfer (backup) a movie you purchased from VHS to DVD for your use only. It is easy to correct for Macrovision. Of course, if this is a homemade video, Macrovision is not your issue.

A long shot, but........... "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth" Sherlock Holmes

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Answer 14

dereje100 Author

Level 1

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May 27, 2015 11:44 AM in response to Ziatron

Thanks Ziatron, I was trying to transfer a home recording. The clip you see above is when I was trying it with a DVD player. I get the same issue. I even tried it on Skype and same issue. I wish there was a reset button on it. I couldn't find any driver for it.

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Answer 15

Ziatron

Level 5

4,186 points

May 27, 2015 1:00 PM in response to dereje100

Well, your Canopus ADVC-110 may have gone bad.

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