Shuttle dropping frames during capturing VHS

I recently bought the Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle (Thunderbolt version) to capture old VHS footage through the S-Video input. I'm using the latest version of Media Express (and Video Desktop).

During capturing, depending on the tape, i get dropouts (black frames). Some tapes work fine, others don’t. It’s not the VCR, because when i hook it up to my TV, it runs fine. The same happens when i try to access the menu on the VCR. It seems like the Shuttle can’t handle something that is slightly out of spec?

Does anybody know what is causing this, or an alternative to capture from the Shuttle which won’t drop frames?

I'm on the “trashcan” Mac running El Capitan. Drives are fast enough to capture every format.

Thank you.

This is typical of VHS tapes, they loose their time code track, and then yiu see drop,out. Also, older tapes will have drop,out caused by wear in the tape, similar to dropped frames. Both will cause the digital capture to stop. You need to get a good Broadcast style Time Bas Corrector, that will fix these issues and give yiu a continuous signal to the Shuttle. Go to the Live Production form and search on transferring VHS tapes or VHS and TBC. This will bring up the many previous discussions on this issue.
Cheers

Thank you for your answer. It still doesn't explain why i can't see the VCR menu, however.

Also, my VCR equipped with TBC (a JVC HR8600), or would this not be sufficient?

No, that was barely sufficient for a CRT Monitor and analog equipment (tape to tape editing).
As for the deck menu, it is probably being blocked by the card. Try displaying the deck to an old crt monitor. I have several laying around for that purpose. I have a spare Sony 8-inch field monitor available if you are interested.
Cheers

Try displaying the deck to an old crt monitor.

Thanks, yes i hooked it up to a CRT and that showed the VCR settings (wanted to check the settings before capturing).

Okay, so i have to accept the blackouts (unless buying an expensive broadcast grade TBC)?

Capturing with other software than Media Express won't show the dropped frames either?

No, and no. You can get a used Broadcast type TBC on eBay for reasonable prices.
I got a Snell and Wilcox Kudo, works well. Sony made one , as did Digital Processing Systems, and the Datavideo TBC-1000 should do the trick.
Cheers

No, and no. You can get a used Broadcast type TBC on eBay for reasonable prices.
I got a Snell and Wilcox Kudo, works well. Sony made one , as did Digital Processing Systems, and the Datavideo TBC-1000 should do the trick.
Cheers

Alright, gonna look those up. Thank you for all your help!

Hi,

Just wondering if these suggestions helped as I've encountered the same problem. Did you end up buying the Datavideo TBC-1000?

Cheers

Hi! I'm also wondering if this worked for you, as I'm currently trying to figure out ways to fix this. One suggestion I found was to use a AV2HDMI converter, but when I have that in my "lineup" and hooked up, Media Express does not want to capture anything. I'm going to keep playing around with it, but just curious how this worked out for you?

Hi, I have had the same problem with lost frames, but at the moment I have a working solution. My VHS video JVC J-HR748 is giving me SCART output and I convert that signal to HDMI with a converter to approx $ 100 from a shop i Norway called Kjell. I am using an older version and have not testet this newer version. The product is not from Norway and I don't se the product name.
The HDMI signal goes then to HDMI input on my USB Intensity Shuttle and Media Express. It works for me.

Cheers