From what I have experienced, EasyCap 4channel USB DVR (model: easycap002) does NOT do simultaneous 4-channel updates, rather successively updating each of the 4 channels one after the other, each taking, at the fastest update speed, about 1/2 seconds per activate channel. Also, I've been unable to make the included EasyViewer software do audio recording. Furthermore, in video record mode, EasyViewer ONLY captures ONE channel's video, not all 4 together.
I had better recording results, albeit only 1 channel with sound, using the software on the same CD named D:\drivers\files\stkatvap.exe although it requires some menu configurations to get it working --I'll cover this at the end of this post.
You are FAR better off finding some third-party recording software that MAY be compatible with this 4-channel easycap002... I don't know if there even are any compatible ones, however, but I know this EasyViewer crap they provided sucks.
I have had a LOT of problems with easycap002 4 channel USB dvr as well (hardware name is Syntek ST1160). I have it working periodically. Because I had the drivers already installed (as I am sure you do) I plugged in the easycap and clicked start > administrative tools > computer management > system tools > device manager .. right pane: +imaging devices .. right click on Syntek STK1160 and choose Uninstall and [x]delete the driver for this software. Unplug the easycap USB cable. Reboot. Login and insert the install CD that came with easycap run the autorun. Whith Easycap unplugged, choose Install Driver. If it asks you to "completely remove" then answer "yes" and after it is done eject and reinsert the CD again and choose "install driver" yet again to do the actual install this time. Click OK to the prompts to get the driver re-installed. Although you're on Vista, it installs as XP. After install is complete, plug in the easycap002 4-channel USB cable. Wait about 10 seconds to be safe then click start > administrative tools > computer management > system tools > device manager .. right pane: +imaging devices .. you should again see the "Syntek STK1160" there not having a yellow symbol over it. For the heck of it, reboot again then install the 4-port imaging software if you have not already. Be sure to plug in at least one device/camera so you have something to test. NOTE: I could NOT use the icon it put on my desktop, I had to literally go to the install location of the softwrae and run NOT easyviewer.exe at the root of the CD, but go into directory SYS\XP\ and use EasyViewer.exe there!!!! It will come up saying there is "no signal" initially but you'll see at bottom center it saying "search[ing]" so wait until that search is done so it can identify the cameras plugged in. Normally it takes up to 10 seconds for it to realize a source is plugged into one of the 4 video ports which makes debugging this thing take FOREVER. Also, initially try to use short length higher quality RCA cables so you don't risk signal loss which will complicate your troubleshooting. If you unplug a video source or the source shuts off, EasyViewer will say "video loss" and you are best to just kill and restart the EasyViewer software again - I've rarely had it re-recognize a reconnected source after plugging it back in without needing to restart the software.
If you're using less than all 4 input sources, disable the unused ones as it'll make display updates much faster by option Channel > channel control > [x]automatic ..uncheck what you are not using.. make Fast Turning:[x]enable .. and Turning Time: 1 Sec (the fastest each display will update) [ok]. Trust me, you'll want to do this to have faster display updates which are slowwww to begin with.
If video is in black and white it COULD be you have a low quality RCA cable, but likely is your needing to change setting Property> tab Video Decoder : video standard: ntsc_m (ntsc_m_j is black and white.) .. also Tab IMAGE : Video Sources: [x]Ntsc_m [x]Composite ...if on S-Video you won't see anything on this easycap002 4-channel model as it does not have an s-video input.
* What is annoying is that not all 4 channels are continually displaying. They CYCLE in updates, channel 1 taking 1/2 second, ch2 thereafter takes a 1/2 second, ch3 thereafter 1/2 sec, etc. This is why earlier I said to DISABLE any channels you are not using, saiving you 1/2 second of update time per disabled channel. I was hoping for smooth simultaneous updating. The only way to get smooth video is to watch ONLY 1 channel - do this by clicking at upper right of window Auto Turning Focus:OFF and click on the channel you want to watch in somewhat smooth mode (~15 frames per second (15fps)). Click Auto Turning Focus:ON when you want each to update, taking ~1/2 second each.
This slow 1/2 per channel update is rediculous.. It defeats the purpose of security video in my view, a person can just run across the channel's view and never be caught during the updates of the other channels which can take 1.5 to 2 seconds.
THE WORST PART: I've found NO WAY to record ALL 4 channel's video at once! I can only record a selected frame to video .avi !! Unbelievable. You CAN take a manual "snap shot" of all 4 frames however, but how useless is that. Clicking "RECORDER" locks up the LIVE display of all but the channel you're recording. Clicking "recorder" again to stop recording locks up the display for a couple of seconds but then resumes the alternating channel display updates.
Be warned: viewing the created .AVI is only reliable in Microsoft MediaPlayer, it only sometimes works in Apples' QuickTime viewer.
I've not been able to get sound to record in EasyViewer either.
I was able to get sound to work under another software provided on the CD. As mentioned at the start of this post, I had better recording results, albeit only 1 channel with sound, using the software on the same CD named D:\drivers\files\stkatvap.exe although it requires some menu configurations to get it working.
After running s5katvap.exe, plug your vid source into channel 2 of the EasyCap002 device, yes, the cord labled 2 and put the source audio into the white cord. Choose DEVICES > [x]Micorphone (usb audio interface ... OPTIONS>[x]Preview [x]Audio Preview ...
To make the video display smoother, you need to choose the video output format CAPTURE > CYCLE MULTIPLE VIDEO FORMATS > For the UnitedStates [x]320x240 UYVY or [x]640x480 UYVY
Note: Audio lags behind the video by about 1/2 second in the preview mode, but it is only slightly off when you playback the finished actual recorded .avi video file.
Now set where you want the capture to go to: FILE > SET CAPTURE FILE > ...
Now start recording with CAPTURE > START CAPTURE
Don't know if this helps much.
I'd appreciate any feedback anyone can give on better controlling software for this 4-port/channel DVR.
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