Capturing from Sony MicroMV problems

[failito]

I have a Sony DCR-IP55 MicroMV handycam and I am contemplating buying Videostudio 9. I have the trial version and have tried to capture the video (using firewire connection) but when I hit the capture button, an error window pops up that says "Failed To Create a Capture Graph" and capturing is aborted. I can control the device with the software (i.e. play,pause,rewind, etc.) and it recognizes it but no picture shows on the preview screen even as it is playing. I've had similar problems with the the "MovieShaker 3.1" when I got my new computer and I had to uninstall a current version of Quicktime and install the older version that came with my camera. So I even tried variations of this solution but no luck so far. Does any one know what the "Failed To Create a Capture Graph" mean?? THanks for your help!

[lancecarr]

Go into the "Tools" drop dpown list and select "Change Capture Plugin." Make sure that the Micro MV plugin is selected.

[failito]

Yes, the MicroMV Plugin is selected. I've rebooted several times and I still get the message. I also have a Mini DV camera, and I've used it with the software and I am able to capture so I don't think it's the hardware. Like I mentioned before Videostudio recognizes my MicroMV device and can control, play/pause, forward/rewind, etc. it just chokes when I hit the capture video button and I get that error message, "Failed to Build a Capture Graph", and capturing is aborted and nothing ever comes up on the preview window, it just stays blank (black screen). Thanks for your help.

[failito]

I was just thinking that the trial version may exclude some files, and that may be the cause of all this. Which would be kind of dumb since I probably won't buy the software if I can't even use the trial version. Does anyone know if this is the case?

[varaganti]

Hi

I too have micromv ip55, i tried movieshaker but i got problam in it, i am thinking to go for ulead, but i dont know how it works, what is your suggestion.

what should be the minimum configuration of Computer.

Srinivas

[THoff]

Search for "MicroMV" in the forum -- long story short, I'd be surprised if you get it working.

[profk99]

Srinivas:

Sorry this is not timely, but I just read your post.

I also got burned by Sony and MicroMV. But ULead IS your answer!!

I spent 2 years trying to get Pinnacle S7, S8, and S9 to work--even though I bought the MicroMV camcorder because Pinnacle CLAIMED to support it!. Finally found that Ulead VS7 would capture MicroMv PERFECTLY. I then used Pinnacle to edit the captured MPEG files because I was more familiar with it and it and it had easier DVD menus. Solved my problem.

I am now using Ulead VS10 for editing, but I have not yet tried capturing MicroMV with it. Contrary to THoff, I would be surprised if it DIDN'T work.

BTW: I still love my damned MicroMV camcorder for its size, but won't buy any other Sony proprietary products anytime soon!!!!

Bob

[Ken Berry]

I would be interested to hear whether others can find the MicroMV plug-in in VS10+ (Tools > Change Capture Plug-in). Mine does not seem to have it, though VS9 clearly does.

The worst part is that when I had to reformat my HDD and reinstall all programs two weeks ago, I am sure I saw a reference to MicroMV on the VS10 installation discs. But I have now checked them and connot find it... However, I had the distinct impression it was significant because it implied to me a separate decision was required to actually install the plug-in. I remember thinking at the time "I wonder if this was why people had trouble with their MicroMV cameras...?"

[profk99]

Apologies to all - especially to THoff.

As I have just received VS10, I had never actually TRIED to capture from my Sony DCR-IP5 with it. I am indeed surprised that though the IP5 is detected and controlled, and I even captured a still from it, it is recognized as a Sony HD-V (Looooong time before I buy another product from them!). When I start to capture video, the thing stops because VS10 thinks there has been a format change from HD-V to DV.

The latest compatibility list at : http://www.ulead.com/tech/general/compatibility.htm
shows that only DVDWorkshop 2 claims to support MicroMV.

HOWEVER

I do stand behind my assertion that VS7 and VS9 (never had VS8) do an EXCELLENT job of capturing MicroMV, and output MPEG-2 files that edit perfectly in both VS (7&9) and Pinnacle Studio 8&9 (haven't tried them on Studio 10.5 Ti, yet). In fact, that is how all of my MicroMV tapes have been captured since 2002.

Has anyone any idea if a VS9 MicroMV plugin could be installed into VS10?

Bob

[THoff]

No apologies necessary.

Also, my comments were directed at UVS 9 and UVS 8, not UVS 10, which wasn't out at the time. Even then, the only reports on MicroMV in the forum always indicated problems and an inability to capture.

Frankly, if you managed to do so, it would be great to know what is different about your system or your procedure that allowed it to work.

[profk99]

I have been using ULead for MicroMV capture since 2002. Both Pinnacle Studio 8 (eventually) and ULead VS7 recognized my DCR-IP5, but only VS7 was totally clean and solid. I have used VS7 and VS9 over the past 4 years to capture MPEGs for editing with Pinnacle S8, S9, and S10.

My first system was a 1.6 GHz P4 on an ASUS MB, overclocked to 2.0 GHz, with a Pinnacle FireWire card. It was replaced by an ASUS P4S800D-E with onboard FW. My newest machine is an HP dv1340us notebook with onboard FW. All these worked perfectly, first time, all the time, for MicroMV capture from my IP5.

**************** BUT! ******************

Yesterday I used my notebook to capture a full MicroMV tape to a 62-minute MPEG file, no problem. When I later tried to capture a second tape with the same setup, I got the same symptoms as the other posters!

There was no recognition of the IP5 by VS9, and even the weird "Capture Graph" message Rickety reported appeared once. Is this contagious?

I checked Control Panel|System|Hardware|Device Manager|Sound, video and game controllers, and found that the IP5 had been detected and its Properties said it was working correctly.

After a couple of reboots, etc. I found that waiting a few minutes allowed the system to detect the IP5, after which all was wonderful again.

The only difference was I had the camcorder running on battery during capture for the first time (too lazy to fetch the power supply). Perhaps this event was caused by a (shudder) marginal hardware problem in my camera, and the lower voltage from the battery put it over the edge.

Suggestions:

o Use AC power.

o Can you capture with MovieShaker SW that came with the camcorder?
No: May be bad hardware. Try another computer, cable, or camcorder.

o Run a full virus scan and a good spyware scan like Adaware (free).

o Download and run EndItAll*

o Download or borrow a trial of other software**

*EndItAll is shareware from PC Magazine, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1554267,00.asp, a 3 for $5 download. It stops programs running on your PC, most without your knowledge. There a dozen or more running on most PCs, and some can interfere with each other. BE BOLD! If you kill a needed program, a simple reboot will fix it. Kill does not affect stored programs, just their running instances. Do keep track of (and don't kill} the programs that seem essential to the PC. EndItAll used to be the only way I could get Pinnacle S8 to work at all!

** Try Pinnacle Studio 8 if you can get it. You must apply updates. The later versions capture MicroMV OK, but immediately do a scene detection that generates incorrect clips because MicroMV doesn't go to black between scenes--it creates funky pixellated transitions instead. Post or Email me if you need to work this way. I don't recall if I ever tried captures in their new S10 product.

Bob