Continuous transfer via Firewire often broken

[ruggy1]

Sorry about the subject title, but I have old Beta and VHS movies with gaps between segments, often no more than 20 seconds or so. At each one of these gaps capture is terminated and I have to start again by rewindind the tape past the gap and capturing again - painful! I use a Canon DV camera as the AV/DV converter. I suspect that the Canon is terminating capture after a certain period of static, but maybe it is MF4/5. If it is the Canon then there is nothing I can do about it, but if there is a setting somewhere in MF that I can change, it would be good to find it. Has anyone else had the same problems?
Thanks

[skier-hughes]

I use a Canon DV camera as the AV/DV converter. I suspect that the Canon is terminating capture after a certain period of static,
Thanks

I don't think either the cam or MF is that intelligent, but I may be wrong.

How long are the pieces you are capturing?
Are they all the same length?
What format are you capturing to?
What file system do you have on your hard drive?

Graham

[snoops]

Hi ruggy,

I dunno if this will help... but I assume the Canon is not sending DV data (or timecode) when the analog signal is trash during the gaps.

Have you tried recording the analog signal to DV tape first, and then capturing that? If it doesn't stop recording to tape (or continues after the gap) then you can capture the tape, because it will have valid data and timecode even if the video is junk during the gaps.

[heinz-oz]

I agree with snoops (Henry), this is the only way to capture your footage, provided the Canon does not stop recording when there is no signal from your analog tape.

Incidentally, gaps in the DV tape are just as deadly. That's why many pro's suggest to initialise (continuous recording of nothing) a DV tape prior to using it. This will ensure a valid time code even if the camcorder tape jumps forward at the end of one recording, leaving a gap to the next recording. This can happen if you stop the camcorder and change batteries.

[ruggy1]

Thanks Skier, Snoops and Heinz. Firstly the time between gaps is random, and the VHS tape is blank between video sections. 20 seconds of inactivity on the tape is the cutout period, above this I am sure the Canon has decided the tape is finished and is terminating the AV/DV process, so MF exits. I would like to have the luxury of being able to convert to DV tape first but I do not have the time. Looks like I need a new AV/DV converter! Thanks