Analog to DV tape then capture

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:12 am

I transferred Analog to my Canon DV camcorder tapes and then captured in the preset DV format on Video Studio 8 to DV Type 1. The resulting video has two different ratios - some is 4:3 and some is 16:9. Anyone have any ideas where the problem is - could it have been the way the tapes were originally recorded - the camera is no longer around. Or is it me? Thanks

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:46 am

Is it a single file or mutiple files?

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:55 am

It is a single analog tape to a DV tape and then split by scene after it was captured. Within those scenes some are 4:3 and some are 16:9.

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:40 am

Pat wrote:It is a single analog tape to a DV tape and then split by scene after it was captured. Within those scenes some are 4:3 and some are 16:9.

So each scene is a different file? I'm assuming the origianl footage is all 4:3 so you need to convert the 16:9 to 4:3 so it displays correctly?

I'm just trying to get a gauge on what the issues is.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:51 am

The problem as I see it is some of the DVD will end up being full screen and some wide screen - so either need to figure out what the original problem is or figure out some way to convert it. I tried downloading to Mpeg 2 but part way through(about the same spot it has converted to 16:9 in AVI) it went down from 8000 to 3200. So not sure what to do - just carry on with part of each or try to fix it!

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 3:10 am

If they are seperate files.... import the ones that are 16:9 and create a new DV-AVI file using the 4:3 template. If there's only one use that one. Make sure your using the DV-AVI. If there isn't see what types of AVI you can make (e.g. microsoft rle may be one)

This shouldl't take very long because your not really doing anything to the video but changing the header. It will have to make a new file but that is just going to be like copying it.

When you go to open the file highlight it then click the info button. You should get a properties dialog box like this:

Yours will be different, it should be DV-AVI. The part circled in red is what you should look at. That's the 16:9 flag on the end, the ones playing in 16:9 will probably be flagged like that. Check and make sure. Vice Versa the ones playing correctly will be flagged 4:3.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:43 am

That is where I figured out some of it had captured at 16:9 - the first tape starts at a 4:3 ratio and if I don't split while capturing it will all go 4:3 and stay there - but if I try to capture a later segment in the same manner it comes out at 16:9. Obviously I am doing something wrong! Not sure what though!

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 4:55 am

Another note - in my AVI - the only ones that seem to come out with a 4:3 ratio are DV Video Encoder - type 1 and DV Video Encoder - type 2. The rest have the aspect ratio blocked! Thanks

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:02 am

Don't know what to tell you, my capture program auto detects the ratio. Might be something with the tape, I really don't know.

Try using MS Movie Destroyer to capture the footage then import it into VS. It makes no difference what you use to capture, your not actually capturing but transferring the video. You capture when it's analog.

If you experience the same problem with Movie Maker errrr destroyer i'd suggest you just capture the entire tape. You could then just create your segments from there if that's what you want to do. Personally I'd just leave it as is you only need it for a source.

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:15 am

Pat wrote:Another note - in my AVI - the only ones that seem to come out with a 4:3 ratio are DV Video Encoder - type 1 and DV Video Encoder - type 2. The rest have the aspect ratio blocked! Thanks

First AVI is just a generic extension on a file to indicate it's video, it can contain many types of video. DV is the type of video on a digital cam so if transferred correctly it should be labled as DV video encoder in the properties. The only difference between type 1 and type 2 is how the audio is stored and the file size. Type 2 produces a slightly larger file. Which to choose depends on the editor because some won't work with type 1, type 2 or they may work with both. Use type 1 for VS. Make sure your not changing the capture settings while your capturing, you only need to find the selection for type 1 and that's it.

I'd back up a little and make sure the capture settings haven't changed. And again try Movie Maker.....errrr destoyer.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:27 am

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try Movie Maker tomorrow - if that fails will try a straight import from analog camera to mine to computer - see if that works. I also have Nero - would that be another option. Thanks so much - i was getting just a LITTLE frustrated - now at least I have some other things to try.

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 5:35 am

Pat wrote:if that fails will try a straight import from analog camera to mine to computer - .

That would probably be easiest. As I stated it doesn't matter what you use for to trasfer the video as long as your transferring using DV-AVI.

I suggest not using Nero for anything more than capture in your case beacuse it makes no difference. I have't personally had any experience with Nero but from my understanding the final results are poor.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 11:28 pm

So everything I try - some of the tape comes out at 4:3 and some at 16:9 ratio - does anyone know if the old cameras actually changed the ratio - or could switch from wide screen to TV screen. Looks like the project is going to end up being some of each! Any other ideas.

thecoalman · Post by **thecoalman** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 11:42 pm

I told you above.... You need to create a new file so it has the correct header info. Drop it on the timeline, select the share button, select create file, select the DV 4:3 output. It shouldn't take that long to create a new one since your not really doing anything to it but changing the file header.

I was looking for a tool to just change it but can't seem to find one. They do have one for mpeg.

62cwil · Post by **62cwil** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:46 am

I know this is a few days after you asked the question. Over the weekend I converted 5 8mil tapes from a Sony Analog. I have a Cannon Optura 40. I called Cannon Tech Support and the tech told me to go to my menu on the Cannon and select VCR and switch to on and just press the play button on my Sony and it would be the same as I was taping directly from my Cannon. Also, I needed to use their wire which had the 3 RCA type jacks coming out of the analog and they all went to one jack on the part connecting to my Cannon. I did that and everything worked perfect. I simply imported as a DV-1 and went from their.