when trying to capture from my panasonic dv camera through the usb cable supplied, I have a capture error window appear - capture module initiate failed - cannot preview, yet I can control the camera with the screen controls and the windows movie maker captures the dv.
can anyone help?
Video Studio 8 usb driver capture problem
Moderator: Ken Berry
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Ken Berry
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Unless you have a pretty recent, high end (i.e. rather expensive) video camera, the USB connection -- even if it is an up to date high speed USB 2.0 connection -- is normally used only for transferring still photos taken by your video camera or else converting your camera into a sort of web camera for the transfer of relatively low quality streaming video. There are only a handful of higher end, expensive video cameras which actually use the USB 2.0 for the transfer of high quality video and I see that even VS10 has not been adjusted for capture from them using USB 2.0.
The problem is that camera manufacturers always seem to include a USB cable with the camera, thus giving the user the idea that they should use that cable for everything. But the reality is that if your camera is a mini DV model, then the best -- and for all intents and purposes, ONLY -- way of transferring high quality video to your computer is via Firewire (which may also be called i-Link, particularly with Sony and Samsung cameras). Basically, Firewire was developed as a (relatively) problem free means of transferring video to a computer at very high speeds. This is necessary since, as you will have realised, video creates very large files and the transfer rate to get them to your computer needs to be high enough for it to flow to your computer flawlessly and without it backing up because the connection can't handle the speed.
The problem is, though, that no camera manufacturer of which I am aware ever includes a Firewire cable. Needless to say, your computer will also need to have a Firewire port into which you can plug the connecting cable. You will need to check whether it does or not. The port looks quite different from a USB port and on the computer would normally be about half an inch long and nearly one eighth of an inch wide, but tapering almost to a point at one end. The Firewire symbol would normally be beside it and it looks like a Y with a small circle where the three arms meet.
But if you don't have one at the moment, the good news is that you can buy a Firewire card pretty cheaply these days (here in Australia they cost only around US$25 -- though you may have to pay to have it installed if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself). They also usually come with a Firewire cable. Getting the right cable, though, is important, since the Firewire connection on your camera will normally be a small 4-pin one (a bit smaller and slightly different shape to the mini-USB connection). The Firewire connection on the computer, on the other hand, will normally be the larger 6 pin variety. So make sure you ask for a 4 pin to 6 pin Firewire cable.
The problem is that camera manufacturers always seem to include a USB cable with the camera, thus giving the user the idea that they should use that cable for everything. But the reality is that if your camera is a mini DV model, then the best -- and for all intents and purposes, ONLY -- way of transferring high quality video to your computer is via Firewire (which may also be called i-Link, particularly with Sony and Samsung cameras). Basically, Firewire was developed as a (relatively) problem free means of transferring video to a computer at very high speeds. This is necessary since, as you will have realised, video creates very large files and the transfer rate to get them to your computer needs to be high enough for it to flow to your computer flawlessly and without it backing up because the connection can't handle the speed.
The problem is, though, that no camera manufacturer of which I am aware ever includes a Firewire cable. Needless to say, your computer will also need to have a Firewire port into which you can plug the connecting cable. You will need to check whether it does or not. The port looks quite different from a USB port and on the computer would normally be about half an inch long and nearly one eighth of an inch wide, but tapering almost to a point at one end. The Firewire symbol would normally be beside it and it looks like a Y with a small circle where the three arms meet.
But if you don't have one at the moment, the good news is that you can buy a Firewire card pretty cheaply these days (here in Australia they cost only around US$25 -- though you may have to pay to have it installed if you don't feel confident enough to do it yourself). They also usually come with a Firewire cable. Getting the right cable, though, is important, since the Firewire connection on your camera will normally be a small 4-pin one (a bit smaller and slightly different shape to the mini-USB connection). The Firewire connection on the computer, on the other hand, will normally be the larger 6 pin variety. So make sure you ask for a 4 pin to 6 pin Firewire cable.
Ken Berry
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TerryFrank
Thanks Ken
Thanks for you prompt reply, Ken I will be off to Dick Smith tomorrow to purchase a fire wire card and lead. I really want to get to grips with burning my home movies with my Panasonic NVGS75 DV camera, to dvd
Cheers
Terry
Cheers
Terry