video studio 8 and winfast dvd problem

harryn4484 · Post by **harryn4484** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:01 pm

I am using winfast hardware and visual studio 8 to capture video to avi and then convert to dvd .iso image. Using setup straight out the box and automated steps whenever possible.

The avi shows in studio 8 no problems. The dvd iso when mounted on virtual drive and played in windvd appears to be good at the beginning but as the video plays a watermark/mask gradually appears until most of the frame is masked out with just a clear oval showing the correct detail within. This appears just as used on some trial software to stop publishing results until purchased but my copy of software came with winfast hardware. Tech support has no answer yet.

have I expained the problem clearly enough.

Thanks in advance

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:46 pm

I've never seen that one... Who's watermark? Does it say Ulead?

... my copy of software came with winfast hardware. Tech support has no answer yet.

You may not get an answer. You don't usually get tech suport with the free "SE" versions. But, you might get an automated-resonse with an upgrade offer.

harryn4484 · Post by **harryn4484** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:51 pm

It is just like an oval mask that gradually increases density through the clip until you can see a resonably large oval window of the clip the rest is masked out. It appears like the sort of thing maybe used on test software. Or something you may want to do yourself but I did not.

Mine is a registered copy of studio 8 and supplied with the Winfast product. If they do not fix the problem I will return it and try other capture hardware. That seems a pity as the harware seems to work okay has to be in studio 8 in the avi to dvd conversion.

I was trying to use tech support directly but I do not think their jav app reply system works correctly.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:44 pm

Harry -- can you tell us exactly what the Winfast hardware is please -- there is a variety... I, for instance, have the Winfast DV2000 TV capture card which came with an SE version of VS8. I never used the latter as I already had the full version of VS9 at the time. And the latter works perfectly with the Winfast card anyway. While I can capture from the card using VS9, however, I tend to use the Winfast software which came with the card for capture because it offers greater flexibility. I then import the captured video into VS for editing.

I have to add that in the four years or so that I have been on this Board, this is the first time I have heard of a problem like yours. I have certainly never heard of any Ulead product either inserting a watermark or masking a video unless one of the masking effects was deliberately inserted -- but as far as I am aware, they don't behave the way you describe anyway. Equally, however, I have never heard of a Winfast card like my own ever behaving this way either...

So it would really help to know what precise hardware you are using, and something about your computer as well.

One alternative is to avoid the automated procedure you are following. Instead, use the manual editor process: capture, do any editing you need in the AVI format; then Share > Create Video File > DVD to produce a DVD-compatible mpeg-2. Then close your project, open a new one but leave the timeline empty. Then go to Share > Create Disc > DVD. Insert your new mpeg-2 video, build your menu, and on the last page of the burning phase, choose 'Burn ISO' instead of actually burning a disc.

harryn4484 · Post by **harryn4484** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:23 pm

Hi Ken

My hardware is the winfast TV USB II capture device. I am a complete newbie at this and only received the device a couple of days ago so I immediatly connected it and captured a file. It was AVI and media player could not play it but the hardware installed and worked fine. I immediatly switched to ulead and captured a portion of the TV program. Then went straight through the capture conversion process to see if the results were at least aceptable as I understand this process can involve a lot of fine tuning of settings to improve results and i was going to read up on that later.

The results initially appeared good except for this mask/watermark not sure how to describe it. I have a screen capture but do not see how to upload it to this board.

I have a few things to try myself maybe reinstall software check everything is updated etc.

I have used Uleads products before and trusted them so this is one reason for picking the winfast product. If things work out I will certainly upgarde but on thing my research showed before I purchased anything is that what works for one person may not work for another. Hardware and Software gets raves and rants from different people. It either works or never so I am going to try the free demo stuff before jumping in and this problem is not something I expected.

Will have time this evening to try a few things myself. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:22 am

OK. Looking at the product details on the Winfast site, it seems that your device is an external version of my internal card. There does, however, appear to be one exception between the specifications of the two cards: nowhere on the site does it mention your device being able to capture in AVI format.

This is what it says about capture formats: "Capture format profile: Support friendly setting for MPEG-1/MPEG-2/MPEG-4/WMV/VCD/DVD video and MP3/WMA audio encoding format." This is repeated elsewhere on the same page. No mention of AVI. So I am a little mystified as to your statement that you captured AVI. (I assume also that you mean uncompressed AVI, which produces absolutely huge files -- 65 GB per hour, yes GB, and not MB). It certainly does not capture DV/AVI, nor does my card. Can you right click on one of your captured files within VS8, please, and copy down its properties here?

Although some people might not advise it, the thing I do with my card is to capture direct to DVD-compatible mpeg-2 format, and your device can certainly do this. (My card certainly can capture uncompressed AVI, but the files are just too large, really, to be practicable.) As I noted earlier, I use the Winfast capture software (capturing from within the little WinFast PVR control panel that appears on screen when you open the device). That control panel also allows you to set the capture properties -- in the configuration button, fourth from the left along the bottom. Capturing direct to mpeg-2, editing, and producing an ISO based on DVD-compliant mpeg-2, is also maintaining consistency of format. You may want to experiment with VS8's Smart Render -- which means you will only re-render (and thus potentially degrade the visual quality of) those pieces with any editing done to them. But be aware that VS8 was regarded as being rather buggy, and Smart Render often caused out of sync audio and video. So be prepared NOT to use it if you do run into problems.

I was also surprised to learn that you have the full version of VS8, and not just a cut down SE version. The WinFast site confirms this. But that is even less reason for VS to be imposing a watermark or the zooming out effect such as you describe.

harryn4484 · Post by **harryn4484** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:52 am

Hi Ken

Sucess

I reinstalled the software, followed the last paragraph of your earlier post to use the manual method and everything is fine. Not sure why but I am happy.

Need to work on quality, read some tutorials, try your idea to capture straight to DVD compatible format etc.

I realised going in I have a lot to read and learn but this problem stopped me dead. I now have proof the system works end to end now I just have to figure out the best ways.

Thanks for all you help and the tips. Using ulead for capture copied a file with .avi extension not sure it is exactly avi will check that going forward.

Harry

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:33 pm

Glad you got at least one method to work. Frankly, I have never -- not once -- used the automated processes in Video Studio. I always do it manually. While the automated processes are probably a good idea, I also suspect that unless you are doing things in a very straightforward way, there is too much potential for error. Doing things the 'manual' way, though, gives you far more control of each step. It's just that, as you are now realising, knowing what to do each step of the way involves a learning process!

As for the format of your original captures, you could post the properties here. But as a rule of thumb, if you have a five minute captured file and it takes up around 5 GB, then it is a full, uncompressed AVI. If it's a bit over 1 GB, then it is likely to be DV/AVI, and if it is tiny (down in the low MB), then it must be one of the mpeg-4 formats which use the .avi extension as a carrier format...

harryn4484 · Post by **harryn4484** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:57 pm

Hi Ken

Agree with you regarding the use of automated vs manual methods. This was my very first use of visual studio and any video capture hardware. I feel if the developers automated methods at least produce acceptable results the product is worth working with, which I will be doing now I have had a small success.

My avi is fully uncompressed, again because of the default settings and my lack of knowledge.

Your information in the posts has been extremly useful in getting me started on the manual methods and the format to aim for with capture.

Thanks Again.

Harry