Can't use pass-thru though no problem before

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:56 pm

Will somebody please glance through the following procedure description and tell me what I've forgotten. This easy job has been driving me crazy and I can't figure out what's wrong.

Goal: To put on DVD some home video material which is now on two VHS tapes.

Equipment: Sony VCR. Sony TRV320 D8 videocamera (with "pass-thru" capability used more than once before with no problem). P4 computer with UVS9, FireWire, and no problem capturing numerous times in the past. I'm running WindowsXP Home.

Procedure: The VCR is plugged in to power, and is attached to the videocamera with triple-plug-to-single cable, perfectly standard, going from video-out. The videocamera is plugged in to power, attached to the computer with a FireWire cable used recently and successfully. The videocamera is set to VTR.

I start VideoStudio 9 Video Editor. I click the Capture tab at the top of the workspace. The program recognizes my videocamera and de-greys all the buttons. Everything looks perfectly normal.

I start a New project, give it a name, select Project Properties (NTSC drop frame (29.97fps), Microsoft AVI files, 24 Bits, 720x480, 29.97fps, Lower Field first, DV Video Encoder - type 1, DV Audio - NTSC, 48,000kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo), set my Preferences, I verify that MS1394 Device Control is set, and that I'm using the Ulead Direct-Show Capture Plug-in.

Then I hit "Play" on the VCR, and click "Capture Video." Sometimes the timer at the upper-left starts counting seconds. The timer at the preview screen never starts. The screen stays grey, blank. Sometimes after a short while the little warning box pops up, "Video capture failed" etc. Sometimes it doesn't. However, when I then click "Stop capture," the material on the VHS tape immediately appears on the preview screen, I hear the sound track through my speakers. If I again click "Capture video," the screen again goes grey and sound stops.

When I try "capturing" for a few minutes, then try to see what I've captured, there is nothing.

I've tried using the videocamera with film in it, and without. No difference. I've tried dumb things like run the triple RCA plugs from the "in" sockets. I've tried using "pass-thru" with the videocamera turned off (doesn't work). I've tried using "pass-thru" with the videocamera in "record" mode -- didn't pass through to the computer. I've tried using the DV-to-DVD wizard or whatever it's called, but again nothing was recorded.

Back in 2004 I captured a wonderful opera off VHS, 2.5 hours long, and ended up with this humongous digital file 26GB in size. I had no trouble capturing that material, even as a beginner. So where am I going wrong here? Does anybody see it?

Help!!

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:30 pm

Keith,
When you start the VCR, can you see the video displayed in the camcorder's LCD screen? If so, that would rule out electrical / connection problems with the analog hookup and inputs.

joosuna · Post by **joosuna** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:35 pm

Kebrinton.....my camcorder has an option in the menu to disable my " pass thru " feature. Perhaps that option has changed on your camcorder ?
regards
Joe

Post by **Ron P.** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:42 pm

I'll add my 2cents here, My Sony DCR-TRV 120 also has pass-through. However if I have a tape loaded in the camcorder, the pass-through apparently is disabled, it doesn't get through to my PC. Removing the tape allows the signal to pass-through. Weird but happens with mine..

Ron P.

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:24 pm

Thank you, jch, Joe, and Ron. I've completely dismantled the whole setup in disgust so cannot check on your ideas right now. But hooray for new ideas! I'd run out. I'll get back to you.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:29 pm

Keith -- I also have a Sony Digital 8 camera (DCR-TRV480E). It is fairly recent and has a touch screen menu so some of the features might be different. But in my main menu, I go to the group called 'Standard Set' and scroll down to A/V -- and it has to be set to DV Out. You might want to check for a similar feature.

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:15 pm

OK Ken, that is one thing I did do, after careful perusal of the excellent Sony owner's manual. It was already at that setting, probably because of previous projects just like this one.

If I'd never done this before, I'd put it down to lack of experience. But I've gone through the steps and never had a problem before. That's what kills me.

Oh -- one thing: I did a complete reformat and reinstall of WinXP and UVS 9 fairly recently. This only occurs to me right now. I've transferred digital video footage since the reinstall, but no, I've not captured analog material nor used pass-thru with the new system. Guess I should have mentioned that but I never thought about it. Might there be something I'm missing?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 11:49 pm

Don't think that would make any difference. I use XP Pro SP2, and only recently (6 weeks ago) reformatted and reinstalled everything, AND even put in a new Firewire card (previous one was on a TV/capture card I have replaced with a digital/HD one which alas does not have a firewire port). But my Sony still seems to work. The firewire port drivers in your case would have been installed by XP anyway, as would the Direct Show DV codec(s).

Have you tried capturing via the Sony but using another program like WinDV (or some other editing package) or Windows Movie Maker? If so, what results? Or (gulp) the dreadful Sony software which comes from otherwise excellent cameras?

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:03 am

Well, after doing some other work I reconnected everything, pushed Play on the VCR and "Capture video" on the UVS9 screen.

The footage appeared both on the videocamera screen and in the UVS preview window. Audio was clear. The timer began to run. I won't interrupt the process but it appears that capturing is taking place.

The videocamera is empty (no tape), Ron. I did try that before without success, but only once.

So things finally seem to be working as one would expect them to. Thanks to all of you -- jchunter, Joe, Ron, and Ken -- for putting your minds to this. Yay forum!!

One last note: My addled brain saw the file name -- uvs060904 -- and assumed the software was stuck on something I'd done two years ago in 2004. Now that rationality has reasserted itself, I realize I'm looking at today's date.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 12:39 am

I would hazard a guess, the cable either from VCR to camera or camera to PC wasn't plugged in correctly. Not that it matters now. Glad you got it working again.