Invalid parameter during Capture

kzack · Post by **kzack** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:31 pm

I am very new to this - I just bought my first video camera and I'm trying to copy my videos to the computer. I'm just working with the trial version of VideoStudio 10, hoping to buy it if I can get it to work.

I have a Panasonic VDR-D100 which I've connected through USB. I go to Capture, Import from DVD because I'm using DVD-RAM discs, go to the drive, click Import, and my videos come up. I can watch them on this screen. Then when I go to Import, it says Invalid Parameter. Is this just some setting that I have wrong?

I've looked on Ulead's web page but there's not much available if you're not a registered user, which is silly because if I can't get the trial to work I won't become a registered user. I've also looked through the forums but haven't really found anything applicable.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 3:56 pm

Someone may correct me on this, as I have a DV cam, not a DVD cam, but if you are using the Import from DVD function then your DVD should be in the DVD tray of your pc, not the camera.

If you want to capture from the camera itself then you would use Capture Video. BTW, some people report trouble trying to capture via USB. It is used mainly for digital photos. Firewire is the preferred transfer method for digital video.

kzack · Post by **kzack** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:09 pm

I've tried putting it in the drive too, but I don't have a DVD drive so I figured that's why it didn't work that way.

The thing is, I can get the videos using the generic software from Panasonic connecting the camera with the USB, but it's a big hassle and I don't like the software. So if I can get that to work, why can't get the Ulead software to work? And why can I watch the videos through the Ulead, but can't import them?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:56 pm

I am afraid that the brand of your camera may be part of the answer. Panasonic, like Sony, has proprietary software for dealing with their hardware, and this often locks out other software (like VS). Moreover, Panasonic uses its own codecs which, however, are usually installed on the computer by the same disc that installs their capture/editing software. So it could be that.

But I think in this case it is more likely to be Blacklab's original answer: normally you put the mini-DVD into your computer drive and import from there. (However, I still would have thought you could do it directly from the camera as well.) But you say you don't have a DVD drive on your computer...??

Frankly, I am astounded. Not even one that can read a DVD?? If so, then what on earth were you proposing to do with the edited video? Just play it back on your computer?? The price of DVD burners in any case has dropped enormously in recent months. Here in Australia, I recently bought a Lite-On 16x dual layer burner brand new for A$50 which is only about US$35. Anyone can certainly afford prices like that.

Another factor here may be that you are using a DVD-RAM disc. You will need to consult your camera manual to see if you need to do anything to 'finalise' the disc before you can actually use the video on it.

Finally, with great respect to Blacklab, I suspect your camera -- being a mini-DVD one -- does not have a firewire connection. Again, you can check this in the specifications section of your manual but I am 99% sure you will not find one. So you only have the USB connection plus the A/V one for connecting the camera directly to a TV.

I assume you realise that your camera will also use DVD-R and DVD-RW mini discs, apart from the DVD-RAM one? This was an innovation Panasonic made precisely with your model this year. Either of these other formats may be easier to use than the RAM discs, but that is another matter...

kzack · Post by **kzack** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:54 pm

Yes, I know, I'm way behind. I need to get a DVD drive. I just haven't had the need for one up to now. All I'm trying to do is to transfer the videos to the computer so I can post them on my webpage and share with family. I'll have to get one to see if that works.

I don't have firewire, it only came with USB and video cables.

I've tried a -RW disc too, but according to the manual it has to be RAM discs to use the USB. I prefer the RAM discs anyway because they don't have to be finalized.

So thanks for your help. I'll get a DVD drive and see if that works.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:01 am

aieronimo · Post by **aieronimo** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:29 am

Hi, Kzack.

I have the same "invalid parameter" error that you experienced when importing DVD-RAM video. Did you ever find a solution and, if so, would you mind sharing it with me?

Thanks.

Tony

kzack · Post by **kzack** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 12:26 am

Since I was just on a trial version of the Ulead software, I decided to forget it. I actually did get a new computer in between and tried the DVD in the DVD player, but that didn't help. I downloaded the Panasonic DVD-MovieAlbum SE instead, and that's worked to download the movies from the camcorder. This software has very minimal editing capabilities (basically cutting and moving sections), but once the movie is on the computer I can use any other software to edit. Granted it's a few extra steps, but it works for me.

Robbie Noordzy · Post by **Robbie Noordzy** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:43 am

I've recently purchased (a few months ago) Video Studio & DVD Movie Factory and am struggling with the Invalid Parameter screen of death...

I likewise have a Panasonic DVD recorder & have tried importing without success. I've been converting my old VHS videos to DVD as well as recording some programs from satelite TV.

I tried using DVD+RW but the program freezes during parsing at about 61%-62%

Handed over $25 a pop for a couple of DVD-RAM discs & they got through the parsing ok but during importing, came up with the Invalid Parameter message at 99% (every time) - it has worked a couple of times - about 3 out of 30 attempts.

I guess from what I've read here & on some other forums since I started typing this that there's not a lot of good news...

aieronimo · Post by **aieronimo** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:16 am

I figured out the problem, and the solution is not pretty.

Basically, you can't edit a DVD-RAM on the Panasonic recorder and then import into DVD MovieFactory. The reason is that the recorder makes cuts inside of a "group of pictures" (GOP), which is a set of three frames that have to stay together under the MPEG2 protocol. So when you try to import a video that has an improper cut, you get the error.

Go ahead and try importing a DVD-RAM into DVD MovieFactory that you have not already edited on the Panasonic recorder. You should find that the video imports without problem.

I have tried other programs that will import the video. But even with these programs, the DVD that I eventually burn will choke on my DVD player at the point where the edit has been made.

The moral of the story is that you need to make edits on your computer, not on the Panasonic recorder. It's a real bummer.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue May 22, 2007 12:47 pm

You can import from the Panasonic recorders dvd-ram disks.

Handed over $25 a pop for a couple of DVD-RAM discs & they got through the parsing ok but during importing, came up with the Invalid Parameter message at 99% (every time) - it has worked a couple of times - about 3 out of 30 attempts.

Many times I've found this can also be related to errors on the dvd-ram disk.
Before you record new video on the dvd-ram disk reformat the dvd-ram disk.

Both of you need to mention what version of MF you are using and have you applied all the patches to the program (if available).
I import from dvd-ram disks all the time. You may need to use a workaround. If you need to use this workaround it's because of the way your dvd-reader is accessing the dvd-ram reader (doesn't happen on all dvd-ram readers).

aieronimo · Post by **aieronimo** » Tue May 22, 2007 3:55 pm

Yes, I can import a DVD-RAM from Panasonic recorder to DVD MovieFactory. (I am using version 5 of the program, by the way, with all patches applied.) But I cannot import from the Panasonic recorder if I have first edited the DVD-RAM -- e.g., cut out TV commercials -- on the Panasonic recorder. The problem relates to what I mentioned, which is that the Panasonic recorder makes a non-compatible edit by breaking up the three "group of pictures" that comprise each frame of MPEG2 video.

Robbie Noordzy -- Try importing a DVD-RAM program from the Panasonic recorder that you have not already edited on the Panasonic recorder. It should import with no problem. Then you can edit using DVD MovieFactory.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:27 pm

I have tried other programs that will import the video. But even with these programs, the DVD that I eventually burn will choke on my DVD player at the point where the edit has been made.

Good point, my panasonic recorders are the older models. I did download a firmware update to both of them, maybe your pana record has a firmware update that needs to be installed.

The most common error I'll get from my recorder is at the end of importing the video a pop-up appears saying xyz and asks me if I want to save the file (keep it) and exit. I click on save & exit, then insert the video from the harddisk.

I don't usually cut commercials out from the dvd-ram video. I cut or trim the beginning and the end. This way there is one continuous mpeg2 file on the dvd-ram. When you cut a commercial out this results in a new mpeg2 file. After I transfer the dvd-ram to the computer I reformat the dvd-ram to record new video on it.
I wonder what would happen if you used divide instead of cut, haven't tried this. There is also a difference if you put the dvd-ram into a dvd-ram read only or a read/write capable optical drive. I don't know why.

Thanks for pointing out the GOP bug.

Robbie Noordzy · Post by **Robbie Noordzy** » Wed May 23, 2007 2:35 am

Mmmn... thanks for the heads up guys.

BTW I have Video v10 & DVD v5. And yes, I format my discs prior to copying.

Not at home at the moment so will try the suggestions when I get there.

I don't do any editing in the middle (no ads) but usually trim the beginning & endings - prerecord & allow for 5 minutes either side of the broadcasts... it may well be that those programs which copied across to my computer OK had not been edited...

As for all the programs that I have already edited (and I'll have to try this when I get home), would it fix up the problems associated with trimming if I were to copy each program onto a +R or -R & finalize, and then copy from that disc back to the harddrive? And keeping in mind I'm not technically minded but wouldn't the recorder view this as a fresh recording? Then assuming it is I could then copy the new recording for hassle-free transfer to my computer.

Robbie

PS. I recall when I first got the DVD recorder, and prior to discovering the joys (& subsequent woes

) of editing, that I copied an old VHS program to the recorder, onto a RAM disc (which I think was later converted to a more expensive/less durable frisbee by my children

) & into Video Studio without a hitch so the trimming (at any point) may well be the issue.

Will report in later...

aieronimo · Post by **aieronimo** » Wed May 23, 2007 3:14 am

Hello, Gentlemen. Thank you for the feedback.

I will check for firmware updates. But my bet is that whatever updates there may be on the Panasonic website won't resolve this particular problem. However, I will check.

Robbie -- I don't think that your proposal to copy to a DVD + or - R will work because, as I noted in an earlier post, even other programs that gloss over the "group of pictures" (GOP) problem end up burning a DVD + or - R that chokes my DVD player(s) at the point of the GOP problem.

However, what you could do to fix already edited DVD-RAMs is try a program called VideoRedo (http://www.videoredo.com/?src=VRD2004-09-08). There is a feature that will fix GOP problems. I tried it and it works. (I'm sorry that I can't remember where the feature is located -- it's not called something obvious like "GOP fix" -- but just Google for it.) But there are two drawbacks to this program. First, it costs money. You can download a trial version and -- by also registering the trial for a 30-day period -- fix an unlimited length of video. (If you don't register the trial on the VideoRedo website, then your video length is limited to something short, like 20 minutes.) Second problem is a bit more problematic: VideoRedo "fixes" the problem by restoring the frame based on whatever pictures from the group of three remained on the DVD-RAM. Long story short, what you end up with is a split second of the TV commercial (or whatever else) that you wanted to edit out of your video. In other words, you get a repaired file but not a "clean" edit.

Finally, let me tell you what I'm actually doing to avoid all of these problems. I'm not actually using DVD MovieFactory to do the edits because my computer is way too slow (600 MHZ Celeron!). What I'm using is a great little program (also shareware, unfortunately) called MPEG-VCR by a company called Womble. This program makes perfect edits to DVD-RAM (and other source formats) by not breaking up a "group of pictures." However, MPEG-VCR is not an authoring program. So what I do is edit in MPEG-VCR and then burn in MovieFactory. That's the price for a Panasonic recorder that does not know how to edit MPEG2 video!

Good luck!

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