HDV Capture problems

marshalab · Post by **marshalab** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:05 pm

I have a sony camcorder HDR-HC3. And Ulead VideoStudio 10. Formally I was able to capture to computer Video without difficulty. Now, for reasons unknown the captured video pixelates and breaks apart almost immediately as shown on the preview capture screen, usually 30 seconds after capture. Sometimes I get the message "Capturing Failed. The file created is corrupted and unusable. It will be automatically deleted."

I have AMB Athlon 64 X2 Dual processor 4600+ and plenty of ram. In reinstalled the program, and still having the same problem. Very frustrating.

Thanks in Advance.

Marshal.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:28 pm

If you have been able to capture from the HC3 in the past, your latest tape may be corrupt (30 seconds from where you started?). Try capturing from a point in the tape past where the pixelation occurs.

If that doesn't work, try capturing from one of your earlier tapes, where capturing was successful.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:00 pm

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:10 pm

MD,
I'm glad to hear that you decided to spring for the HC3!

But I am surprised that you have any difficulty capturing HDV with Video Studio 10+ because it works great for me. I did have difficulty with my first 10+ install because the installation program found some dlls in my earlier installations, which screwed up the HerCap.ini file, which invalidated my HC1 as a capture choice. Renaming the dll solved the problem.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:04 pm

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:33 am

MD,
The HC3 encodes the audio track as Mpeg Layer2, 48 KHz Stereo. Vanilla stuff. Have you set up the HC3 menu for 16 bit audio recording?

I haven't used MF for years. If VS doesn't do what I want, I might try it again...

marshalab · Post by **marshalab** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:46 am

Capturing in mf5 does the job, the best that I can tell. I'm assuming that the preferences in mf5 are automatic, and what is being captured is hd video in mpeg2. Are there preferences that one can set for the video capture in mf5, or is it all automatic?

I tried recapturing video off of tapes that have already been transferred to the computer successfully, and have the same problem, so I'm assuming that it is not corruption of the dv tape. I initially thought this was the problem. I was going to use a seperate tape for each day of the week, and record over last week's tape, for convenience of keeping track of date of the baby tape. In fact that is when the problem started, but it persisted even when I used new dv cassettes.

Actually, I had a hunch this capturing problem started after I installed mf5 trial about a week ago, but uninstalling mf5 and videostudio, and reinstallking videostudio didn't help, so I thought I was incorrect there.

Relieved that I could infer that my camera and firewire are fine, given that mf5 captures the video fine.

I am going to take a closer look at the settings on the camcorder suggested in one of the comments, haven't had time.

For my simple use, the biggest problem that I have, outside of this new capturing problem, that i have work around for, is not being able to see the date and time of the video clip for editing purposes. Hoping one day there will be a fix for this in videostudio. Any hope there?

Thanks for the helpful feedback. I was ready to go out and buy a mac to use Imovie. I'm wondering if this would simplify things for me in any way.

thanks again. Marshal.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:32 am

Re yr question about seeing date and time, I assume you were aware that you can display your timecode from the camera -- at least in captures from DV tapes -- on the preview monitor. See File > Preferences > General > Display DV Timecode on Preview Window (the very last item on the menu)...

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:59 am

marshalab · Post by **marshalab** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:09 am

Ken,

I was excited to read your comment. When I check "Display DV timecode on the preview window option" I get the message "you must have VMR compatible display card to use this option. If your display card is not VMR compatible, you may experience playback problems. I am not familiar with display cards. I want to get one if this solves the problem. Could you advise?

Thanks in Advance Ken

Maddrummer-I haven't had a chance to re-use tapes and see for sure if it works. The above problem got in the way, and I thought that was my problem (some kind of drop out problem), but now it is for sure some kind of capturing problem, perhaps an issue of having mf and vs on the same machine. I would think many would have both products on the same machine, and as such this would be at this point a resolved problem. I am using TDK dv tapes from costco, and I also bought some sony tapes from walmart. So far, with very little testing, they both seem fine, although I don't know about re-using tape issue for these tapes, and whether they differ. Appreciate your help and any further comments you may have.

Marshal

marshalab · Post by **marshalab** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:11 am

Ken, I should have mentioned, that after I get this message, and click ok, I still don't see the DV timecode. Could this be because I'm using high definition camera-tragically?

Marshal

marshalab · Post by **marshalab** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:13 am

Ken,

I do see the DV time code. My impression is that it shows how much time the tape is played for, not the date and time. Please advice.

Thanks

Marshal.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:55 pm

Marshal,
You have now ruled out the camera and your tape, so that leaves your computer and a possibly corrupt installation of Video Studio. Try doing a System Restore to a point prior to installing MF (or any other video software). Video Studio and MF are "joined at the hip" in several areas and given this forum's (negative) experiences with Ulead's installation technology, I would suspect this as a possible problem area.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:30 pm

marshalab -- I had never tested the 'show timecode' because, personally, I detest seeing the date and time on a video as you used to with so many people's analogue video tapes!

However, just to be sure, I just randomly inserted a DV clip I recently captured from my Canon digital video camera. And in fact it shows the date first (YYYY:MM:DD) then the time in 24 hour sequence. And the date was certainly the date I took the video on, and though I can't recall the precise time, I assume that to be correct as well...

marshalab · Post by **marshalab** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:52 pm

Hi Ken,

I don't get the date time code. I wonder if it has to do with the fact I'm working with high definition video, which I have been led to believe. Any experience with HD in this regard? Also, what do you know about the message I got about having the right kind of capture card?

Ken, I appreciate your input

Marshal

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