Ulead Studio 9: Stutter on analog video capture

[maxdvdburner]

SUBJECT: I'm not sure the technical way to describe this problem. I describe it as "stutter on video capture".


Nature of the problem Capturing video from analog using USB and hardware device, the video sometimes "stutters". This means the frame freezes for milli-seconds, seconds or longer and the action is lost. For converting my taichi tapes, this is a disaster, the displayed motion and movements are lost.

Usually the first capture is ok and then it starts to "act up". For another tape it was always a problem and then suddenly once it worked! I haven't absoutely figured out a pattern or cause.
Playback shows the frames (motion ) was lost on the capture not just the display utility. sometimes it is ok , sometimes it is not. I have had to re-install over and over again because i don't know what causes this problem. restart doesn't fix, but sometimes unplugging and replugging and works, it seems sporadic, no fast rule i can see.



My same question posted elsewhere:

I have dvdXpressDx2 andwith ulead and capwiz. I have some problems on the capture. The ulead studio editing works ok.

The caputure sometimes works , but after a few captures it starts to "stutter" By stuttering, I mean the frames start to freeze and one image remains on the screen and the others are lost for a few seconds or for a long time, so basically the video capture is toast.

The only way I can resolve this is that i uninstall and re-install everything capwiz, ulead etc.

There must be something simple that i am missing like setting a switch somewhere but i have tried everything and nothing works. I try to capture at the highest quality. but the stutter happens no mater how i set it but something must cause directly this becaue for instance i just did two perfect captures form vhs, then when i tried the third one the stutter ing was there and remained , i tried rebooting and deleting temporary files but that didn't help. I'm gettin tired of uninstalling and re-installing.

What causes this stutter and how can i fix it.?

Will a new graphics card fix this or is it just a waste of money?

Properties of your source files (format, file size, where did you get it?)

Capturing from Analog VCR recorders both VHS and BETA formats.
What devices are involved and their mode of connection?


Project Settings I use capture to best quality, but when the problem starts catrure to any qwuality has the same problem. My question is "where are the project settings that can correct this".
Since it sometimes works , sometimes doesn't I have the feeling that there is a setting somewhere, either that or some tempory files which need to be deleted (i of coures cleanded up my system including truning off firewall and popup blocker: all to no avail)


Output format (file, DVD, VCD, SVCD) : capturing to hard disk usually avi of mpg.


PAL or NTSC : NTSC





Error Codes NA
***********************************


Another Question

Where can i find a detailed manual that can explainn all the settings in the control panels? eg frames etc what the settings do and more about their meaning.

EDIT: I just found the 9MB pdf for ulead sudio 9, but I have yet to check iit out for how much detail it has.

[Ron P.]

Hi Max, welcome to the forums,

First problem I see is that you are using USB. USB uses a Slave-Master architecture, where the computer handles all the arbitration functions and dictates data flow to, from and between peripherals. This can add to the overhead, which can cause certain data flows to slow, when you don't need or want them to. You should be using Firewire (Sony's iLink, IEEE1394), to capture or really transfer the video to your PC.

Firewire uses an intelligent Peer-to-Peer architecture, where the peripherals can negotiate which ones can best handle the transfer of data.

You didn't mention what type of hardware device you are using, please post that information, as it is important in your case. It is also better to use a hardware capture device that can do the encoding to MPEG2 if you can not capture to DV (avi).

Remember that when capturing analogue most devices use the Upper Field First. You want to be sure to keep the field order straight thoughout your process. Reversing it will cause problems such as a jittery or jerky video.

Output Format, this is asking what your goal is. Are you going to create DVDs, VCDs, video to be shared on the internet, or just viewed on your computer. Are you capturing to MPEG (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4), and AVI is not a format, it is a container that may contain, DV, DivX, Xvid or MPEG-4), all except DV are highly compressed.

I did not check your system specs if you had completed that in your Profile on the boards. However the stuttering while capturing is telling me that there are other things running that is taking the priority away from VS. This again is a fault with USB capture.

A couple of links for you..
Please complete your System Information in your profile. Clicking on this button --> will take you to a short tutorial, explaining how to find and complete that information. This way it will always be available, and will save you from retyping it in the future.

You might want to review Steve's tutorial on Creating a Video Editing Profile.

You might want to read through From Camcorder to DVD tutorial.

[maxdvdburner]

Hello Videoman

Because "return goods" time is critical, I'm just going to give a quick reply and then study your post.

I DID read the tutorial already and put in my system specifications. They should be there, just click on the system link.

I also DID say what hardware I am using though maybe you are not familiar with the package "I have dvdXpressDx2 andwith ulead and capwiz." Perhaps you folk get/got ulead in some other way. It cost 170 Can and with all the discounts maybe comes to 80 bucks Can. The peripherials are a "black box", the usb (computer to black box) and one coaxial cable to join to the vcr or analog machines.

Needing a firewire sort of defeats the purpose of buying this package. Are you saying it is no good and I should return it? I still have a few days to return it. Perhaps I should.. but then of course I will be returning the Ulead program as well and back to square one with no conversion equipment and not much place to buy it in this one horse town.
So why do they sell this package if it is no good? I suppose that is a good question.

Also I did somewhat say what was my desired output. Simply put I want to capture my vHS at the highest possible quality. As the specs for ulead studio 9 says that "home theatre" (properties listed below) I want permanent digital storage of my stuff before the tapes deteriorate any more than they are doing. After that it is irrelevant to the capture. I will burn one copy of highest quality to disk others I am doing a batch convert and uploading them to internet. I already conveted many taichi clips to other formats and uplaoded to intenet and also did experimental conversion.

DVD HOME theatre ulead studio 9 highest quality is:

Format: microsoft AVI files
data rate 476.77
compression divx 5.1.1
attributes 24 bits 720 X 480

mpeg audio 2
48000 224 kbps stereo ...

(manual copy off properties list)
---------------------------------------------

No, I couldn't remember about
"upper field first" because I don't learn it in the first place.

In fact that is the question I am asking..I'll try that and see if it works.


As far as something else busy in the computer, I've turned off everything i can see, but i'll try again.
I can't isolate problem. I got 22 min of taiji tape (for example) so so quality and very slow motion. ( fast motion seems to have no problem!!!)

I got a no-stutter copy last night but it was too dark for some reason. I can edit out the dark but that was curious. Anyway today i cannot get a no-stutter, i re-installed, let the thing be inactive tried several things always stutter today.
Strange! cannot determine exact problem causing.


So i will try again the field settigs. If i am able to set that up for capture.

I had thought the solution was that i needed a new /better graphics card, but perhaps i need to return the ulead package,, so i only got a few days to do that and get my money back.


Oh , and converting the files to MPGEG or lower quality is out of the question. I want these tapes, my lifeblood of many years at the highest quality preserved. Even 720 X 420 is not good enough, many of these tapes were captured on HI8 and preserved on superbeta and Super VHS.

This s a tempory solution as it is, but a necessary solution. It may take ages to get the scratch and the tech to preserve them at high-8 quality. If my Beta machine goes Kaput, I doubt if i can get it preserved, so i got to copy these files now. This is a fisrt level security preserve of the tapes.

I appreciate the quick reponse and if you now see anything else significant please to let me know.

regards
max

ps, as of now I don't have a camcorder. I am strictly concerned with backing up my extensive analog library.

[maxdvdburner]

I don't know where is any information about a "firewire". Is that for converting analog to digital? How doses it connect to the computer?

Then I would need a new hardware device as well as this "firewire" and new software. Why did ulead provide a USB instead of a "firewire"?

[TDK1044]

With the DVD Xpress Dx2 device, it's best to capture using the MPEG2 format and the Cap Wiz software.

That device comes bundled with VS9 SE, and although the Drivers exist to allow capture direct to VS9 SE, I wouldn't advise it. VS9 SE is really only there to allow you to import your captured files and edit/render/Burn them.

The DX2 is designed to do all the MPEG2 encoding math within the box during capture and therefore take the load off the PC. This pre supposes that you are using the Cap Wiz software and not trying to capture AVI to video studio rather than capture MPEG2 using Cap Wiz.

I purchased the DX2 and I chose not to install VS9SE, but rather to purchase VS10. I capture best quality MPEG2 footage using Cap Wiz and then import those files into VS10. I have had no issues doing it this way, but programmes like Virus Scan and Screen Saver must be disabled during capture.

[Ron P.]

What Terry just said, he knows his stuff, and is one of few that has been able to capture/edit MPEG2, without problems..

Yes I'm not familiar with that device..

[GeorgeW]

Hi Max,

My reply to your post in the other forum:

Which software are you using to capture (VideoStudio, Capwiz, or other)?

Have you checked ADS Tech's support pages for Capwiz updates? (and also their FAQ's)?

I would use CapWiz for all the captures, then close Capwiz, open VideoStudio and do the editing as needed (i.e. do not have both open at the same time).

btw, is the source a continuous video stream, or could there be areas of blank video -- like the white snow on a VHS tape that's between separate recordings (can also happen from tape dropouts/degradation). Those "gaps" in the source video could cause problems during capture.

Basically, what Terry already said -- I happened to see your post in the other forum before seeing it here...

Regards,
George

[TDK1044]

Hi Ron,

I hope 2007 is a really good year for you and yours. Thanks for all your support to this Forum in 2006. You, Steve, Trevor and a handful of others have gone above and beyond with help rendered this last year.

Kind Regards,

[maxdvdburner]

With the DVD Xpress Dx2 device, it's best to capture using the MPEG2 format and the Cap Wiz software.

That device comes bundled with VS9 SE, and although the Drivers exist to allow capture direct to VS9 SE, I wouldn't advise it. VS9 SE is really only there to allow you to import your captured files and edit/render/Burn them.

The DX2 is designed to do all the MPEG2 encoding math within the box during capture and therefore take the load off the PC. This pre supposes that you are using the Cap Wiz software and not trying to capture AVI to video studio rather than capture MPEG2 using Cap Wiz.

I purchased the DX2 and I chose not to install VS9SE, but rather to purchase VS10. I capture best quality MPEG2 footage using Cap Wiz and then import those files into VS10. I have had no issues doing it this way, but programmes like Virus Scan and Screen Saver must be disabled during capture.

I'm sorry but none of what you say seems to make any sense:

First of all low quality capture is totally useless, then the product is useless to me. .
The capwiz cannot capture at Studio SE quality , let alone the meg2 capture is out of the question as it is low quality , i need to preserve my tapes. low quality is pointless.
..
Next, the ulead sudio 9 se HAS worked, it DOES have the GUI and tools for video capture and that IS THE WHOLE POINT of buying the thing. If not then why does it have all the tools and the "movie maker" for video capture? Why would they make something that doesn't work? There should be a dicliamer on the software "We're sorry but none of this works!". That doesn't make any sense, so i think it must be able to work.
...
The problem is that it is working sporadically, for an unknown reason. I need something that WORKS and WORKS all the time.

NEXT . i get the same stutter on CAPWIZ , so in fact it is irrelevant whether i use capwiz or ulead. Also when i get the stutter, it is the same no matter what output format (mpeg2 or div) I want, the stutter then must be from some other problem.
They (capwiz and ulead) are both the same, ie they are either working or they are not working.


So if this thing is pointless for capturing video at a passable quality level, can someone recommend an adequate analog to digital capture device/software?

I guess i better return this stuff tomorrow as the deadline has come. That means i will also be returning the ulead program.
Is ther anything out there i can look for that can adequately convert analog to digital?

Or is there anything salvagable from this package? Can the hardware or software be used for something else that will work?

Hasn't anyone else reported this "stutter" problem? am I the only one? What did the others, if any, say about "stutter"?

[Ron P.]

Yes there is something else that does real well. However you stated you do not own a camcorder, let alone a digital camcorder. I have an older Sony DCR-TRV120, digital 8. It has pass-through capability, and I use it to transfer video from my VCRs (Beta, and VHS), to DV format to my PC. It handles the conversion exceptionally well.

The reason I mention this is because since you are just wanting to archive to DV format, then this is one option. There is even a free program/utility that does this quite well, and I also use it. WinDV. It captures DV format via firewire only though. I don't know what your device cost, but I picked up my Sony Cam on Ebay about 2yrs ago for $200 (US). I know another member Ken Berry who uses the same method. As for VS9SE, I don't trust those versions to be able to do much. I consider them non-expiring trial versions. They are designed to wet your appetite, to purchase their product. There are so many different SE's that it's unknown what each is capable of and not capable of doing. They may have been further tweaked by the vendors that get them for their hardware.

Just something else to consider....

@Terry
Thanks Terry, I hope 2007 proves to be a terrific year for you and your family as well. You're assistance on the forums are greatly appreciated, you have a great deal of knowledge and experience..

[TDK1044]

Firstly, MPEG2 captured at the DVD setting and rendered within video studio with 'non square pixel rendering' disabled until the user is ready to make the final render of the completed project, will produce very good results.

Secondly, if you're so worried about quality, what are you doing trying to render at a high quality setting with a Celeron processor and 496MB of RAM?

Stop blaming everyone else for your own stupidity and get a system designed to perform the task at hand.

[maxdvdburner]

Hi Max,

My reply to your post in the other forum:

Which software are you using to capture (VideoStudio, Capwiz, or other)?

Have you checked ADS Tech's support pages for Capwiz updates? (and also their FAQ's)?

I would use CapWiz for all the captures, then close Capwiz, open VideoStudio and do the editing as needed (i.e. do not have both open at the same time).

btw, is the source a continuous video stream, or could there be areas of blank video -- like the white snow on a VHS tape that's between separate recordings (can also happen from tape dropouts/degradation). Those "gaps" in the source video could cause problems during capture.

Basically, what Terry already said -- I happened to see your post in the other forum before seeing it here...

Regards,
George

I've tried both capwiz and ulead, when the stutter happens it is on both of them.

...
There are no gaps in the source video and even if there were, the source video MUST BE captured, it is there, it exists, so I need it to be preserved. If the ulead cannot get it I need to find something that can. or i need to tweak existing software to get it. The solution is not not to forget about my vhs tapes out but to forget about the ulead and find something else, if it cannot work.
Sure I can blame something in the tapes, that is one way to solve a problem, but it doesn't get the video transferred. I think the technology must be out there somewher to convert these tapes.
Anyway that isn't it i think. The analog quality is not that bad. If not maybe i have to wait til someone makes a better product.

Capwiz cannot capture at the same high quality, isn't that so? These are performance tapes, the quality and detail is very important, it is not mass market movies.
back to more testing...
Yeah I'm looking at pages till my eyes blurr, Didn't anyone else report this problem?

thanks anyway. I got a few hurs left to try to find a solution. I think tomorrow is the last day to return this thing.

[sjj1805]

.......Because "return goods" time is critical, I'm just going to give a quick reply and then study your post.......

So you didn't download the 30 day FREE trial then - currently Version 10.

Out of interest how long have you been delving into your video capturing hobby?

[maxdvdburner]

Firstly, MPEG2 captured at the DVD setting and rendered within video studio with 'non square pixel rendering' disabled until the user is ready to make the final render of the completed project, will produce very good results.

Secondly, if you're so worried about quality, what are you doing trying to render at a high quality setting with a Celeron processor and 496MB of RAM?

Stop blaming everyone else for your own stupidity and get a system designed to perform the task at hand.

Yeah same to you buddy.

For what reason do you have to call me stupid? Is that your answer when you cannot answer a question?

The only reason i can see is that you are the stupid one because you your answers do not address the specifics of the problem and and do not account for all the phenomena.
So you protect your infantile ego by calling me stupid.

There seem to be political egos like yours everywhere, it must be the shallow educational system.
.
Let me tell you what your answer was: Solve the probem by avoiding it"
Typical.


Is that your answer when you cannot answer a question? Where did you learn that? Don't tell me, I know.

Where in anything I have said have I blamed anyone?

I expictly said that I do not have the money to burn at the highest quality that exists in the market place. I expictly said that will be my second step.
BUT I do have the requirements necesary to capture at the highest quality for this package if it is/was as advertised.

Thisi is really hilarious, it seems that everywhere that someone cannot answer a question they have the same response which is to say buy a more expensive computer and call the problem solving seeker a dummy or an idiot. Really! Mr. Stupid here is not the first I have observed to respond like that. I wonder if it is a virus these people catch?

Seems I either need a cray supercomputer or need to stop asking advice from incompetents.

I guess i can solve this probem better than you buddy, and i probably will it is what i am good at. I don't give up when i address a problem unlike yourself.


Andperhaps i wasn't stupid. Perhaps I was lied to by the manufacturers of this ulead package. I have far above the min. requirements for this hardware/software and it doesn't work. or maybe not, I am not finished until the last byte is laid to rest. I am an assembler programmer.

Okay buddy , go take a rest, don't strain your brain with questions you can't answer. I'll take it from here. You'll just get yourself aggravated trying to understand the detail here.

**********************************

Okay Vidoman: Thanks. You are saying that the ulead and the DVD package is not to be trusted. Even though I have far above the minimum requirements on my syste, (Which BTW i just bought as an upgrade from my old system but of course it is already obsolete haha) Anyway as I said I was looking for an emergency solution to save the tapes hoping later to get the tech to save them at hi-8 quality if they still esist by then that is.
..
Well my fine buddy "Mr Stupid" above is right, I am really stupid to believe these things will perform as they say. But how is anyone supposed to know what is garbage and what is not? The salesmen know absoultely nothing. You don't know it doesn't work til you buy it and take it home. I suppose you have to calculate your expenses and add on 200 percent for "learning" .
c'est la vie...

I mean I have everything that should make it work and i guess it doesn't , so I will return it.

(EDIT: min requirements on this package:
Pentium 1GHZ
256 Ram
12 G free space.
So give me a break ! How is it possible i am "stupid" for not having a supercomputer when i already have far above these minimum requirements?
The idea of "minimum requirments" is the absoute minimum required to make the tools in the package WORK.
Minimum means CERTAINTY not MAYBE.)


..................................................
Thanks for the tip about the camcorder. I will take my refund and apply it to a digital camcorder (with an analog input?) if that exists it sounds a good solution. Heck i bet they are already second hand in the pawn shop (we actually got a pawn shop here) As for my buddy's suggestion of buying a new computer that will have to wait until robin hood robs from the rich and gives to the poor which is me.
hahah
it's joke
laugh it up

[maxdvdburner]

.......Because "return goods" time is critical, I'm just going to give a quick reply and then study your post.......

So you didn't download the 30 day FREE trial then - currently Version 10.

Out of interest how long have you been delving into your video capturing hobby?

Just a second. Repy coming.. .edit in here before my "buddy" exterminates me as i know is coming. I am a veteran of corporate politics.

EDIT:

Hey steve, yeah i put in my system specs based on your guiding post. That was every good. I see you are very much an expert and i am working on the other "video profile" for my computer. That may help enormously.

I am a CIS graduate and formerly had a career as a mainframe programmer analyst specializing in assembler on up to 5th GL Texas Instruments. I was mainly a troubleshooter. I solved the problems the IBM programmers missed and dumped on us. We used to call them in and show them where they went wrong

Left it 15 years ago for something else.

(videocapture) It's not a hobby, it's a necessity, my hobby is martial arts. I'm trying to preserve my tapes.
Well okay, it's becoming a hobby. it is fun. I probably missed a career in hollywood.

I've done all my learning in 2 -3 weeks including learning this CISNET computer and XP and usbs and everything else as i had win 98 w/ ONE (1) G only used for wriiting a while ago.

It's what i was trained to do: learn new technologies and program new technologies in a short time. Too bad no one is paying me for it anymore.
...
One of my prestige projects was when we put in Discover Card in the States flew down to Columbus for the install. We created it, fine tuned it a then they took it away from us. "The tail doesn't wag the dog." that's what our own vice CEO told us.

I guess i could do that free download just for fun if it will work with the usb capture device.
I guess in all fairness for the price this package was worth the learning experience and i don't know how i did it but i did the critical backups, so it is not fair to return it.
Anyway it is a sporadic problem, I think your video profile or a couple of other tweaks will make it workable. If i can get it to work sometimes then that is good enough for now. I'll use it to learn whatis the next step.

No, I don't know what is the range of consumer experience here. I'm just coming in from a narrow point.

But didn't anyone ever report on a "stuttering" problem. It seems odd no one ever reported this precise problem? What is some accurate technicalese for describing this stuttering problem?

okay thanks I'll be reading around here, always these politicos jump on people with nastiness, god i seen enough of that on the corporate carpets to give me nightmares forever. For that i don't like posting, because i'm only holding my breath before one comes out and spits at me I know they are everywhere ,

Only I had a critical time period with this product. BUT...
But i just decided that is resoved. I'll solve the rest lurking at my own leisure probably reading your posts.

Last edited by maxdvdburner on Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:53 am; edited 2 times in total