VS10 and Panasonic GS-59 not playing well...

kc8jpp · Post by **kc8jpp** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:28 pm

I recently purchased a new Panasonic GS59 dgital camcorder, as well as Ulead Video Studio 10. I am running Windows XP pro on a AMD Athalon 2.8g system, 1gb RAM, with a relatively new ATI 32mb video card.

I recently shot some video with the camcorder and went to transfer it to the computer. When VS10 opened, I chose the DV to DVD wizard. The software recognizes my webcam, and I can also see it detected in "My Computer" in XP. As soon as the software begins to process the video, it crashes. The software will hang and will not show any of the video that is being processed. Then I get the "Not Responding" message and have to close the software in Task Manager. I am using a firewire 1394 connection.

I have checked the Panasonic site to ensure that there are no drivers or software that is necessary, and from what I can see there should be nothing I can do to really update drivers or anything like that.

Thanks,
Chris

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:39 pm

Took a quick look at the camcorder compatibility chart and didn't see your model. Maybe you need to check with tech support.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:15 pm

Problems like yours are usually due to

- faulty install
- faulty hardware
- software/codec incompatibility

Is your software a downloaded version?

Your PC should recognize the camera as a Panasonic camcorder, not a webcam.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:54 pm

Not exactly the same camera, but still a Panasonic: take a look at this link here -- although I hasten to add that the problem remains unresolved.
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 109#100109

I can only repeat what I said in that thread, and which apparently didn't work. But it could be worth a try. If you haven't installed the Panasonic DV codec which might have come on the camera installation disc, then installing it might help.

If it is already installed, then it could conceivably be clashing with the Direct Show DV codec and might need removing...

kc8jpp · Post by **kc8jpp** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:14 pm

I too did not see the camcorder listed in the specific compatibility chart, but then there are really only a handful listed there. I hate to think that a software package this nice simply can't communicate with my camera.

As for the software version, it is a retail box edition that was purchased at a local CompUSA retailer. I have reinstalled the software to see if that would resolve the problem, and it has not.

If I caused some confusion about the webcam, I apologize. I have a stand alone webcam that the software can capture from, and then in addition to that I have the Panasonic GS59 that is recognized as a Panasonic camcorder.

There were no codecs that I found on the Panasonic installation software, in fact the disc was more geared toward user guides and the USB drivers to transfer images off the built in SD card slot.

Thanks for the suggestions,
-Chris

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:59 am

I suspect you may be using a USB cable to try to capture instead of Firewire.

The GS-59 is of course a mini DV digital video camera. Any USB cable that came with the camera is normally only for transferring still photos taken by the camera or else low quality streaming video (like a web camera). For high quality transfer, you MUST use Firewire (called i-Link on some cameras -- check your camera's Manual.) The problem is that no camera manufacturer of which I am aware includes a Firewire cable with the camera, but they usually include a USB cable. This gives users the wrong impression that they use USB for the connection.

Of course, your computer must have a Firewire connection. But if it doesn't, then Firewire cards are cheap these days, and usually come with a connecting cable as well. With regard to the latter, make sure you get a cable with the right plugs at either end -- normally it is a small 4 pin one at the camera end and a larger 6 pin one at the computer end.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:43 pm

Ken, he stated in the first post that he was using firewire.

For the record I have two different Pana cams (50 and 180) and both always worked OK. Not perfectly, see below.

I also like to repeat for the Xth time that I found it better to switch the camera ON after starting the capture module. When the cam establishes the DV connection it makes a more dependable handshake.

I AM NOT IMPLYING THAT THIS IS THE PROBLEM THE OP EXPERIENCED !

This was witnessed in VS8, VS9, VS10+, DVDMF4, MF5, MS7, MS8, and DWS.

Nothing serious, but audio playback problems, or NTSC/PAL confusion or video corruption can happen from time to time when the camera is already powered before entering capture step.
It's only at the start: if it starts OK it stays OK, when it goes bad, it stays bad until you either restart the application (closing capture step is not enough) or cycle the cam power.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:47 pm

Desolé Daniel. Je suis trop vieux et je n'ai pas noté ça... Hélas!

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:11 pm

A propos I find it can be misleading that Panasonic supplies an application on their CD that is intended to capture video stills and "photographs" from the tape via USB and where you could be fooled to think this can be used to transfer the video stream, since it has a function to scan, mark and transfer parts of the tape. And they called it DV Studio...

Especially confusing for newcomers when they supply an USB cable, but skip the firewire cable. Industrial economics.
A new user may be tempted to work with whatever is in the box...

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:45 pm

daniel wrote:A propos I find it can be misleading that Panasonic supplies an application on their CD that is intended to capture video stills and "photographs" from the tape via USB and where you could be fooled to think this can be used to transfer the video stream, since it has a function to scan, mark and transfer parts of the tape. And they called it DV Studio...

Especially confusing for newcomers when they supply an USB cable, but skip the firewire cable. Industrial economics.
A new user may be tempted to work with whatever is in the box...

I think you are a bit unfair to Panasonic here, they all do the same. I have yet to find any camcorder brand being delivered with a fire wire cable.

I had a DA1 which stored the stills on tape, there was no other way to get the stills but using the software supplied (the stills were not worth the trouble in the first place

) This was done via USB cable (supplied). The iLink port was clearly identified in the manual as the one to use when transferring video. Who reads the manual though.

My GS 400 stores images on a separate memory card and I don't use the supplied software to capture my images, I just read them off the card with a card reader. The camera came with a USB cable but again, the iLink port is the recommended connection for video and reference is made to the fire wire cable needed but not supplied.

BTW, these days, they supply motor cars without a spare wheel

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:50 pm

daniel wrote:....
For the record I have two different Pana cams (50 and 180) and both always worked OK. Not perfectly, see below.

I also like to repeat for the Xth time that I found it better to switch the camera ON after starting the capture module. When the cam establishes the DV connection it makes a more dependable handshake.
....

Nothing serious, but audio playback problems, or NTSC/PAL confusion or video corruption can happen from time to time when the camera is already powered before entering capture step.
It's only at the start: if it starts OK it stays OK, when it goes bad, it stays bad until you either restart the application (closing capture step is not enough) or cycle the cam power.

I have used 4 different Panasonic video cameras and never experienced any of the problems you describe. I always connect my camcorders and power up before I start the capture mudule. I use MSP though to capture/edit.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 9:34 am

heinz-oz wrote:
I have used 4 different Panasonic video cameras and never experienced any of the problems you describe. I always connect my camcorders and power up before I start the capture mudule. I use MSP though to capture/edit.

Well mileages DO vary then... I don't own MSP but did use the TBYB for the 30 days , both 7 and 8 and the result was the same.

I also routinely connect before, but occasionally the reported problems (not together) crop up. Off/on always correct it ("a new device has been plugged, do you want to use it").

Maybe the OS plays a role, I'm still using Win2000.