Problem seeing camcorder with trial Version (VS V11+)

[rsghowellnj]

I'm currently trialing Visual Studio V11+. I'm able to do a capture from my camcorder using Microsoft Vista's Windows DVD Maker but when I try to do a "Capture Video" using trial version of Visual Studio V11+ my digital camcorder does not show up as a source. Is that because I'm using the trial version? I want to make sure that this is a limitation of the trial version prior to purchasing the product.

Any help would be appreciated. Of course, I verified the simple things, like:

1. My cables are all connected
2. My connectivity was confirmed by doing the following:
- I see my camcorder in windows device manager (using the latest vista drivers from the manufacturer
- Able to do a capture from my digital camcorder using MS/Vista Windows DVD Maker

FYI: I'm using a SONY HDR-HC3.

[etech6355]

I've gotten my HC3 to capture using XP-SP2 with VS11+

Maybe while in the capturing screen turn on the downconvert function in the cam to output DV (I know the instructions for the cam say you may have to turn off the cam to do this but mine still works if I don't).
After VS picks up the cam as a DV device and it should be listed then switch the cam back into the HDV mode by turning off the downconvert feature.

Also maybe going into the capturing module first before turning on the cam & then turn the cam on, not sure. VS11+ recognizes mine in both DV & HDV modes, I'm using XP-SP2.

[rsghowellnj]

Thanks for the advise. I never had problems with prior versions of VS and my camcorder with XP/SP2. I've only seen this problem since I'm upgrading to V11+ using Vista Home Premium. I will try what you recommended and see if this makes a difference. It is funny how I'm able to see my camcorder using the Microft Movie Maker but not VS V11+. I'll let you know how I make out.

Thank you for the advise.

[gr8vette]

I am having the same problem... Has there been a resolution to this yet?

I can capture HDV from Vista's MovieMaker, but I am trying to see if VideoStudio can do it...

More specifically, I am trying to see if VideoStudio will split HDV video into clips and retain the date and time for each clip... Moviemaker does not do this.

[rsghowellnj]

Unfortunately this problem was not resolved as the moderator suggested. I do have a question. Are you working with the trial version of the software or have you purchased VS V11+ and already running on Vista Home Premium? I'm asking because I'm running the trial version and wondering if the problem that I'm seeing is because it is a trial version. As of yet, I have not been able to get this specific question answered from ULEAD or not.

[etech6355]

I've gotten my HC3 to capture using XP-SP2 with VS11+

Yes, the trial version and running XP-SP2. I've heard of a few issues with Vista and one person mentions Vista not installing all the drivers. He re-installed Vista again (over itself) and this corrected his problem. He could capture using VS in Vista Premium or Ultimate and not in Vista Home. Re-installing Vista again over the existing installation fixed the problem.

gr8vette,
VS11+ as far as I can tell does not split the videos when captured.
I don't know what format MovieMaker captures the HDV video in, you say you can capture using MovieMaker. What files type is it capturing? What is the extension of the HDV file? Is the extension .mpg or m2t
Can you import these HDV files that MovieMaker is capturing into VS?
If you can it would help to display their captured properties that ulead is reading these files as , "Right Click on the video while it's on the timeline and select "Properties". The video/audio specs of the HDV will be displayed. I'm curious what these files are captured as. Maybe they are usable in VS.

There is a free program called HDVSplit that does a nice job of this, you can also load a HDV file and have HDVSplit create new files split by date. HDVSplit can capture by data and all, nice handy utility.
Only thing is HDVSplit captures in the TS format (the true format on the tape), so you have to use a program compatible with the TS format.
VideoStudio10+ will convert the files captured using HDVSplit from TS to PS stream format.
HDVSplit is free, you have to install a codec for previewing, I wouldn't bother, it's just as easy to view the videos from the cams LCD. Capturing is very low cpu usage, I have previewing disabled in HDVSplit.

The problem is "Where's the problem"? Vista or ulead VS, others are capturing using Vista. I would make sure you can capture Standard Definition DV first with VS using the cams downcovert feature. If you can then I would suspect Vista hasn't loaded all the drivers for HDV capture.

Vista sounds like so much fun, glad I haven't tried it yet.

[gr8vette]

VS11+ as far as I can tell does not split the videos when captured.
I don't know what format MovieMaker captures the HDV video in, you say you can capture using MovieMaker.

Maybe I should clarify... Does VS11+ use the time and date codes on the HDV tape to allow different scenes to be detected, and in turn, does it allow me to view the properties of that scene so I can get the time and date it was taken?

I shoot home movies and like the convienience of being able to get a clip's properties and view the time and date the clip was taken. I will then usually add a sub-title with the date at the beginning of the clip.

I saw in the "new" features that VS11 could automatically add the time and date to the beginning of each clip, but it did not specify if it did this for HDV... Also, I would like to be able to put it on the clip with the title/font that I choose...

[rsghowellnj]

Unfortunately I'm running Vista Home Premium and not Vista Ultimata or Vista Gold. I guess what I don't understand is why I can copy my videos (in avi format) from Vista Movie maker yet, I can not do this same from Visual Studio. I did open a support ticket from ULEAD but haven't heard anything back from them. I'm hesitant to reload Vista Home Premium because this is a factory load from Dell.

I guess for now, I will have to live with capturing my videos using Vista Movie Maker and then inputing these avi files into Visual Studeo.

I've gotten my HC3 to capture using XP-SP2 with VS11+

Yes, the trial version and running XP-SP2. I've heard of a few issues with Vista and one person mentions Vista not installing all the drivers. He re-installed Vista again (over itself) and this corrected his problem. He could capture using VS in Vista Premium or Ultimate and not in Vista Home. Re-installing Vista again over the existing installation fixed the problem.

Vista sounds like so much fun, glad I haven't tried it yet.

[etech6355]

I guess for now, I will have to live with capturing my videos using Vista Movie Maker and then inputing these avi files into Visual Studeo.

I would check the video/audio properties of the avi file when you insert these into VS. Right-Click on one after inserting and select "Properties", the video & audio codec's & properties will be displayed. Movie Maker may be converting them another format that's not actually High Definition or a loss of quality.
They should be listed as 1440x1080 frame_size.
If the properties say 720 as the upper number then they are standard definition.

[rsghowellnj]

Well I have good news. I received the following infor from ULEAD Tech Support today:

"Maybe the content pack that completes the VS 11 program is not yet installed. Please get it together with the UVS 11 Bonus Pack from the download links that are included in the confirmation email that you received after purchasing the VideoStudio 11 from our website."

I went ahead and purchase the software and they sent me links for the additional "Bonus Pack" that I had to install. Now VS 11+ works fine and now will see my Sony HDR-HC3 using Vista Home Premium.

Thank you for your support. I wanted to make sure that I shared this information with you in the event that you are asked at a later date.

I guess for now, I will have to live with capturing my videos using Vista Movie Maker and then inputing these avi files into Visual Studeo.

I would check the video/audio properties of the avi file when you insert these into VS. Right-Click on one after inserting and select "Properties", the video & audio codec's & properties will be displayed. Movie Maker may be converting them another format that's not actually High Definition or a loss of quality.
They should be listed as 1440x1080 frame_size.
If the properties say 720 as the upper number then they are standard definition.