HDV capture attempt in VS10 causes crash

[Calstvns]

Hi folks... Running v10+ I have captured DV successfully, but now I cannot capture HDV from my Sony HDR-HC3 cam. I do have the HDV plug-in installed. The cam is configured correctly it appears (Sony manual warns that ilink converter needs to be off, etc). It is connected by ilink. Computer gives the sound of recognition of new hardware when I plug the cam in, but the cam does not show in "my computer" as an attached camera.

When I go to capture mode in v10 and when I select the "capture video" button, briefly the program starts to recognize the camera, MPEG comes up as the format and "Sony HDV" comes up as the equipment involved. And then boom, black screen, and the whole system reboots.

Any advice or counsel?

[Mantis]

I found a button under the handycams standard set menu (in play mode) that turns off a VCR HDV/DV feature on the video camera (same as yours - SONY HDR HC3). Works for me!

[etech6355]

Calstvns,
What other ulead applications do you have installed.
You have XP-SP2 installed, correct.

but the cam does not show in "my computer" as an attached camera.

Same with my system, appears to be normal if in the HDV mode.

[Calstvns]

Mantis, when you change that setting on your camcorder, does it still provide an HD signal into your computer? Or is the signal converted to DV when you do that? (I found a similar work-around when I changed the iLink menu item and turned off HD there--it works for me, but it's not an HD signal--does your suggestion still send an HD signal to your computer?)

Etech 6355: I have no other Ulead programs installed, and my windows is fully updated by MS Update, including SP2. Good question, thanks.

By the way everyone, this problem reminds me of what a computer does when the monitor settings don't seem to like the signal. Just a guess. My monitor is not an HD display -- maybe that's it??? I've not read anywhere that an HD display is required, but maybe that's it.

Any further advice anyone?

[etech6355]

Etech 6355: I have no other Ulead programs installed, and my windows is fully updated by MS Update, including SP2. Good question, thanks.

The only thing I can think of is downloading & installing the latest version of Directx 9.0c. MS has some important updates to 9.0c, others have had problems by not updating directx. You say your MS system is updated (by autiomatic updates), I don't know if MS also updates directx since I don't use the auto-update feature of XP.

When you go into the capture mode, don't click any buttons, it may take up to a minute for the capture module to recognize the camcorder. After your cam is recognized then all the icons will be active, you will see the correct capture device listed etc.
After VS11+ has recognized your camcorder then start previewing the video using the contols, when the video is playing in the screen then hit the capture button.
If you can't preview the video then the program will not capture the video.

[Calstvns]

OK, I'll give that a try. By the way, my UL version is 10+, not 11+.

[tyamada]

If you camera is set correctly it should show up in the Device Manager, Sound, Video and Game Controllers, AV/C Tape Device. If it doesn't show up there you can't control it.

My HDR-HC1 has to be set to HDV and iLink off to be properly identified and used by my computer.

[Calstvns]

But Tyamada, when you have the iLink off, the signal is DV, not HD. My computer receives a DV signal just fine. What I want to do is receive an HD signal and to edit in HD.

[etech6355]

Maybe it would help to reset the camcorder back to it's default settings.
There are 3 settings that affect the transfer of HDV.
The ilink that tyamada is referring to is the downconvert feature, this feature down converts the highdefinition video on the tape to standard definition on the firewire port.
There are other settings in the cam that can be confusing.
What mode to record in HDV (high defintion) or DV (standard defintion).
Then there is another feature that will detect if the tape was recorded in HDV or DV and whether to switch the output of the firewire signal back & forth automatically,
I don't record both HDV and DV on the same tape, to confusing cataloging the tapes.
I think it would help to reset the cam back to it's defaults.
I would use a new tape and record some footage, then try capturing the HDV video in VS10+ (make sure to apply the latest patches to VS10+, there are HDV fixes & additions).

If you still cannot capture in VS10+ then I would suggest downloading and capturing using HDVSplit.
http://strony.aster.pl/paviko/hdvsplit.htm

Great program, capture previewing on the cams LCD screen.
To use the files in VS10+ (you need the latest patches installed).
Insert Media -> Select the .m2t HDV file, wait for VS10+ to read & sparse the file.
Click OK to insert, answer YES to convert to PS (program stream). VS10+ will convert the video from TS to PS for editing.
Then edit in VS10+.
*Make sure to set all your project settings correctly, working folder, preferences, this is important with any video editing program.

[kristiwt]

Hello...I have a problem with Video studio 10....when i try to import some files from my hard-disk it says for example "abcdef.avi is not accessible" what should i do? i've discovered that other files which are compressed by divx are recognized by ulead but some which are compressed by xvid aren't recognized...so please tell me what should i do

[tyamada]

But Tyamada, when you have the iLink off, the signal is DV, not HD. My computer receives a DV signal just fine. What I want to do is receive an HD signal and to edit in HD.

I'm not sure if the HC3 is any different than the HC1 but iLink convert if it is on will convert the signal to SD not HD. To get HDV you have to have the iLink convert off.

As I posted before, if your camera is configured properly it will show up in the Device Manager as an AV/C tape device, not as a camera or imaging device.

[Calstvns]

OK, I think we crossed wires on what "on" and "off" meant. I was confused. On my cam, whether or not the words on or off are used, the menu is clear whether the output signal is HD or SD. I know for sure that my problem is when the iLink cable is delivering an HD signal, but it works fine with the SD signal. Thanks for the clarification. Now we understand each other better, though I'm still left with my problem. However, I intend to try your advice, and others in this thread, to see if I can get results. Thanks again.

[Black Lab]

From the VS manual (page 49):

High Definition Videos
Once you have the HDV plug-in installed, you can import high definition video from your HDV camcorder such as Sony HDR-HC1.
To capture from Sony¡¦s HDR-HC1 HDV camcorder:
1. Connect your Sony HDV camcorder to your computer¡¦s IEEE-1394 port using the IEEE-1394 cable.
2. Turn on your camcorder and switch it to Play/Edit mode and make sure that your Sony HDV camcorder is switched to HDV mode.
3. Click Capture on the Step Panel. In the Options Panel, click .
Note: To check that your Sony HDV camcorder is set to HDV mode, flip open the LCDscreen and see if HDVout I-Link is on the LCD screen. If you see DVout I-Link, press P-MENU at the lower right of the screen. In the menu, press MENU>STANDARD SET> VCR HDV/DV and press HDV.
Note: VideoStudio automatically detects your Sony HDV camcorder. The Sourceshould show Sony -- HDV.

Hope that helps.

[Calstvns]

Thanks, Black Lab! I am so familiar with that passage in the manual that I practically have it memorized! That is really how it should work, and you were right to make sure that I had followed the manual advice. I have, and when it repeatedly crashed for me in spite of following these steps, I started this thread.

Thanks to you and others who have been so kind to help, I have several plans that I intend to try. Your support has been great. If you have other ideas about why HD makes my system crash, please post them.

[tyamada]

Calstvns:

Have you installed SP1 for Video Studio 10+? If you have you might have un-install VS10+ and re-install it.