VS 11+ Not Showing Capture Source

[landtuna]

When clicking on 'capture video' the 'source' and 'format' windows are both greyed out and will not accept any entries.

I also have VS8 installed and the capture feature does find my capture card and will capture (although the video is jerky).

I have just installed the Power Pack for VS11+ but it didn't fix this issue.

[Ken Berry]

And are you going to share with us what the capture source actually is, how you have it connected to your computer, and what the selected format is supposed to be? An idea about your computer resources and operating system would also be useful i.e. please fill in your System button.

In installing the Power Pack, did you first install the 6 November 2007 update patch just below it on the web page?

And have you updated your Microsoft DirectX? DirectX is not part of the regular automatic updates from Microsoft so has to be downloaded and installed manually. The latest update patch is dated March 2008 and can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en
Note that it updates both DirectX 9.0c (XP) and 10 (Vista). The number of your DirectX installation will not change, but the patch gives extra functionality in a number of areas and corrects other faults in VS11 in particular which do appear linked to Windows updates.

[landtuna]

Thanks for the reply. Here is system info:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)

System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 8300
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A02
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.60GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 304MB used, 1707MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce FX 5200
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0322&SUBSYS_01B910DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0001.4354 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 4/24/2003 16:58:00, 3119466 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 4/24/2003 16:58:00, 1271706 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4062-11CF-6C62-B82100C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0322
SubSys ID: 0x01B910DE
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D

Capture card is a WinFAST 2000 PCI.

Update patch has been applied and DirectX renewed (it was already up to date).

Please note that VS8 finds the capture card just fine but VS11 does not.

[Ken Berry]

Thanks for the system info, though filling in your System button would have been enough!

But can I repeat:----

And are you going to share with us what the capture source actually is, how you have it connected to your computer, and what the selected format is supposed to be?

[landtuna]

But can I repeat:----

And are you going to share with us what the capture source actually is, how you have it connected to your computer, and what the selected format is supposed to be?

I would think that if my capture card and connection works with VS8 it would also work on VS11 however.....

It doesn't matter what I try to hook up to capture with VS11, the windows mentioned previously are always greyed out. I have tried capturing video from a digital movie camera and through a satellite receiver - both through the WinFAST 2000 capture card using analog settings and both unsuccessfully.

I can execute VS8 and it comes up showing the capture card and will record video and audio. I can then execute VS11, with no other apps running, and it will not see the card.

I hope this answers your questions. If not, please be more specific.

Thanks again!

[Ken Berry]

I can't speak for the satellite receiver aspect, and putting aside for the moment the fact that you can apparently capture successfully using VS8, why on earth would you be capturing from a digital video camera using what is essentially an analogue capture card? What model camera is it -- mini DV? Mini DVD? Hard Disk? High definition? In any of those cases, there are other means of transferring the video from the camera in high quality form and certainly in better quality than the card would give you.

Regarding the difference between VS8 and VS11, Corel, in their wisdom, changed the capture plug-ins in VS11 which had worked successfully in previous versions, ostensibly because they would no longer work properly under Vista. Unfortunately, the new plug-in came with a number of problems, including a certified bug relating to capturing from DV sources using Firewire. Some of these (though not all) were rectified with the 6 November 2007 update patch. However, update patches don't work on trial versions, just in case you are only trialling VS11.

As I said at the outset, I can't help with the satellite receiver aspect of your problem. I used to have a Winfast 2000 card of my own, and it worked fine on an XP computer to capture from a VCR, but that was the extent of my use of it. I now have its successor -- a Winfast DTV 2000H -- running on a Vista computer with VS11.5+, and it works fine for the same purpose and for capturing high def TV programs as well. But I made no special tweaks for this to work successfully.

[landtuna]

Comments in this color below:

I can't speak for the satellite receiver aspect, and putting aside for the moment the fact that you can apparently capture successfully using VS8, why on earth would you be capturing from a digital video camera using what is essentially an analogue capture card?

VS8 will capture but not fast enough to eliminate video 'jerks' when the picture pans quickly. That's one reason I went to VS11 one year ago. That mistake won't be repeated!

The sat receiver converts the digital download signal to analog and outputs the signal through standard RCA plugs which are connected to my WinFAST card, just like the video camera.

I am using the analog capture because I don't yet have a Firewire card (the only DV capability my camera supports). I have ordered one and will give it a try to see if that works but it irritates me no end VS11, which was supposed to be state-of-the-art, doesn't support this very basic feature.

What model camera is it -- mini DV? Mini DVD? Hard Disk? High definition? In any of those cases, there are other means of transferring the video from the camera in high quality form and certainly in better quality than the card would give you.

It is a digital tape camcorder but has only DV and analog connections, no USB.

Regarding the difference between VS8 and VS11, Corel, in their wisdom, changed the capture plug-ins in VS11 which had worked successfully in previous versions, ostensibly because they would no longer work properly under Vista. Unfortunately, the new plug-in came with a number of problems, including a certified bug relating to capturing from DV sources using Firewire. Some of these (though not all) were rectified with the 6 November 2007 update patch. However, update patches don't work on trial versions, just in case you are only trialling VS11.

My version is a downloaded upgrade not trial.

I guess Vista (and VS) strike again. One more good reason to stay on my old reliable XP.

As I said at the outset, I can't help with the satellite receiver aspect of your problem. I used to have a Winfast 2000 card of my own, and it worked fine on an XP computer to capture from a VCR, but that was the extent of my use of it. I now have its successor -- a Winfast DTV 2000H -- running on a Vista computer with VS11.5+, and it works fine for the same purpose and for capturing high def TV programs as well. But I made no special tweaks for this to work successfully.

I'll wait until the Firewire gets here and hopefully be back in biz again.

Many thanks for your assistance.

[Ken Berry]

VS8 will capture but not fast enough to eliminate video 'jerks' when the picture pans quickly.

I wouldn't have thought there would be any difference in speed in capturing using VS8 or VS11 on the same computer (though I take it you have changed computer since you mention Vista, which of course does not support VS8!)

But the type of jerkiness you mention while capturing panning shots, suggests that the real problem might have been that you had the field order wrong. I have no real idea what your card might use for captures from the satellite receiver, but many analogue signals are captured using Upper Field First. So if, for example, you were capturing using Lower Field First, you would get jerky movement in panning and fast action shots. The solution would be to reverse the field order to see if that improved things.

I should also have mentioned in my last response that we usually recommend that people using analogue capture cards use the sofware which came with the hardware as it is specifically made or tweaked to work with the card. I know, for instance, when I had my own Winfast 2000, I used it for captures. Simply select the source on the Winfast control panel and then click the big red REC button. I do the same with my current Winfast DTV2000H and Divico Fusion high def cards (two separate computers...) I know that your response would be that VS11 should work with it anyway since VS8 did. But it might at least be a workaround. Capture the files using the card software, probably in DVD format, then simply open those files for editing in VS11.

[landtuna]

I should also have mentioned in my last response that we usually recommend that people using analogue capture cards use the sofware which came with the hardware as it is specifically made or tweaked to work with the card. I know, for instance, when I had my own Winfast 2000, I used it for captures. Simply select the source on the Winfast control panel and then click the big red REC button. I do the same with my current Winfast DTV2000H and Divico Fusion high def cards (two separate computers...) I know that your response would be that VS11 should work with it anyway since VS8 did. But it might at least be a workaround. Capture the files using the card software, probably in DVD format, then simply open those files for editing in VS11.

When I discovered VS11 didn't work with analog capture I tried using my WinFAST card. It did record and I could edit it fine but then when playing back the MPG file with VLC or Windows Media Player it would always freeze at exactly the same place in the video (about 2 min. in).

OK, here's what I've done since we last talked:

1. Installed a Firewire (1394) card.
2. Uninstalled VS11.
3. Installed VS11 from the original download files.
4. Applied the 6/11 patch.
5. Installed the Power Pack.

In between steps 3, 4, and after 5 I tested VS11 with the Samsung DV camera and VS11 still doesn't see it. VS8 still sees it fine.

When VS11 executes I can select the DV-DVD Wizard and get the scan screen however all the buttons on the screen are greyed out except the 'next' and 'close'. I assume this is because there is no device seen. If I select 'next' it tells me I need to scan first.

If you're thinking I can use VS8 - tried that but it didn't work. It records camera input for about 4.5 min then freezes. Just before it freezes it gives me a message to the effect that it is "dumping transcoding buffers".

I also tried Windows Movie Maker and it sees the Samsung camera and will copy the video fine.

Any ideas?

[Ken Berry]

Sorry. I can't think what might be wrong... As for your VS8 error message, the fact that it mentioned a transcoding buffer dump suggests that you had the capture format set to DVD/mpeg-2 and not DV. If capturing mpeg-2 from a DV source over firewire, the conversion from the original DV to mpeg-2 has to occur on the fly. The incoming signal is stored in a buffer until the DV can be transcoded to mpeg-2. Sometimes, if your computer is not too powerful or doing other things in the background which soak up resources, then the buffer will fill and the capture will pause until the buffer is emptied and more signal can be received. Sometimes, the incoming signal is just so steady that when the buffer fills, the whole capture process just stops. So you will need to check to make sure you had it set to DV and not DVD...

[landtuna]

As for your VS8 error message, the fact that it mentioned a transcoding buffer dump suggests that you had the capture format set to DVD/mpeg-2 and not DV.

Thanks. I realized that while I was editing the video. It was indeed set to DVD.

The problem with VS8 might be related to my screen saver. I had let the capture step crank and stepped away from the PC for a moment (which actually was more like 5 1/2 minutes) and the timing suggests it might have been interrupted by the screen saver kicking in. I disabled it and tried again and it ran fine.

I've sent a tech assist email to Corel to find out why my Firewire card is not detected. There were three other queries in their knowledgebase with the same title so apparently someone else has had problems as well. The answer they gave was to verify the card was properly installed and recognized by XP (which mine is) so I believe the problem is with VS11.

I'll post a solution here if they are able to find one.

Once again, thanks!

[Ken Berry]

Fine, and hope you get it solved. However, I hope you realise there are a lot of other users out there with VS11.5+ and a Firewire card, and it works fine... I am just one of them...