Occasional Sound Crackle/Cut-out After Capture,Shaky Preview

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:45 pm

Hi.

I've been using Ulead Video Studio products for four years. The last year or so, I've noticed that previewing files is not very stable. The video occasionally shakes and the sound cuts out or crackles. Also, for some reason, when I fast-forward during the preview option, I hear a ton of noise whereas before I heard nothing. That last fact is not important but I just point it out because it's something new. Anyway, this previewing instability did not bother me all too much until I recently noticed new captured files seem to be inheriting the preview instability problems. Often a sound cut out during preview or crackle sound will translate into the captured AVI file. This doesn't make any sense. I've been capturing for four years and never had a problem with captured AVI files, but now there is rarely a time that I capture a file and there isn't some problem with the sound (crackle, split second cut-out) or a flicker in the picture.

This preview instability has occurred on two different computers I've been using with completely different hardware. I purchased a new Firewire card and new wire over the weekend to see if the Capture card or wire were the problem, but the problem is exactly the same. I also upgraded from 512 RAM to 1024...same problem. The computer is a P4. The old computer, as I said, had the exact same problem with different hardware, though I never noticed problems with the AVIs and never had them on my new computer until the last week or two.

I am capturing DV Type 1 with Lower Field first off a Digital 8 camera from a DV video. The same problem also occurs when I capture from my JVC MiniDV camera. I have switched to DV Type 2 and encountered the exact same problem. I am on DMA setting. All hard drives are defragged and not full, and it makes no difference which hard drive I capture to...or, again, even which computer (with different hard drives). I even used my friend's computer this weekend with completely different hardware and firewire card and encountered the same problem. I am at a loss. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do to capture AVI files successfully.

I have been using the same settings for years in the program. I have had the problem in Video Studio 7 and am now having the same issue in Video Studio 8. Captured files are shaky and have sound errors from both programs. I have installed updates when using both programs.

The only thing I haven't done is install Service Pack 1 for XP. I installed Service Pack 2 on my friend's computer yesterday and tried again, but same problem.

Can someone please help me out? It's very frustrating. I'm also convinced it may have nothing to do with Video Studio but possibly be a Windows setting or something. I encountered the same problem with a simple capturing program I downloaded over the weekend.

Thanks in advance!
Erik

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:57 pm

Erik,
You have done a good job of eliminating possibilities and I think the arrow of blame is swinging toward your camcorder sound section. Maybe either a loose wire or a intermittent solder connection on the PCB. You could try capturing with your computer from another camcorder. If the pops go away, its more proof that it's your camcorder.

If it is still under warrantee, I would take it in for a check up.

John

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:13 pm

Hi.

Thanks for the quick reply!

The thing is, it's also been happening with my JVC MiniDV cam. The sound is cutting out and shaky during preview on that cam too. And it's happened on three computers now. So, I'm still not sure what to think.

Is Windows Service Pack 1 required for some firewire cards? I have no service packs installed.

Thanks,
Erik

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:45 pm

I also just installed SERVICE PACK 1 and it didn't fix the issue either.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:05 pm

Erik,
When you say pops "during preview" do you mean prior to or while capturing or during the Edit phase?

I have noticed pops in capture mode while fast forwarding or rewinding but these have not appeared on any capture footage. Also, I have noticed a bit of audio feedback between the computer speakers and the mic on the camera. You could try reducing the gain on the mic...

John

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:07 pm

Guess what? I just captured using my JVC, and I was wrong. There are no major problems in preview. The occasional crackling when it goes from fast-forward to play, but nothing wrong with the captured file and the previewing is generally smooth.

I guess what I meant is that the file played in edit, or in Media Player (with the Sony camera) has the same consistent sound cut outs, and it never did before. So I think you were right. There IS a problem with the camera's firewire output.

Does this happen often? Do you know if it's an expensive thing to fix?

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 8:47 pm

Erik,
I've not heard of it happening to camcorders. But printed circuit boards occasionally have a cold soldier joint or a crack in a conductor path. Connectors can get oxidized, etc. I have repaired things just by cleaning (or resetting) the contacts...
John

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:47 am

Hi John.

Turns out I was wrong. I've been playing more with the other camcorder tonight, and then borrowed my friend's Digital8, which is almost exactly the same product. And it's skipping and cutting sound out on both cams as well.

Now I'm really frustrated and really mad. I've tried everything. No matter what drivers, software or computer I'm using, the damn video doesn't capture properly. I've tried two different firewire cards, three different computers, three different videocameras and I always run into the same problem with shaky picture and unstable video files with sound cutting out. Surely there must be some driver or Windows issue that has caused this problem and can be solved? If not, I cannot capture on a PC again!! I've tried everything.

Can someone please help me? I'm literally thinking of buying a Mac and trashing every PC I have if I can't start capturing properly.

Thanks,
Erik

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:39 am

Wait a minute...it's only happening consistently with the two Sony Digital8 cameras. Is there any way that a firewire driver or device could be capturing well with a MiniDV camera but not capturing these Sony cameras well? They are different models, but both Sony Digital8 and both can't capture well.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:43 pm

Erik,
BTW, did you try cleaning the camcorder tape heads throughly?
John

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 3:54 pm

Hi John.

Yeah, I did that a week or so ago. And it's happening with two different Sony cams, one of which is brand new. I also installed Service Pack 2 and things are exactly the same.

I'm so confused. I just can't understand this one.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:18 pm

There have been a couple of other posts recently about the same problem. Funny thing is they all mention the word "SONY".

http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=3186
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=3255

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:57 pm

I know. That's what I'm starting to think.

It's very frustrating.

I'm wondering if there are codecs or a driver I need to install to fix this.

bop · Post by **bop** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:16 am

i posted one of th other sound problems, i have fixed the prob, i have a 10/100 lan card & firewwire and i was told to disable 1394 while using 10/100 for internet adsl [always on] when i enable 1394 the problen goes away [both are firewalled by xp sp2 [cannot firewall 1 only]] hope this helps you as well

bop(':lol:')

Rikk · Post by **Rikk** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 6:06 am

bop wrote:i posted one of th other sound problems, i have fixed the prob, i have a 10/100 lan card & firewwire and i was told to disable 1394 while using 10/100 for internet adsl [always on] when i enable 1394 the problen goes away [both are firewalled by xp sp2 [cannot firewall 1 only]] hope this helps you as well

bop(':lol:')

Hi. This really confuses me. Basically, if you disable the 1394, the capture device under Network Connections is no longer functional. How does this fix the sound problem?