New VS PRO X2 with the same old capture problem!!!

[wreelsw@comcast.net]

I just downloaded the new version of VS and it appears that Corel still hasn't fixed the analog capture issues that were introduced in VS11. I have a Sony Digital 8 video camera DCR-TRV460. Cannot capture when playing analog 8mm (or Hi8) tapes in the camera, which is connected to the computer via the camera's Firewire link. As was the case with VS12, it's getting the "Capturing Failed" message. This is unacceptable; Corel had a plenty of time to get this right. There was no difficulty with previous versions of VS. Example: VS9 or 10, I don't see what the big deal is. This is amazing...

[Ken Berry]

That's sad news. It was going to be the next thing I tested in the trial version of X2 I am currently using. The problem, as you problem know, lies in the fact that Corel in their wisdom, or perhaps InterVideo, during the brief period they owned Ulead, decided to dump all the previous capture plug-ins that worked well in versions earlier than VS11. They substituted a single captured plug-in from the InterVideo range (the IVI Capture Component), and justified it on the ground that it would work under Vista, claiming that the earlier plug-ins used DirectShow which would not work properly under Vista.

As you may also know, apart from the Digital 8 problem you have (and I share), there were also problems with VS11/11.5+ in not being able to capture from any analogue source using firewire (so DV stand-alone capture devices like the Plextor and Canopus range were out), plus using a mini DV camera or Digital 8 as a pass-through device. These were at least corrected with the update patch for VS11, though not the Digital 8 problem you currently have. So it will be interesting to see whether at least they have worked in the VS11 update patch into the VS12 code, and it can capture from firewire sources (apart from the continuing inability to capture from a Digital 8 playing an analogue tape...)

Mind you, at the end of the day, while I will find it annoying that they haven't fixed this long reported bug, it will not be a deal breaker for me since I will continue to use WinDV for my Digital 8 captures, and simply open them in VS for editing. But of course the mystery remains why WinDV and Windows Movie Maker continue to work, including under Vista, with no apparent changes to their capture via Firewire. And other editing packages continue to use DirectShow codecs under Vista as well with no apparent conflicts...

[Black Lab]

Bringing up the capture plug-in, there is one thing I am not happy about in X2. When in capture mode, whether actually capturing or just playing the video thru the camera (Sony Digital 8 via firewire), the picture in the preview screen is, shall I say choppy, or at least not smooth. The resulting captured clip plays back fine.

Is this an affect of the capture plug-in? I never tried capturing with v11, so I can't compare with that, but I don't have that problem with v10, which I've gone back to using for capture.

[Ron P.]

s this an affect of the capture plug-in? I never tried capturing with v11, so I can't compare with that, but I don't have that problem with v10, which I've gone back to using for capture.

This seems to be something new, as I did not find the capture preview choppy in VS11.5+

[Black Lab]

Can anyone confirm this happening with X2, or is it just me?

[Ken Berry]

My own experiments this evening unfortunately confirm wreelsw's experience. X2 will definitely NOT capture from a Digital 8 playing an analogue tape and connected via Firewire. Exactly the same experience as with VS11+/11.5+ namely, apparent capture for a few seconds, but then an error message saying capturing failed and the file would be deleted. I tried a few times, with both DV as the capture format, and also trying mpeg. Neither worked. Sad. But I will, as noted, continue using WinDV for such captures so that's not a deal killer for me.

However, my further experiments did NOT confirm Black Lab's regarding what I assume he means as digital captures. Using my Digital 8 with a digital tape, or my Canon mv930 SD DV camera, or my Canon HV20 capturing to HDV/mpeg-2, all via Firewire, the capture was smooth as silk, as was playback of the captured video. And all included audio (to take account of another user who has been having trouble hearing audio during capture, if I recall correctly, using VS10).

I might also note here that I have found X2 to be much faster at just about everything, than VS11.5+, including start-up, which only takes about 4 seconds overall, whereas I found VS11+/VS11.5+ taking about 12 - 15 seconds overall.

With high definition files, the extra speed is particularly noticeable, and especially with AVCHD. In VS11.5+, if I even clicked on an AVCHD thumbnail in the library pane, it would take around 10 seconds for the file to become 'active', and then a few more seconds when I tried to drag and drop it in the timeline. And remember, I have a Quad... With X2, both actions are almost instantaneous ... well, perhaps about 2 seconds.

As I reported in another thread, playback of AVCHD from a Panasonic SD9 camera is half and half. In VS11.5+, it would play for a few to many seconds, but invariably cut out, sometimes even crashing the program. Now there are no crashes, and the SD9 video will play absolutely smoothly in Clip mode but erratically in Project mode, but at least it will now play.

I also joined a few SD9 AVCHD clips together with transitions and rendered using the 'same as first clip' command, and that worked just fine and again was quick. I didn't use SmartProxy. The resulting file has the same properties as the original but plays smoothly -- though I have to say that it is still a bit jerky in Project playback...

Regarding one of my other complaints about VS11.5+, I now find I can use Make Movie Template Manager to make a template for HDV format. No problems. You use the mpeg basic template but now it allows variations of the bitrate up to 25 mbps and frame sizes up to 1920 x 1080 (which is a little strange since the maximum size of HDV is 1440 x 1080).

But sadly this is not apparently possible still with AVCHD video -- at least in my experiments to date. I will look forward to others proving me wrong!! And I hope to be, as I can think of no logical reason why Corel would not have allowed this for AVCHD when X2 has otherwise taken steps to make the program's performance with that format so much better in other respects!

Another positive, I got Canopus VideoFX transitions plug-in showing up -- and working fine -- in X2. I will try tomorrow with my Adorage plug-in!...

[John Moran_2]

Regarding one of my other complaints about VS11.5+, I now find I can use Make Movie Template Manager to make a template for HDV format. No problems. You use the mpeg basic template but now it allows variations of the bitrate up to 25 mbps and frame sizes up to 1920 x 1080 (which is a little strange since the maximum size of HDV is 1440 x 1080).

But sadly this is not apparently possible still with AVCHD video -- at least in my experiments to date. I will look forward to others proving me wrong!! And I hope to be, as I can think of no logical reason why Corel would not have allowed this for AVCHD when X2 has otherwise taken steps to make the program's performance with that format so much better in other respects!

Before the English version of VS-12 was released, I inferred from a Japanese version translation that the 25 mbs rate of the newest Canon HF11? would not be supported.
JM_2

[Black Lab]

However, my further experiments did NOT confirm Black Lab's regarding what I assume he means as digital captures. Using my Digital 8 with a digital tape, or my Canon mv930 SD DV camera, or my Canon HV20 capturing to HDV/mpeg-2, all via Firewire, the capture was smooth as silk, as was playback of the captured video.

Thanks Ken. I do want to emphasize, however, that it's just when the tape is rolling, the image in the preview window while on the Capture Tab is not smooth. The capture itself works fine and when I play the captured clip it is as smooth as silk.

I'll compare my settings again with that of v10 and see if there is any difference.

Again, not a big deal since I can use v10 to capture.

[Ken Berry]

Jeff -- no, the image on the camera view screen and in the VS preview screen were both very smooth while the tape was rolling.

John_Moran_2: I was referring to HDV format whose standard bitrate is 25 mbps anyway. Till now, AVCHD cameras have had a maximum bitrate of 18 mbps, but the new Canon -- and AVCHD and not HDV model -- pushes that max to 24 Mbps. The Canon site has some samples taken with the camera. I have them all, and X2 unfortunately plays the 24 mbps one erratically in both Clip and Project mode... Haven't tried rendering two of them joined together into a new single clip with the same properties, but I will give it a try later today and report back.

[Ian Porter]

Hi all,
I have just been trying to capture an old VHS and because I have not seen this type of message before "Failed capture, deleting" I have been blamimg my set up etc. I must add this comes right on top of a major problem for me concerning VS11, Error1316 & Error 1603.
I had no success rectifying this thru suggested methods
As I am a very new user I had resorted to reinstalling the VS program.
However I was unable to do this because of that *.msi file, either corrupted or missing. In desparation I have downloaded and installed the latest VS. I found the preview very choppy (intermittent) but have not been able to capture this tape. I like the new look and the program is certainly faster but because of my inexperience can't really comment.
Probably won't use all the bells and whistles, but hey who cares?
I would appreciate help with any of my problems thus far.
Thanks
Ian

[Ken Berry]

Welcome to the forums, Ian!

You said:

I must add this comes right on top of a major problem for me concerning VS11, Error1316 & Error 1603.

Unfortunately, none of us who help out here work for Ulead/Corel, so we have no real idea what those code numbers mean, any more than you do. So it would be very helpful if you could describe what problems you are having, and which methods you tried didn't work... Please make sure you give us details of the video formats in question and any external equipment used. And step by step descriptions of your workflow, if you can please!

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums Ian,

If you would read some of the posts above, you will find that VS10+ pre-Vista patch and earlier versions were able to capture analog video, analog-digital conversion using various capture devices, and analog video placed in a digital-8 camcorder.

However since then (VS11 to current), placing an analog tape inside a digital-8 camcorder and trying to transfer/capture will fail with the error message you described.

VS should however allow capturing, using a camcorder as a pass-through (analog to digital conversion), where your VCR is plugged into your camcorder or some capture devices. The capture device should be connected to your PC via Firewire (IEEE1394 or what Sony calls iLink).

What devices are you using, and how are they connected to your PC?

[Ian Porter]

Sorry I forgot to mention
1. VS11 having captured a VHS tape I attempted to "Share" and produce
a DVD.
2. Once selected Share gave me a "Sorry for this inconvience but VS11
has experienced an unexpected error and must close.
3. On going further I then got the error messages
concerning"Installer\VS.MSI" I then followed the suggested solutions
I simply assumed that the error 1316 & 1603 were generated by our
mutual friends Microsoft. Having gone down their paths to failure I then
decided to attempt to uninstall VS11. NO GO no matter what I tried I
was unable to uninstall VS11 I concluded it was all to do with this
*.MSI file I was directed by Microsoft to look at MSI.CHM & MSDN for
answers. I had just received an update offer from Corel so decided to
go with this. I got rid of all reference to VS11 I could find inc/registry.
4. VS12 seems ok so far but every time I captured the Video and
attempted to proceed VS12 said the capture was corrupted and it just
deleted the capture.
I am using a 6head HiFi SONY VCR. going thru a Dimax Grex device
useing std RCA connexion. Then Svideo to the capture device EasyCap
This capture device is connected USB to the PC.
This setup has been faultless on previous attempts, I have used Nero Express in past attempts also DVD Shrink. I tried all these things in an attempt to familiarise myself with the various methods used
Thanks
[/b]

[Ron P.]

I would say your problem is with your setup. I don't see EasyCap listed as being compatible with the Grex device. Try removing the Grex, and using just the EasyCap. There are some problems with VS using EasyCap, however some do use it successfully.

It appears that to use the Grex device, you would have better luck connecting it to a Video card on your PC, and not another capture device.

[JamesRoyal]

I couldn't capture from my video camera in V11 and I can't in the new version either. This is really annoying. I have a Sony DCR-TRV38 digital camera and when I hook up the fire wire cable to the camera I get nothing in Video Studio Pro X2, just like in VS11.