X2, capture plugin and dropped frames: the saga continues

manicx · Post by **manicx** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 11:24 pm

In the past, I made s similar topic about VS11. VS was the second version of VS that I was buying after VS10. My mistake was that I never tried it before I buy. So, I ended up with a problem that is 'common' ie having frames being dropped during capture from analog video through a AverMedia capture card (AverMedia DVD EzMaker Gold PCI).

With the release of X2, I was hoping to have this problem with the capture plugin sorted. This time I downloaded the trial. Started recording and kept it going for 20 minutes. No dropped frames. I ordered it and I got VS X2 pro. Last weekend, I tried to record a movie from VHS to MPEG2. I fired up X2. After 30 minutes I noticed that X2 was also dropping frames. Sadly, it made this with every video usually after 25 minutes. I was so disappointed that I decided to spent some money and get a new card with a TV Tuner. I ended buying Asus My Cinema P7131 mainly because of the philips chipset. Here, the result was completely different. I had frames being dropped after 1 second.

I then decided to use:

a) Powercinema 5 that comes bundled with the card

b) Media Center in Vista Ultimate

c) VirtualDub

Powercinema captures in predefined MPEG2 format. Here is how it captures:

Audio: MPEG Audio 48000Hz stereo 384Kbps [Mpeg-1]
Video: MPEG2 Video 720x576 (4:3) 25.00fps 8200Kbps [Video]

Media Center only captures from TV and not from external devices connected to composite or SVideo.

VirtualDub captures in AVI and depending on the codecs it can apply compression.

In all 3 the result was excellent. Powercinema gave me perfect results. Media Center also captured perfectly. With VirtualDub, I was stunned. I captured in XviD and WMV9 without a single glitch and not a single frame dropped.

So, the problems is clearly with VS. I uploaded two videos captured with VS X2 and Powercinema. The file can be downloaded here. The zip archive has two files:

-uvs081223-001.mpg captured with VS X2
-Video Composite_20081223_2335.mpg captured with Powercinema 5.

You can clearly see the dropped frames. Also, this image shows how many frames were dropped for almost 15" of video:

This is very disappointing. I really don't know if Corel/Ulead are aware of this issue. Do they think that everything is working fine? I have been loyal to VS series for some time now. And I am very disappointed at the moment. I can contact support and mention the problem but I don't expect 'miracles'. I have a video capture/editing/authoring suite and the first bit (capture) is totally useless. At the moment, I am capturing with other software, copying the files to VS and then editing. I may have a work around, but in any case, this is extremely disappointing.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:11 am

This time I downloaded the trial. Started recording and kept it going for 20 minutes. No dropped frames. I ordered it and I got VS X2 pro... After 30 minutes I noticed that X2 was also dropping frames.

That is frustrating!

I really don't know if Corel/Ulead are aware of this issue.

I don't think they care about analog capture at all! As far as I can tell, there are no industry standards for capture drivers. So, some capture-software and capture-hardware just don't "play well together". (I've always used the capture software that came with my capture card.)

Do they think that everything is working fine?

I assume they know that the software has "weaknesses", but apparently it sells well, and it gets good reviews in the magazines.

At the moment, I am capturing with other software, copying the files to VS and then editing. I may have a work around, but in any case, this is extremely disappointing.

The important thing is that you do have a work-around!

I use one program for capture, another program for editing, and a 3rd program for DVD authoring & burning. And, I have a separate program for audio editing, and a couple of other programs for creating, editing and printing packaging & labels. Plus, several other special-purpose audio & video utilities!

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:26 am

To be honest, the recommendation is almost invariably to use the capture software that comes with the device.

In your case, you bought a pretty decent device, which came with good software, which is giving you perfect results. What more could you ask for?

You can then import the captured footage into VS and edit it accordingly.

Whilst you might want VS to be able to handle all the capture devices ever made, in practice that's not realistic. I don't think the problem is restricted to VS, and perhaps that's one of the reasons manufacturers bundle capture software with their product. That software can be very compact too, so it's no great hardship from a hard drive space usage perspective.

It is odd that the TBYB version of X2 seemed to work ok.

I wouldn't feel too disappointed with X2, however. There are numerous improvements over previous versions which make it worth the upgrade.

And don't be surprised at how powerful something free like Virtual Dub can be....!

manicx · Post by **manicx** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:33 am

Please forgive my ignorance but what exactly is TBYB ?

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 2:11 pm

Try Before You Buy

tyamada · Post by **tyamada** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:01 pm

You might try lowering the bitrate, or capture DV AVI format and convert it to mpg after capture.

bowana · Post by **bowana** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:35 am

Guys I think I'm having a similar problem. Ive had UVS11.5 on both my computers but when I installed Prox2 on both, dropped frames started showing up. Ive been using UVS 11.5 a long time with very very few dropped frames. Now its about 1/2 the time I capture. Its strange its showing up on both. (AVI's from a VX2100) My old computers listed and my new one is a HP pavilion Elite m9340f PC. Intel core 2 quad Q6700 nothing changed from factory. 64 bit/ 6 gb memory. What cha reckon ?

Maybe this should be in a separate post ?

Post by **Ron P.** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:02 pm

bowana wrote:Guys I think I'm having a similar problem. Ive had UVS11.5 on both my computers but when I installed Prox2 on both, dropped frames started showing up. Ive been using UVS 11.5 a long time with very very few dropped frames. Now its about 1/2 the time I capture. Its strange its showing up on both. (AVI's from a VX2100) My old computers listed and my new one is a HP pavilion Elite m9340f PC. Intel core 2 quad Q6700 nothing changed from factory. 64 bit/ 6 gb memory. What cha reckon ?

Maybe this should be in a separate post ?

Like this one??? http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?p=174189#174189

manicx · Post by **manicx** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 1:17 pm

2Dogs wrote: It is odd that the TBYB version of X2 seemed to work ok.

Thanks for clarifying that TBYB. The problem is that even the trial version should have the problem after 30 minutes. As I sad, I made a capture for less than 30' when I tried. And seemed fine. Same for the retail version that I bought. But after 30 minutes, it started dropping frames.

Also, to answer to another post, I tried in lower bit rates and even in half resolution, it droppes frames. I didn't try DV AVI and I will do it after I come back from my holidays.

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:46 pm

Is it possible you have something set in Vista that kicks in at 30 minutes. I know I'm going off on a limb here but it's worth having a look at.

manicx · Post by **manicx** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:38 am

Nope. The 30 minutes issue was with AverMedia card. With my new card, it starts right away. Since there are NO issues with VS10, the problem is related to the new capture plugin that was adopted with VS11. This is why I am mentioning the issue again. Because it is annoying.

I tried capturing in AVI too, however the AVI profile when I capture through my PCI card is set to low resolution and this is not what I want. Still, it drops some frames here and there.

I just hope that they will finally realize that there is a huge problem here. Can't capture through the TV tuner too. I use Media Center to do so.