Canon HV30 capture

[PeteF]

I've just bought a Canon HV30 and downloaded a trial version of VSx2 and have sucessfully downloaded a tape in SD mode which the programme recognizes as "Canon Dv device." However when I switch the camera output to HDV the programme displays the HV30 correctly and switches the file size to MPEG2 but won't let me capture and displays " check driver device working correctly." However I have just previously downloaded the camera with the output set to both SD & HDV in Windows Movie Maker HD without any problems. Any ideas why this is happeneing in VS?
Pete

[Ken Berry]

Can we assume you have the camera connected via Firewire, and not USB? Firewire is what is required.

I have the HV20, the immediate predecessor to the HV30, and have had no difficulty capturing from it via firewire using VS10+. 11.5+ and now X2. Nor is any special driver required, even if it is a trial version of X2.

So apart from the Firewire angle, I can't think of anything. However, I know that for some people, if you connect via Firewire, leaving the power to the camera off, then open X2/11.5+/10+, then turn on the camera to PLAY, the program might detect it. It certainly takes longer (up to 30 seconds) than for standard def DV. Conversely, if that doesn't work, the turning the camera first to PLAY, and then opening X2 will detect the camera -- though again after about 20 -- 30 seconds.

And by the way, DV is a slightly compressed form of AVI. However, high definition HDV *is* mpeg-2 (but 1440 x 1080, and with a bitrate of 25 Mbps).

When you capture with WMM, are you capturing to WMV format (whether SD or HD) by any chance?

[Black Lab]

And, if need be, you can use WMM to capture and import the clips into VS for editing.

[Ken Berry]

I am not sure that WMM can capture in HDV/mpeg-2 format -- only DV and WMV formats (including HD WMV?)...

[PeteF]

Thanks, Ken & Jeff for your prompt replies and suggestions. I've tried the ideas you have put forward re switching the camera on etc, but still will not import in HD; the connection has always been made with the firewire lead.

Re WMM the HD file was imported sucessfully as "High Definition Video Device Format ( MPEG ) " and for the SD import I was given the choice of AVI or WMV and I selected AVI. The SD import was automatically split into clips but this option was disabled with the HD import and imported as a single file which I was then able to split into clips. After some simple titles and transitions were made I burned DVD's from both the 2 WMM and the VS projects. The 2 SD versions surprised me with the image quality which showed an considerable increase of detail and sharpness compared to my previous DV camera, ( Sony HC42 ) no doubt helped by the much larger CCD and probably also the Canon Optics. However the HD project on WMM although showing slightly greater detail contained unpleasant artifacts in brickwork and roof tiles which were not present on the 2 SD versions.

I had hoped to try a HD import in VS to see if I could make either a good quality DVD or an AVCHD-DVD disc which I could try out on a friends Blu-Ray player. as I don't have a burner for the latter format at the moment.

Regarding the suggestion to import the HD file from WMM to VS; I have tried but when I select "import digital media" the OK button is greyed out when I try click on the relevant file. So I can't see a way around this at the moment.
Pete

[Ken Berry]

Regarding the suggestion to import the HD file from WMM to VS; I have tried but when I select "import digital media" the OK button is greyed out when I try click on the relevant file. So I can't see a way around this at the moment.

You don't 'import' it that way, I am afraid. You simply right click in either the library pane or the timeline and select 'Insert media', then navigate to where the captured files are stored, and select the one(s) you want...

Although capturing direct from my HV20 with VS has always worked, in fact I no longer use it as it does not split the incoming video by scene, which is what I prefer. You may want to Google for a small, but very effective freeware program called HDVSplit which captures and splits by scene, and does so only for HDV as its name suggests. I know that it does not resolve the problem of why X2 is not working in your particular case. But it is an effective work-around...

[metmot]

I've just bought a Canon HV30 and downloaded a trial version of VSx2 and have sucessfully downloaded a tape in SD mode which the programme recognizes as "Canon Dv device." However when I switch the camera output to HDV the programme displays the HV30 correctly and switches the file size to MPEG2 but won't let me capture and displays " check driver device working correctly." However I have just previously downloaded the camera with the output set to both SD & HDV in Windows Movie Maker HD without any problems. Any ideas why this is happeneing in VS?
Pete

I have an HV30 and experienced similar frustrations.

I use a freeware program called HDVsplit to capture from my camera. It splits the video into files by camera operation and puts them in a tidy folder to do with as you please. VS is not good for capture from this camera.

http://strony.aster.pl/paviko/hdvsplit.htm

Try it

Hope this helps

[PeteF]

Thanks Ken for the tip; I've now been able to succesfully import the HD files from WMM to VS using the former editor to split the footage into clips. The DVD I made using VS looks identical to the WMM ( HD ) DVD and again highlights the same unpleasant artifacts. I still prefer the converted SD disks I made on both editors, based purely on overall image quality; and speaking as a retired pro photographer this is the most important factor to me.

And thanks John, for the pointer to "hdvsplit" which sounds a very useful tool indeed.

I'm very impressed with the HV30 with it's quick, accurate autofocus and the convenient access to the manual controls and it's been a worthwhile upgrade for me.
Pete