vc 500 / Diamond one touch

[clubmakerbob]

Is anyone out there with vs x4 using this for vhs capture?

[Ken Berry]

I don't have that capture device, though I know it comes with a previous SE version of Video Studio. However, as far as I am aware, even that is not for capture, but only for editing. Capture I am pretty sure is done with what Diamond call the "Software Utility" which comes on the installation disc. We normally recommend that any capture be done with the software provided by the device manufacturer.

I note that there is also an update for that utility which can be found under the Support and Downloads tab on http://www.diamondmm.com/VC500.php

[Kingston]

I do have the Diamond one touch.

I can capture with it in X4, but only using the DVD NTSC LPCM EP template, which is 352x240 and 3000 Kbps. Any other capture template and frames are dropped. X4 does not report the frames dropped from this device, even though there are obviously dropped frames. I tried modifying the preset files for the 720x480 templates by lowering the bitrate, but I still had dropped frames and the quality of the images was fair or poor.

I might get satisfactory results if I had something faster than a Pentium 4 computer, although I do have 1 GB of dedicated RAM on my graphics board.

I once installed the supplemental software for capturing -- besides the driver -- and had a bad time uninstalling the software, so I now install only the driver.

[Ken Berry]

The problem is that a lot of these hardware makers won't share the secret of what works with the software makers. So expecting VS to work with a wide variety of capture devices is simply not realistic. That is why I suggested using the software which comes with the device, for capture, and then open the captured video in VS for editing...

[clubmakerbob]

I have downloaded three old vhs tapes via diamond one touch but the icons show a padlock. When I click them from here they playback fine.

I also see vc500 as available in vspro as a capture device but get a graph error when I go there.

I seem to have the files available but am not able to open them via vspro for editing.
Is the padlock on the items what is keeping me from being able to select them through vspro for editing?

Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks in advance.

[Ron P.]

If you're able to capture your video to your PC using the manufacturer's included software, then there is no need to use VS X4 for capturing. Just insert your clips into the timeline or library. I think VS has problems with using USB for video capturing. I wouldn't concern myself with a piece of software needing to be the one-stop, do-all. I rarely use VS to capture or transfer my video, but do use it for editing.

[clubmakerbob]

If you're able to capture your video to your PC using the manufacturer's included software, then there is no need to use VS X4 for capturing.
Agreed. I was just wondering about the vc500 showing as a capture device in vspro.

Just insert your clips into the timeline or library.
That's my problem. When I look for them to add they do not show up as availble. Wondering if the padlock icon attached to the file is the problem.

Thanks for the input.

[Ron P.]

In your screenshot, is it VS that you're using that shows the clips with the padlocks? If so, then they're being seen as some form of movie clip, otherwise you would not seem them at all. What part of VS are you using to import/insert them? If it's the Browse function of the Organizer/Library, you need to drag them into the Library from the Browser window.

The padlock is interesting. I've never seen an icon like that associated with video clips. Is there some setting in your Diamond software you could change? You might also try right-clicking on a clip in Windows Explorer, and see if at the very bottom you have a Windows Security warning:

windows_security setting.png (75.67 KiB) Viewed 3674 times

[clubmakerbob]

I'll check the security warning when I get home from work.
About the screenshot w/padlocks. That shot is from One Touch and it comes up when I click the file Icon to the left while in the one touch application. If I browse to the my videos folder in the One touch folder they do not appear.

[Kingston]

One of the problems with the included software with the Diamond One Touch is that it will deinterlace and store your video as progressive. There is a very noticeable drop in quality. The video will be better looking if you can capture it with interlacing intact. It will be Top Field First interlacing.

[clubmakerbob]

Ron,
I did not see anything to unblock as you mentioned. This is what I see in properties on the clip. Let me know if it's there and I just don't see it please.
Thanks