No picture preview whilst capturing from mini dv camcorder

[ianwoody123]

Dont know if anyone else has the same issue. Couldn't see it already posted. Using VideoStudio X4. After initial problems with installation it has now installed fine and is working well. However, when capturing video from my Panasonic NV-GS400 mini dv camcorder the film does not show in the preview window. It did at first but now does not preview. I have not changed any settings nor have I changed anything in my method of capture. The film does capture ok - capture in avi format - its just a little unsettling not being able to see it during capture. I watch it on the pull out screen of the camcorder so I can tell when to stop capture etc. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also, when capturing, the film runs for a few seconds then stops and then starts again and the capture begins from the second start point. Any ideas on how to overcome this would also be much appreciated. I never had the problem with Ulead 9 but did have it with ProX2 but wondered if that was just a glitch because I was running it on Windows 7 and it had not originally been developed for that. Apart from that the program works well even when rendering HD footage from my new Panasonic HDC-TM700.

[Black Lab]

1. After initial problems with installation
2. capturing video from my Panasonic NV-GS400 mini dv camcorder the film does not show in the preview window
3. when capturing, the film runs for a few seconds then stops and then starts again and the capture begins from the second start point
4. I never had the problem with Ulead 9 but did have it with ProX2

Your first 3 points lead me to believe it may not be installed correctly. But after seeing point number 4 I wonder if you have a bad firewire card/cable. You are capturing via firewire?

[ianwoody123]

Yes I am capturing with a firewire cable. I have tried using a panasonic cable and I also have a fairly heavy duty Belkin one and neither one produces a preview picture tho the video captures perfectly. With Pro X2 I did not have a problem with the previewing of film during capture just the delayed capture issue.

[Black Lab]

Ok, have to ask the obvious question - do you have your Preferences set to Instant Playback Target > Preview Window? (Don't know if that's the exact wording in X4, but it is in X2)

[ianwoody123]

Have just double checked that and it is set to preview window. Have just tried camcorder again and it does not show the video being captured in the preview window.

[Ron P.]

You say it did before, but not now. Were you also running Win7 when it worked before? If so what has changed, not just with VS, but on your system? I've read when Win7 was being released that it may not support firewire, which is IEEE-1394. To check to see if it's a problem with VS or your system, you could download and try the free very lightweight DV via Firewire capture program, WinDV. I'm not sure if it will work on Win7, but worth a shot. I use it more than VS for transferring my DV video.

If you haven't recently updated DirectX, you might need to do that as well. The most current version is June 2010. They slowed way down on updating this, as it used be updated about every quarter. To my knowledge it still is not included with the automated windows updates. You will need to download it, which it's about a 95MB file. Then create a temp folder to unpack the 150+ files to. Once that is done, then look for the DXSETUP.exe file, and run it. Once finished you can delete the temp folder you created with all those cab files.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/de ... px?id=8109

[UncleBoo]

Happy to report that Firewire and WinDV both work on Win7.

Cheers,
Uncle Boo

[teknisyan]

You may also want to try and download the VS X4 service pack 1 at http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/ ... 6705958651 just to isolate that the problem is not with an patched VS X4.

[ianwoody123]

I will try the Direct X route. The original installation problems I had with VX4 were solved by completely wiping my laptop and then reinstalling everything again with all updates. Corel identified a problem with Windows 7 which could only be solved by a complete reinstall. VX4 then installed ok with all the dvd menus instead of just the 3 I originally had. At first I did have the picture preview but for some reason that has now disappeared so I will certainly try the Direct X update. I have already downloaded the Service Pack 1 which resolved issues with the footage from my Panasonic HDC-TM700 and one or two other bits which did not seem to work. Thanks for all your input so far.

[ianwoody123]

Have updated direct X and so far no luck with the preview window. I am reluctant to try uninstalling and reinstalling just in case I lose the dvd menus and in every other way it seems to be working fine.

[Ken Berry]

Well try the WinDV route suggested above. It is a small freeware program, and normally works for just about everyone. If it does not work for you, then we can seriously start considering some hardware problem. Otherwise, it is VS which is at fault... So help us narrow it down...

[ianwoody123]

Ok. will give win dvd a try.

[Ron P.]

Not Win DVD, which is a Corel DVD Player. You want to try Win DV. See my earlier post, click on the "WinDV" it's a link that will take you to the website where you can download it.

[ianwoody123]

I realised after I'd posted it I'd put the wrong thing. Downloaded Win Dv and that works perfectly complete with preview window. Did try VS4 again just after in case it helped that along but no joy. I do get audio preview but not film preview.