new to VideoStudio 10.0 SE DVD, problems with compresion etc

[ultrapro]

hi there, first of all I just want to apologise as I am new to this software. I'm pretty good with computers and software etc but what I have seems to be a bit temperamental. I bought an Easycap on ebay, first time I believe I got one of the fake ones so I bought another one and received the proper easy cap one:



I installed the drivers and the device and the software and, after much messing around and trial and error I have managed to get it to capture video very nicely along with sound. However I have 2 problems:

the file that resulted of a 12 minute video capture from one of my video consoles was 12gb!! I had problems playing it back and couldn't work out how to compress.

I tried changing the format to MPEG and tried tinkering with the compression settings but I must either have done something wrong or the thing started going wrong again because it comes up with an error about being unable to start capture graph??

I have a Dell D630 laptop and couldn't tell you the motherboard or graphics card as they are just generic from Dell.

Please note I have been able to create some captured videos WITH sound (I was having sound issues for a while but learned how to activate the necessary sound devices etc) but I just want to be able to compress it down or use the correct settings. I tried to find my way through the options but could not understand fully and the help seems nonsensical to me!

Again apologies if I seem to be a noob. I did use the search function of the forum and I found that the 1gb per min is the norm for AVI, however when I tried to change it as stated it seemed to go tits up. Maybe the device is slightly dodgy or something, but it does seem to work fine. is there a way to findout if my one is legit? or a knock off?

Thanks in advance

[BrianCee]

Hmmm - are you sure you now have a genuine one - please read this topic :- http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=40286

and no 1Gig per minute is not the norm for .avi - should be roundabout 1 gig for 5 minutes, so something is not set quite right in your system

but if you have managed to capture some video with it maybe we can sort out your problem - can you put the 12 Gb file in the timeline of VideoStudio then RIGHT click on it and from the pop-out choose properties - please copy those properties and post them here.

[ultrapro]

I thought EZCap was the fake one?? strange, Ok I need to have a look but I think I may deleted the video file as it was A: huge and B: wouldn't play back properly on my laptop (playback was fine except it was very slow/losing frames due to memory I guess), but I can create another one if I reset the settings, I am planning to install the device and software onto my desktop which has more processing power, once I have the info you mentioned I will post it here. I did get a dodgy knock off first that wouldn't work properly and wouldn't show up in the devices list correctly, but this latest one I received seems to work much better. Do you know where I can purchase a proper one that isn't a knock off? Obviously I have googled but I seem to only find the one similar to what I bought. maybe there is a supplier everyone trusts on here that holds the correct one?

Thanks for your response

edit:

is this the real or fake one?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003 ... d_i=468294

perhaps this one?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/EZCAP-TV-Conver ... dpp_ttl_in

[BrianCee]

I believe both of those are true ones - I don't have one - but I know a man who has - Trevor Andrew (Lata) lets see what he has to say.

Incidentally I notice your running Windows 7 - VS10 was issued long long before W7 was thrust upon us so I wouldn't be surprised if some of your problem come from that - we are currently at issue 14 (X4)

[ultrapro]

ok thanks, so hang on, you mention something 14, is it available to me? or do I have to purchase them? I assume they are the latest versions for windows 7? What's the full product name? I did try to find the software on the corel site but simply couldn't find the right place, I was lucky I found this forum!

Sorry I have never used the software before this little experiment! thanks for your help again

[BrianCee]

the very latest version is Corel VideoStudio Pro X4 ultimate - you can read all about it here :- http://www.corel.com/corel/product/inde ... rod3910162

and yes I'm afraid if you want it you will have to pay for it - and the bad news is your version 10 does not qualify you for a reduced price 'upgrade'

[ultrapro]

ooook, so then unless theres a free or trial option available I shall certainly be sticking with what I've got! Either that or I will buy one of the official ones and hope the software that comes with them is better!

Anyway the Video Studio 10.0 SE did work ok once I got the right equipment and managed to learn how to listen to the device to get the audio, I just need to figure out how to do the compression. When I get in tonight I will perform a capture again with the default AVI settings and will try out what you suggested and paste the info you mentioned on here.

The only issue I may encounter though is if I get the graph error again, I've read that it can be related to lots of different problems though so hopefully i just won't see it again!

Thanks

[skier-hughes]

I'd suggest trying the trial version of X4 first, as it may not work with the easycap hardware.

It sounds like you have captured some form of uncompressed avi, and this may be due to doing a screen capture, what resolution is your screen?

[ultrapro]

hi there, I'm using the capture to record from Composite cables (red, white and yellow) from a video games console. In the Ulead software I simply went to "Capture" then hit "Capture Video" then specify AVI and then I pick the default which appears to be the resolution stats for 480p. My laptops monitor is running at 1440 x 900.

Thanks

[lata]

First as far as I know EZCap is the good one, at least it works for me, unlike the first one I purchased.
There are Easycap devices that do work some don’t.
I do know that the EZcap drivers are support by Windows 7

It is possible that your device Easycap is not fully compatible with W7, especially as it was bundled with VS 10, this program being prior W7

At least you are able to capture video and audio, so that’s a good start.
---------------------------------
You Said :- the file that resulted of a 12 minute video capture from one of my video consoles was 12gb!! I had problems playing it back and couldn't work out how to compress.

That will be AVI uncompressed uses about 65 Gb per hour
---------------------------------
This topic at the top of the forum also shows a youtube video using VS10, worth watching and saves me typing.


The settings used are standard DVD Mpeg2 simular to:-

PAL (25 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Upper Field First (this should be Frame Based for internet)
(DVD-PAL), 4:3
Video data rate: 5000 kbps (will allow about 110minutes per disc at 4 Gb)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R) (not sure if you are capturing to DD)

Try to use these settings to capture your video.

Now download the Trial X4 to give that a run.

As for the raw AVI you could try converting to DV-Avi that will reduce the size to 13 Gb per hour
You could also convert to DVD Mpeg2 as above

[ultrapro]

Thanks Trevor! I will try those settings tonight. regarding compressing it down as you mention to d-avi, how do you actually do that? I don't know anything about compressing video files! sorry/thanks

[lata]

Hi

You may have problems using VS10 with Windows 7, worth a try though……

Use VS 10 to create a new file…..
Drag the video to the timeline of VS, or right click timeline and select Insert Video, browse the hard drive for your file.

Go to Share Create Video File-DV (Digital Video)
It may be named Pal-DV-----I assume you are using 4:3
Knowing the original video files properties would help in deciding the conversion settings.
The only problem may be the field order, should be the same as original. If its Upper Field and it may be
Then you will have to use the Tools--Make Movie Manager to create a new template. The default template uses Lower Field.

Right click the video and select properties, what are they?

Then knowing what you are intending to do with the video will help, DVD disc or the internet?

The option will create an AVI at 13 gb per hour.
The only problem may be the field order, should be the same as original.

I am only expecting you do this on the existing captured files, other files should be captured to Mpeg2 DVD.

Using the Tools---Movie Manager
http://lata.me.uk/video_studio/manager/manager.htm

Select New then choose Microsoft AVI
Give it a name
AVI tab compression as DV Video Encoder –type 1
Then set these properties~:-

Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3, 25 fps
Upper Field First (Should match the original)
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

The template can be used by Share Create Video File-shows next to custom option.

Clear as mud

[ultrapro]

hey thanks guys for all the helpful advice etc, I'm making videos for the internet, specifically my youtube channel. I seem to be able to get some nice MPEG format videos with the settings you've been providing but after a while of capturing I seem to get this cannot capture graph or something, which I think might just mean its overheating. I think I may take the plunge and buy one of the more legit ones, can anyone provide me with a link to one that they know to be real and working? I made 2 very nice MPEG videos with good file size but after a while the error just begins to occur every time I try to capture anything.

reckon I will just bite the bullet and buy one of these. Does anyone else get this error I mention? I seem to get it once or twice to start with but it then captures fine. but now I've had it plugged in a while and have done two vids it seems to error EVERYTIME

[lata]

I think I may take the plunge and buy one of the more legit ones, can anyone provide me with a link to one that they know to be real and working?

We did direct you to the post at the top of the forum, the company EzCAP is where i bought the device, the one that works that is....
My first purchase being from China,bundled with VS10, at least you managed to capture????????????

http://www.ezcap.tv/index.html

They also provide a program to capture the video again using Mpeg2 type files.

good luck