MPEG Capture stops after 5 minutes

kcorth · Post by **kcorth** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:31 am

I'm using VS9 to capture analog video as MPEG. I have a VCR playing videos passed through my DV camera which is connected via firewire. I used to do this all the time with VS7SE, but since upgrading to VS9 it will capture for about 5 minutes then stop and I have no idea why.

Capture properties:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 5000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo

Captured MPEG got to 71Mb. Disk space is not an issue.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks
Kevin

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:40 am

Your computer is not powerful enough to keep up with the realtime transcoding to MPEG format, and when the internal buffer fills up, the capture and transcoding stop until the buffer is emptied.

I would strongly recommend capturing to DV AVI first, doing all your editing in that format, and transcode to MPEG just prior to burning your disk.

Philander · Post by **Philander** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:23 am

What is your sytsem processor? Memory? and your OS?

Generally, bridging/passing through is not fully supported by Ulead software.

Dedicated analog capture card is recommended.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:25 am

Philander -- I think you will find a great many people on this Board contesting your claim that VS does not generally support bridging/passthrough!!

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:38 am

There is no problem with passthrough encoding using a DV camcorder provided you don't use the MPEG2 capture plugin. If you do and the computer isn't fast enough, then the transcoding buffer will fill up, UVS will stop the DV device, but the analog source will continue to play. That's a lousy situation, but it's not Ulead's fault, nor can they do anything about it.

A similar problem exists with the Canopus ADVC A/D converters. They ignore most DV device control commands such as stop, rewind, fast forward etc., because they are meaningless. The Canopus units simpy cannot control the analog signal they are converting.

But if you use DV AVI capture instead of MPEG, even a low-end processor should be able to perform the "capture" (provided the hard disk is fast enough). You can then edit, and transcode just prior to DVD encoding (if that is what your target is).

Philander · Post by **Philander** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:48 am

Ken Berry,

Yes you are right, however what I'm trying to say is that this function may not be able to fully performed under many circumtances.

My point is simple, a dedicated analog capture device is still recommended.

I dont want to create argument. I will stand corrected if it needs to.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:39 am

No problems -- and in fact I quite agree. I have a digital video camera which is supposed to allow pass through, but I have never been able to get it to work that way.

So I always do my analogue captures through one of two stand-alone capture devices I have.

It's just that there are a lot of people out there who do successfully use pass through (as I know you know ... well, you get the idea!!

)

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:19 am

Hi Ken

I have recently renewed my camera and have a Panasonic that does do pass through.
But I have to enable Dv Out from the cameras setup menu.
With DV-Out un-checked the camera works fine and I can capture via Firewire from the camera tape.

When I try pass-through I have to remove the tape then set Dv-Out to ON.

The capture quality from Vhs is much improved when using pass-through.

Trevor

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:00 am

Well, I have a DVICO analog capture card (anyone want to buy it?) and have actually removed it from my system since I was using the pass through on my Panasonic GS400 only. The quality seems better to me and it is a lot easier to get everything done. Since I always capture to DV AVI and have ample space and processor power, I never have a problem.
It is right though that ULEAD cannot control any analog device, neither can any of their competitors, since the analog connection does not carry any control signals.
Capturing to mpeg creates all sorts of problems when the buffer fills up, and fill up it will on many a system out there. One way to overcome this would be to capture in short bursts of a couple of minutes or so, just short of the time you find the capture stopping. Another possibility of course could also be, did you set the capture duration in the capture plugin to "unlimited"? You could have inadvertantly set a time limit for your capture. Worth checking.

kcorth · Post by **kcorth** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:25 pm

Thank you all for you replies. I think it is a resource issue. I have a reasonably powerful PC, XP pro, 3.8 Ghz, 500MB RAM, but it's been a while since I rebooted it. I'll boot it up clean and try again.

Thanks for your help.

Kevin

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 4:45 pm

I'm surprised a 3.8GHz processor (if that wasn't a typo) is unable to keep up with the transcoding. Also, I don't think rebooting will make any difference.

My recommendation would still be to capture to DV AVI first and transcode separately -- that is guarranteed to work without a hitch.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:09 pm

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 6:30 pm

I seriously doubt that camcorder pass through capture to mpeg is overloading your 3.8 GHz CPU. My 3GHz CPU runs only 40% busy while capturing DV directly to Mpeg2 – which is basically the same thing that you are doing because the camera is converting the analog to digital AVI, or DV. (BTW, I have 1GB of memory.)

Is it possible that your camcorder stopped capturing after 5 minutes because of its internal timer. Some camcorders won’t stay on for long periods unless you remove the tape or put it in a special mode.

However, IMHO, a camcorder is a very expensive, high-tech device to use for capturing analog video - a bit like using your Lexus as a garden tractor.

Seriously, I doubt if these units universally power down all motors and electronics that are not engaged in the capture process. We already had a report of one user’s camcorder that failed while capturing analog video. There is nothing wrong with occasional use of the camcorder for this purpose but don’t convert your entire VHS tape library this way…

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 7:28 pm

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:44 pm

MD,
Yes, there are two things that can be hazardous to the health and welfare of the video editor of the house. The other one is to get the aspect ratio wrong and put 20 pounds on your wife when showing family videos...

John