Cannot capture either on X4 or X8

[ottersea]

Had to get a new motherboard for the computer because the old one died on me. Upon getting everything up and running I then installed X8. When I went to capture as usual I got the error message. "Either no video capture driver is installed in the system or no device is connected. I have been capturing VHS tape thru a Canopus ADVC110 converter and have had no problems till now. I have tried two different firewire cards in the computer and both of them show as working. I do not know if the analog/digital converter is bad or is something else is going on. Is there a recommended way to convert VHS analog to digital to capture to the computer? Any ideas what is going on. Thanks

[Ken Berry]

I suspect you are another victim of an update by Microsoft of its Firewire driver. Your Canopus is most likely looking for the older driver, now called a legacy firewire driver. Here are some instructions for installing the older driver:

Some people have found that swapping from the Windows 7 firewire driver to the legacy driver has helped them to capture using firewire and their minidv cam.
Here's how to do it

Open Device Manager
Click on IEEE1394 Bus Host Controllers to expand it
Right Click on 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
Click on Update Driver Software
Select "Browse for My Computer for Driver software"
Select "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer"

At this point you should have a choice of drivers, you may need to tick the box which says "show compatible hardware"

Select 1394 OHCI compliant Host Controller (Legacy)
Click Next

Windows should then install this driver and the next message should say, "Windows has successfully updated your driver software"

Click on Close and hopefully away you go.

Some people have found they need to restart their computer before the new driver is functional, so maybe best to do this before trying anyway.

[ottersea]

Did all that and still get the same error.

[skier-hughes]

Canopus is high quality equipment, but that doesn't mean it can't develop a fault.
Have you tried any other software to see if that works to capture? There's the free windv that's just for capturing, or windows have live video acquire wizarrd/photo gallery
We need to test it, so you need to find another computer and firewire cable, that you can see working, that you can plug the advc into.
If it works we know the unit is ok, we then need to test your cable (most popular item to go faulty) and your cards.
http://myvideoproblems.com/WebPages/Use ... rammes.htm

[ottersea]

Ok will start process of elimination. Thanks.

[ottersea]

Got a new firewire cable today but still get the same error. Device not found. Only thing left is the Canopus box. What is a good capture device that I can use to transfer VHS tape to the computer when using X8? Is there a list of compatible devices I can use? Thanks.

[skier-hughes]

The canopus box is about the best without spending silly money, these are expensive as things go, but beat hands down the cheap usb connected conversion devices.
Have you just tried a new cable? Did you find a pc with a working cable and firewire device, so you know all 3 items are working and you can just swap around your three to see if any of them are faulty.
It wouldn't be the first time someone has bought a faulty cable!

[Ken Berry]

I agree with Graham that the Canopus is probably your best option, with the only viable alternatives these days being USB devices, which are a mixed bunch.

FWIW, the solution I found some time ago was a Sony Digital 8 camcorder which I bought specifically for the purpose of transferring my large collection of analogue 8 mm tapes to digital format using the camcorder's Firewire connection (which Sony calls iLink). The camera will accept not only 8 mm tapes but Hi8 tapes as well. But I also use it to transfer VHS tapes by connecting the VHS player to the camera using a cable with RCA plugs at the player end and an AV plug at the camera end. In other words, the camera becomes a pass-through capture device.

I bought a Sony DSR TRV-480SE camcorder brand new about 8 years ago, but AFAIK these types of camcorders are no longer made or available. The only way you would be able to get one would be second hand over the internet or in a big second hand camera store. You would need to make sure that the model will allow these functions since not all Sony Digital 8 models do so.

[Pavel]

What if the camera works perfectly with windows live movie maker (meaning it captures video OK) but does not with the VideoStudio? Camera is Canon HV30. Does anyone know how to fix this?

[Ken Berry]

Your post is on a different theme to this thread and should by rights have been posted separately. However, the cause is possibly related as the HV30 of course also uses Firewire for capture. Did you try the procedure I outlined in my first post above in order to install the legacy Firewire driver?

[Pavel]

Well, the post subject is "Cannot capture either on X4 or X8" - I cannot capture on X8 - to me this relates... Nevertheless, the camera works on the same computer with the windows tool but VS X8 does not even see it. Games with the drivers do not help - computer stops seeing camera at all.

[Ken Berry]

Nevertheless, I still suspect that VS is looking for the legacy Firewire driver in order to see your camera. Have you tried what I suggested?

If not, then if you can capture with Windows movie maker, use that and simply use VS to edit the captured footage.

[Pavel]

Thanks for answering, Ken. I have installed the legacy driver - VS did not see the camera anyway. Yes, I can capture with the windows tool but then why would I need VS, right? I used to capture, edit and then record back to the camera, same Canon HV30, by the way, the videos few year ago with Ulead VS 11. Now, I do not have Ulead available anymore and have installed trial version of VS X8 with the hope to be able to do the same: capture, edit and record back. It does not work. The windows tool does not record back to the camera. So, this is where I am trapped - I thought I would have one software for all as I used to but it is no way.

[BrianCee]

Ah - now you mention you are using the trial version of X8 - it is quite possible that the trial will not capture - we are currently a little confused on Corel's policy on trial versions - up to and including X7 we were pleased to tell everyone that the trial version was a full and working copy and you could do anything with it - but since the release of X8 we are hearing daily of severe restrictions with the trial and that many of the functions are disabled.

I don't think I have read of anyone not capturing in the trial but capturing in the full version - I do not have firewire on this laptop so will have to start up the desktop later and check it out - unless anyone knows different in the meantime ?

[Pavel]

Hi Brian, thank you. Yes, it is a trial version. My assumption was that it was fully operational but only lasts 30 days before the payment. Will wait for an outcome of your experiment. Thanks again.