Capturing AVI in Bite-Size Chunks

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:41 am

Is it possible to get VS8 or 9 to capture AVI from a MiniDV camcorder in manageable clips?

The "split by scene" feature will not do this if you have sections of continuous shooting. For example, footage of a recent school musical produced clips of up to 4Gb. I prefer to keep clips to a maximum of 5 minutes.

The only way I've found around this is to create video files from the already captured large AVI files and set a specified duration. This is far from ideal though, since it takes up more time, as I'm not blessed with a super-fast Raptor or solid state drive.

It would be far better in the first place if I could just have VS capture in not greater than 5 minute clips.

I don't wish to change my file system to FAT32 either, but even that would only force the program to capture in 2Gb (or is it 4Gb) blocks.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:50 am

In the capture setting, where you select the "Split by Scene" there is also a section where you can get the program to split automatically at a preset file size.
I don't use VS but the capture function are similar. I'm sure you will find it.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:54 pm

heinz-oz wrote:In the capture setting, where you select the "Split by Scene" there is also a section where you can get the program to split automatically at a preset file size.
I don't use VS but the capture function are similar. I'm sure you will find it.

Dear Heinz,

unfortunately, in the capture step, there appear to be few options! I see a "Duration" box, which you might think would be the thing to use.

Inputting a non-zero value in that, however, merely results in the capture of a single file of that duration - or, if you have "Split by scene" checked, and scene breaks are detected, you'll get two or more files with a combined duration matching the pre-set duration. Then capture stops.

This is in direct contrast to the settings available from the "options" button when creating a video file. So long as you have "Entire project" checked, when you check the box and set a suitable value for "Create video file with specified duration :" your whole file is rendered in clips of that duration, with the last one being a makeup size.

I would like to be able to do the same thing for AVI capture, whilst also using the "Split by scene" function.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:57 pm

As I stated before, I don't use VS but MSP 7.3. I assumed that the capture function for both are similar, aparently that is not the case, sorry I can't help any further.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:59 pm

heinz-oz wrote:As I stated before, I don't use VS but MSP 7.3. I assumed that the capture function for both are similar, aparently that is not the case, sorry I can't help any further.

Dear Heinz,

no, that's OK - even if it's not possible in VS I now know that I can do it in MSP and might try the trial.

Thanks!

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:30 pm

Not sure about MSP 8. Have the trial but not yet installed. In MSP 7 it looks like this

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 2:47 pm

Dear Heinz,

thanks for that. I'll look for a similar screen in the MSP8 trial if I give it a go.

I just checked entries for seamless capture in the VS 8 manual. There is an explanation of the process and how it relates to the 4Gb limit with FAT32 file systems, and then the following, rather discouraging note:

"VideoStudio automatically detects your file system and performs seamless capture only in a FAT 32 partition file system"

Maybe I'll search for references to 4096 in the .ini files and play around a bit.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:46 pm

in page 219 it seems to say the programs automatically applies a seamless capture at 4GB for FAT32.
It does not say you can't use it anyway

quote:
Seamless capture will be performed only when capturing DV Type-1 or DV Type-2 (from DV camcorder), or when capturing MPEG video (from an HDV/HD camcorder, DV camcorder or analog capture device). The maximum captured file size per video file is 4 GB in Windows operating systems (such as Windows 98 SE and Me) that use the FAT 32 partition file system. Captured video data in excess of 4 GB are automatically saved to a new file. In Windows 2000 and Windows XP which can use the NTFS file system, there is no limit in the captured file size.
To enable seamless capture:
1. Select Seamless capture in the Options tab of the Capture Video dialog
box.
2. By default, the maximum file size specified in the Cut file when file size
reaches option is 4 GB. If you want to lower the file size for each video file,
enter the desired file size.

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:27 pm

2dogs,
you can always do this manually. You simply start and stop the capture whenever and wherever you like. There are many times that I like to utilize this method. I've been doing it since VS6. I start the capture and then monitor the progress on my camcorders LCD screen, I also listen to the audio via the cam too. I find this method very helpful with my editing process. When I choose to stop the capture I immediately save the file. As I said it makes my editing a lot easier, especially when using transitions. I find I have to do a lot less cutting.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:48 pm

erock1 wrote:2dogs,
you can always do this manually. You simply start and stop the capture whenever and wherever you like. There are many times that I like to utilize this method. I've been doing it since VS6. I start the capture and then monitor the progress on my camcorders LCD screen, I also listen to the audio via the cam too. I find this method very helpful with my editing process. When I choose to stop the capture I immediately save the file. As I said it makes my editing a lot easier, especially when using transitions. I find I have to do a lot less cutting.

Dear Erock1,

the trouble with starting and stopping capturing in that way is that you have to rewind the tape and make sure you have an overlap in the captured footage - then painstakingly do a frame-exact edit on the resulting clips to ensure that they can be reassembled into a continuous video. That procedure is unnecessarily time consuming - more so even than capturing the footage as one large clip and specifying a duration when creating a video file as I described.

Dear Daniel,

Video Studio, in all its incarnations to date is quite specific in it's description of seamless capture - it is only enabled with FAT 32 file systems, and you don't get to choose the maximum file size - it's limited by the file system to 4Gb. the wording in both VS8 and VS9 is identical, and occurs in a box at the top of page 50 in the VS8 manual. I've already stated that I don't wish to change my file system on my capture drive just to force that inflexible 4Gb limit - it's not what I'm after.

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:50 pm

2Dogs wrote: Dear Erock1,

the trouble with starting and stopping capturing in that way is that you have to rewind the tape and make sure you have an overlap in the captured footage - then painstakingly do a frame-exact edit on the resulting clips to ensure that they can be reassembled into a continuous video. That procedure is unnecessarily time consuming - more so even than capturing the footage as one large clip and specifying a duration when creating a video file as I described.

2Dogs,
that's your opinion and you're entitled to it

I've used this method in VS hundreds of times and have never had to rewind the tape or for that matter do anything that was painstaking. I don't think I've ever spent anymore time than if I was batch capturing or capturing in bulk, then only having to review the capture in the timeline for editing.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:55 pm

You can always capture using a separate program such as WinDV, which lets you specify the maximum number of frames per file -- once this limit is reached, the file is split and the capture continues.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 12:09 am

THoff wrote:You can always capture using a separate program such as WinDV, which lets you specify the maximum number of frames per file -- once this limit is reached, the file is split and the capture continues.

Thanks THoff!

It's a while since I used WinDVD, though I do have it on my pc.

erock1 - you are fortunate indeed if you can stop capture with your camcorder and resume at that exact point. One of my previous posts described the problems I experience with VS controlling my JVC camcorder - it's not quite right. I certainly did not intend to poor scorn on your suggestion, and if your method works for you, it obviously saves a whole bunch of time and is the right way to go.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 12:45 am

I assume that was a typo and you really meant WinDV, not WinDVD. There is a WinDVD Creator version that does captures AFAIK, but that is not the program I was referring to.

2Dogs · Post by **2Dogs** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:42 pm

THoff wrote:I assume that was a typo and you really meant WinDV, not WinDVD. There is a WinDVD Creator version that does captures AFAIK, but that is not the program I was referring to.

Dear THOff,

no, in fact I was referring to WinDVD Creator, to which I believed you were also referring.

When I ran Creator again, I found that the very easy to use "split by scene" function also had a maximum duration setting which could split up a clip into set sizes - but this could only be done on an already captured clip. It merely setup pointers within the parent file to create "virtual" clips without actually splitting it into separate files. This is fine for editing, but not so useful for my archive intentions.

So, what is this WinDV to which you refer?