problem capturing video

  • Thread starter Thread starter mpearl055
  • Start date Start date
M

mpearl055

Here's the issue: I am trying to capture video from my
digital camcorder but the four different video capture
programs I've tried are ALL crashing in the same manner,
thereby keeping me from capturing any video.

More details:

Computer -- Compaq S5000NX; 2.5ghz processor, cdrw and
dvdrw optical drives, 40GB HD (with o/s on this drive)
plus 80 2nd HD, 640MB DDR RAM, Imperial GL VE motherboard,
updated BIOS, WinXP Home SP1, generic firewire port (I
think this covers all of what might be relevant).

Capture Software -- Microsoft MovieMaker2, Sonic MyDVD
5.0, WinDV, Ulead (can't remember which version).

Here's what happens . . . I hook up the firewire cable to
the camera and turn the camera on. Windows XP recognizes
the camera and asks me what I want to do with it. This
tells me the firewire port/cable are working and that XP
at least recognizes the camcorder. I then select a capture
program. The capture program registers the timeline
present on the camera (meaning, let's say the tape in the
camcorder is 30 minutes, 18 seconds in . . . the capture
program will show "00:30:18"). When I click on the
software's capture button, the program hangs. If I turn
the camera off, the software will unfreeze. This happpens
95% of the time (for some reason it will work on some rare
occasions). All the settings, etc. on the camera and on
the capture software are correct (I'm trying to anticipate
possible suggestions -- I've heard most of them already in
posts on other boards -- mostly digital video boards; I've
been trying to solve this problem for more than a month).
Interestingly, I did find a work-around. Basically, if the
camera is already playing when I start the program and
prepare to capture, the program will be able to capture
the video. Still, it's not supposed to get hung up when
doing it the other way.

I have seen two Microsoft docs that were reasonably
relevant, but weren't close enough to my situation to
provide a solution. Here are the links.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;826377

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;830363&Product=winxp

In the one case, that's not my camcorder. In the second
case, it's a solution for a DirectX 9.0b problem. My
DirectX version is 9.0a.

I know this is very long and if you've read this far I
appreciate it. If you have any suggestions, solutions, or
additional questions I'd love to hear them.

Thanks,

Mike
 
yes, i have my main hard drive (with O/S) using NTFS,
along with my 2nd HD also using NTFS. It's not stopping at
4gb. What's happening is that when I click "capture" on
the software, the camcorder begins to roll and the timer
on the software beings to roll but before any video image
appears on the software, the timer stops and the program
freezes (while the camcorder continues to play). All the
settings on the camera and the software are correct
(aspect ratio, north american standard, etc.). I am
reasonably convinced that there is some sort of software
conflict or some sort of bug. But, I don't know enough to
actually figure out what the bug/conflict is. I submitted
two links in a follow up posting that have similar
scenarios . . . thought maybe that might provide a lead.
Thanks.
 
Mike, what happens when you try capturing with the WinDV utility (link on my
Digital Camcorders > Intro) page?
 
Thanks for replying, PapaJohn. Same thing happens. Same
thing happens with Sonic MyDVD. With ArcSoft ShowBiz.
Makes me believe it is some other problem. My firewire
card works b/c it can capture (I detailed my work around
in a previous post). I really think it may be an XP issue.
I don't have 98/2000, etc. so I can't isolate it that way.
Any other ideas? I've tried multiple boards (and you've
responded on at least one other!!). Thanks, again.
 
The forums at SimplyDV.com have lots of camcorder experts who are very
helpful.... maybe a post there.

PapaJohn
 
That's where I started. They are helpful. THey just haven't come across this problem, I guess. Graham (Skier-Hughes) responded several times. I think I'm sort of at a dead end. I really think it's some sort of software or XP conflict. Maybe I'll fork over the $35 for Microsoft to help me.
 
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