Can't Capture Video Longer Than 4:49 Minutes

Randy79 wrote on 1/21/2006, 2:54 PM

Trying to capture video from Sony camcorder via firewire. Capture appears to work until 4:49 minutes then video in preview window freezes but timer keeps running. Vegas then becomes unresponsive.

I have maximum file size set to 5 GB and capture length all set to 2 hours. HD is dedicated 180G NTFS format. No new XP service packs.

I can use the Nero freeware that came with my burner and capture 1.5 hours of video! Trying to justify my investment in Vegas instead of falling back to Nero!

Running Vegas 4, 1gig Ram, 2.4 GHz P4, XP Pro.

Any ideas?

Comments

winrockpost wrote on 1/21/2006, 3:21 PM

If you have scene detection on, try turning it off and see what happens. Also check your minimum clip length, set it to at least 1 sec.

GaryKleiner wrote on 1/21/2006, 3:40 PM

The problem is that 2 hours of DV requires about 26 GB of drive space (13 GB / hour).

Gary

Former user wrote on 1/21/2006, 3:50 PM

Turn off the maximum file size option and see if that helps.

Dave T2

Randy79 wrote on 1/21/2006, 4:13 PM

Tried everyones suggestions and still no luck. But yet Nero continues to function OK.

Serena wrote on 1/21/2006, 4:34 PM

Well Vegas 4 doesn't have a problem doing the job you want (if you're talking investment then v4 is pretty old), so the problem is in your settings. Perhaps this isn't an immediate help, but your in phrasing your question you clearly think that the problem isn't at your end.

B.Verlik wrote on 1/21/2006, 6:48 PM

Is this the real Vegas 4.0e or is it actually Sony Movie Studio?

Randy79 wrote on 1/21/2006, 7:04 PM

This is Vegas 4.0c build 184. I bought it a copy of years ago and this is the first time I have tried using it to capture video.

Also the time of 4:49 minutes also appears to coincide with a file size of 1GB. After Vegas crashes, there have been times I can find the .avi video file in the capture file. Most of the time it is around .99GB or slightly over 1GB in size.

Also Vegas won't recognise these .avi files and says they are corrupt. Also Windows Media Player won't run them either.

jrazz wrote on 1/21/2006, 8:57 PM

Are you 100% positive that you are saving the file to a NTSF drive? I know that FAT has an issue with the 1gig limit for file size. Make sure that your capture directory is on an NTSF drive.

j razz

David Jimerson wrote on 1/22/2006, 7:16 AM

NTFS.

What version of Windows are you running V4 on?

craftech wrote on 1/22/2006, 7:52 AM

Options, Preferences, Capture, the 2nd box down. Uncheck "Stop capture on dropped frames".

Select the Capture start delay check box. Leave the delay amount at the default value (two seconds).

Also, this guide in the knowledge base is helpful. Work through it.

John

You also stated..........."No new XP service packs"
What does that mean? You have Service pack 2 installed or you never installed ANY service packs?

Randy79 wrote on 1/22/2006, 9:22 AM

If I go to Windows Explorer and check the properties of my second HD, it shows NTSF. This HD is empty with no other programs or files on it but is formatted.

Randy79 wrote on 1/22/2006, 9:23 AM

XP Pro SP1

Randy79 wrote on 1/22/2006, 9:27 AM

Sorry for the confusion. I answered some of the questions and thought my answers would be tied to the original question.

I'm running XP Pro SP1. Shortly after I setup my computer, SP2 came out and there were all the horror stories about how it messed up computers. I disabled automatic updates and still running SP1 with no (known) problems.

I'm currently downloading the 4.0e upgrade and will try that first then start working through everyones suggestions.

Thanks so far for everyones suggestions!! It is greatly appreciated!!

Chanimal wrote on 1/22/2006, 9:59 AM

I would also recommend capturing your video in smaller segments. I never record an entire tape, but record in segments. They all come together fine on the time line.

B.Verlik wrote on 1/22/2006, 11:29 AM

I use Windows ME (yes, I know) and I have Vegas 4.0 (any version)e. I can capture seemingly, as long as I want. It is Fat 32, but it captures in 3.99 GB chunks and constructs them in the vegas timeline as one long video. Never had a problem capturing.
In your "Preferences" in the Capture menu, under the "Capture" tab, do you have "Scene detection" checked, if so, try unchecking. See if "Stop capture on dropped frames" is checked, if so, uncheck. It may help, it may not make a difference, depending on your problem.

riredale wrote on 1/22/2006, 1:15 PM

You should be able to capture a full tape with 0 dropouts, every time.

I don't know what is the particular problem in this instance, but offer a simple solution--download a trial copy of "ScenalyzerLive" and use it instead. In fact, there are many users on this Board (myself included) that use SCLive exclusively, because it offers so much more than the original VidCap program.

At least with the trial version you'll know quickly whether there is something deeper going on with your computer. If you like it you can buy it for not much money.

craftech wrote on 1/22/2006, 2:02 PM

Riredale,

What are some other advantages of using ScenalyzerLive? I have used VidCap 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 with few problems, but what would I gain from using Scenalzer?

John

johnmeyer wrote on 1/22/2006, 4:37 PM

What are some other advantages of using ScenalyzerLive? I have used VidCap 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 with few problems, but what would I gain from using Scenalzer?

I hope you don't mind me answering instead. Here's a long list of advantages of using Scenalyzer rather than the rather weak capture utility bolted onto Vegas:

Scenalyzer Features

I posted this a long time ago, but I think it is still all valid (the Vegas capture app hasn't changed at all) except that Scenalyzer now has even MORE features, including various clip editing features.

craftech wrote on 1/22/2006, 5:32 PM

Thanks John,

I completely forgot that I asked this same question once before and even said I was going to buy it.

After re-reading it I will 'actually' buy it this time.

Regards,
John