Capturing analog video through Vegas Video 4.0

aaronjo wrote on 10/17/2003, 10:46 PM
I have a Sony VAIO PCV-RZ14G desktop computer. My video card that came w/the computer doesn't allow me to capture analog video through the program I like to use which is Adobe Premiere 6.5 or Pro. Nor does it allow me to do so through Vegas Video 3.0. Will Vegas Video 4.0 allow me to do so w/the video card I have ? I want to be able to capture analog video as an avi to edit with, will Vegas Video 4.0 allow me to do so ? Any suggestions...

Comments

sbs56 wrote on 10/17/2003, 11:37 PM
You don't specify which video card came with the computer - is it a GeForce MX440-based card? If so, it may not have S video or composite video input. You'll need a video card which supports analog video input. Alternately, you can go with a analog-to-digital converter such as the advc-100 from Canopus (www.canopus.com). Either of these solutions should work with the software products you mention.
Mikee wrote on 10/18/2003, 12:04 AM
My year old $750 Sony TRV27 has a feature than you can feed an input signal (from a VCR, Hi8, etc) through it, and it auto-magically digitizes it and feeds it back through the firewire connection for real-time DV capture. It works well (I've digitized several hours of analog Hi8 and standard TV signal this way.)

I imagine some of the pros here have better equipment/ideas, but you may want to check your camcorder manual.
rmack350 wrote on 10/18/2003, 2:48 AM
I guess if you have anything at all that will let you capture analog as avi files (or a variety of other formats) then you ought to be able to drag those into vegas.

Even if Vegas could see the capture card it won't be able to control it.

Mikee has a point about passing the video through your camera but I'll go one better. If you dub your videos onto DV tape and then capture with Vegas I think you'll have time code. That means you can recapture the same stuff again later and Vegas or Scenalyzer can do the recapture as a batch job.

Rob Mack
Grazie wrote on 10/18/2003, 3:48 AM
rmack350 - Yes it will do this. But it wont put in the "breaks" in TC that would have occured through stopping and starting the cammie.

Vegas, even with Scene Detection on wont do this. I understand SceneAlyzer will and works on the actual optical "secen change". Drawback here is that you could end up with masses of clips, although filmed as an "aesthetically" continous event, it will be cut up.

Soooo.... If Scene Detection is required from Vegas AND you want to have each event to have its own discreet TC selection for Vegas's Scene Detect, I suppose starting and stopping the interim Cammie will create that much needed TC break points, then and only then, will Vegas have an opportunity to use its Scene Detect. . . .
I do realise, rmack350, your "If you dub your videos onto DV tape . . " is correct. But that Dubbing would need to have the TC break points.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

. . just my 2 pennies worth. It's a bit of detail, but I think valuable to be spelt out - yeah?
Grazie
DGrob wrote on 10/18/2003, 7:06 AM
Hook up your analog play into your camcorder via Svideo or composite cables (select AC-DV converter from the camcorder menu.) Firewire out from the camcorder to your computer. Open Vegas, Capture. Go to Options, Preferences, General Tab. DESELECT enable device control. Fire up the video, hit the capture video button when you're ready, hit stop when you're done.

Open the clip in Vegas Trimmer window and add all the clips you want with regions. You're off and running.

Just went through this with multiple hours of analog for a local project. DGrob
Grazie wrote on 10/18/2003, 8:54 AM
. . . or do what Grobsie just said . .. .

. . g
hookmeister wrote on 10/18/2003, 8:08 PM
Deselect enable device control.
ahhh perfect.. glad i saw this post - been using my vx2000 to transcode HI-8 and VHS stock into my library, and tape detect was killing me.

thanks much.