Computer Problems- ADS Pyro/Firefox & Capture

jrazz wrote on 3/10/2006, 8:40 PM
So, I am finally using the ADS Pyro for capturing from a VCR into my computer through Vegas Vid Cap. I could use it before but I only used it for external preview to an external monitor.

Now, whenever I turn the pyro (550 rev E) on, my two drives that are hooked up to the same firewire card lose connection- yeah, I already ordered another firewire card to run it seperate. But that is not the problem. I thought to myself, I wonder what would happen if I started up the computer with the pyro already on. Well, apparently that was a mistake. Now I have lost all of my bookmarks in Firefox, but it kept all of my saved passwords and stored information. I followed the Firefox procedures on their help page to recover lost bookmarks to no avail. (I had a lot of things on there that I should have already backed up but didn't :(

If anyone has any ideas on that, let me know.

Another issue is that I am trying to capture hi-8 via an adapter for VHS from my VCR to the Pyro via RCA and from there to the computer via firewire. Dropped frame after dropped frame. The on screen preview in the external vid cap shows video, then pauses, speeds up, shows video then pauses. After each pause, when it goes to catch up, it racks up on the dropped frames. Maybe I need to play with some jumpers in the back but I don't think that is it.
I have tried capturing to 2 different internal SATA drives, 2 IDE drives, and 2 Firewire drives to no avail. The same thing happens on each. What is wierd is I have a PCI capture card that captures to mpg1 or 2 (which I prefer not to use) and I can capture to any drive I wish without incident. What gives? Any ideas would be great.

j razz

Comments

DavidMcKnight wrote on 3/10/2006, 8:59 PM
J,

As to the first part, which it sounds like you've discovered, it'd be best to use a second FW card. I have FW on a soundblaster audigy and experienced the exact same issues trying to work with a FW drive and output to a monitor via my canopus advc-100. A second FW card should solve that problem for you.

....but it hosed your bookmarks in FireFox? Huh? That's pretty weird. I can't imagine how any of this stuff would hork bookmarks. But stranger things have happened. Heck, check your ram seating on the mobo :)

For the last issue, as long as you're not using an external monitor preview over FW and that your local preview window is relatively small, your setup should work. (yeah I know, it should all just work).

What kind of FW card do you have, and/or do you know what the chipset on the card is? Some are better than others, though I don't know now which ones. I think VIA is less than stellar? Do a search here on FW chipsets. Good luck!
jrazz wrote on 3/10/2006, 9:07 PM
I'm not sure what the firewire card is as I have had it for years now (just kept reusing it system rebuild after system rebuild) as I have had no problems with it. I can use multiple firewire drives and devices on it at the same time, just not the pyro.

I am getting a laCie 800mbs firewire card as I have a 800mbs firewire drive that also accepts 400mbs firewire. Once I get this card, I will see how the pyro runs just by itself on its own card.

As for the bookmarks... well, it could be coincidence but very strange that it happened the first time I started up the computer with the pyro already on. I have never lost them before.

Thanks for the input David; Computers- who needs'em!

j razz

farss wrote on 3/10/2006, 11:04 PM
Disconnect all firewire devices other than the Pyro and capture to an internal drive just to see how things pan out. If that doesn't work or you're dropping frames sounds like the fault lies squarely with the ADS unit.
Can't say I'd be surprised if that turns out to be the culprit.

Bob.
B.Verlik wrote on 3/10/2006, 11:46 PM
Just what is this 'adaptor' that let's you play your Hi-8 through VHS?
The ideal way, although too late now, would be to use a Sony Digital 8 with Hi-8 playback capabilities, firewired out to comp. (has TBC and NR)
fldave wrote on 3/11/2006, 4:46 AM
For your bookmarks, right-click your C:\Documents and Settings folder and search for bookmarks.* That should find all instances of both bookmarks.html and bookmarks.bak. Find the most recently updated one, if there is one, and copy it to your My Documents folder. Now you have your backup. In Mozilla, then import your bookmarks from there using the "Bookmarks\Manage Bookmarks\Import" and use the "From File" option. If you've used Netscape in the past, there will be a bookmark file for that.

It's possible that Firefox created a new profile on restart, this should find the bookmarks for your old profile. If you can't find any bookmarks.* files, then you are out of luck.
jrazz wrote on 3/11/2006, 8:43 AM
No luck on the bookmarks or the ADS running by itself on the firewire card. (I asked about the ADS Pyro in a previous thread and was told that models over 550 revC are good or 555 models. TIgerDirect, where it was purchased, said on the page that it was model number 555, but I checked the model number on the bottome of the unit and it was 550 rev E. May not make a difference and it may be the old PCI Firewire card and the way it interacts with the Pyro.

Regardless, thanks for the help.

j razz

Edit: The adapter is a VHS cassette that you put the other cassette (VHS-C) in and it plays it. It works fine through the PCI capture card. I realize now that I wrote hi8 on my initial post, but I was wrong and it was late for me!

JohnnyRoy wrote on 3/11/2006, 9:29 AM
The API-555 is a combination of the API-550 Rev E hardware with the Adobe software bundle. The unit itself will always say API-550 with a rev number. I have a Rev C and I have captured VHS-C tapes via an adapter without a problem. Are the tapes of questionable quality? It could be a problem with the ADS device; I just have not experienced it with the Rev C. I capture to an internal SATA hard drive. It does not like my M-Audio FW410 so I always unplug it while capturing.

I had a Rev B and it would not capture my VHS-C tapes but when they sent me the Rev C it cleared the problem up. That’s why I had no problem recommending them. I felt that the problem was fixed. I just captured a 2 hr VHS tape from a TV program and it captured flawlessly. I’m sorry if you bought this on my recommendation and it doesn’t work for you. I feel bad about that.

I would contact ADS Tech and see if they can help. They have a toll free help number in the US.

~jr
jrazz wrote on 3/11/2006, 10:34 AM
Okay- everthing I just wrote here dissappeared- don't know what I hit, but it is gone.

Summary: No worries Johnny as I am unconvinced it is the pyro's fault as it displays out fine to an external monitor. I'll post back once I get the new firewire card in and do some tests.

Tape is problematic, but captures fine via the PCI card (it rolls and has lines throughout- glory days of when my client played on the college baseball team).

Thanks again,

j razz