I sure hope this is worth it.

kcarroll wrote on 3/20/2002, 11:47 AM
I bought VF because the MGI VIDEOWAVE4/DAZZLE MOJAVE package sold to me by Dell is worthless. (Talk about learning the hard way.)

I bought VF in a Retail Package and paid full price. As soon as I loaded it, it became apparent that I needed a activation number, both for the basic package, and for the MPEG encoder. I called Sonic for the numbers, only to be told that the version I had bought uses an obsolete encoder, and that I had to download version 2.0c to get the right one. I did that, and found myself on the phone again for the right nummbers to make 2.0c run.

Once I had the program running, I encountered capture problems. (My post on that is under the tread "Capture problems........"). They were so weird, I thought that I had messed up something in the install, so I re-installed the software. Guess what....... I need activation numbers again! I have never worked with a software package that took security to this anal level. The only thing that keeps me going is that I see features that make me suspect it might be a really good piece of software.

BTW, I'm still having capture problems, so if anyone can help............

kcarroll

Comments

jimcho wrote on 3/20/2002, 12:10 PM
kcarroll,

You should be able to uninstall/reinstall as often as you wish without re-registering. How did you do the uninstall? If you used XP's or WinMe's system restore feature, that may have caused the problem.
kcarroll wrote on 3/20/2002, 12:22 PM
Hi jimcho;

No, I'm running ME (soon to be gone), and I did a simple uninstall, followed by a reinstallation. Upon finishing the re-install, the software came up acting as though it was seeing me for the first time.

It seems like whenever you really want an uninstall to clean out the Registry, it never does, but when you want it to remember a key number,.......

kcarroll
VinceG wrote on 3/20/2002, 6:47 PM
kcarroll-
That's why I kept VW4 and the Mojave Dazzle for capturing only. My worse fear was that Dell did something to my system that would give me capturing problems with any capturing device or any new software I installed. I feel your capturing problems are somehow related to Dell, but I can't prove it.

There are just too many people who swear by the Canopus AVDC-100 and VF to blame it on the software and hardware. It's got to be something else. Please let me know whenever you discover the problem. I do know that once you finally get passed these capturing problems, you will really enjoy VF.

I'm really glad I kept VW4/Dazzle for capturing only now.
kcarroll wrote on 3/21/2002, 7:50 AM
Hey Vince; Good to hear from you!

The Capture problem I was having was weird. I'm using using an Adaptec 1394 card to receive the digital output from the ADVC-100 converter. The analog signal going into the converter comes from either my old Sony hi8 camera, or a standard home-type VCR. When I start the Capture portion of the program, and push PLAY on the VCR, I get a good preview screen, but none of the capture controls will respond to a mouse click. (All I get is the Windows Door Chime)

If I toggle the input switch on the ADVC-100 a couple of times, it apparently fools VF into thinking that I've made a tape change, and then all of a sudden, I have access to the Capture Screen, and I am able to capture Video.

I think that problem scenario goes something like this: VF is trying to control my VCR/Converter sub-system like it would control a Digital Camera. The ADVC-100/VCR combo has no intention of listening to that nonsense, and ignores VF. Since VF never gets a response, it keeps trying, and I don't get an active Capture Screen.

One of the other posts pointed out that there is an OPTIONS choice for enabling or disabling the control of digital devices. This is true, but you have trouble getting to it until the screen is active.

At this point I am assuming that most of my problems are due to ignorance.

One problem with the Dell that is very real is the way Windows ME runs on it. I have had several on-going, low level problems that are all Op System related. The machine I am posting this from is my work machine, which is identical to my home machine in all respects, save one: My employer ordered it with Windows 2000. It has been rock-stable for over a year of continuous use. My project for this weekend is to exorcise ME, and load Win2000. I will throw the ME disks in the same general direction I threw the MGI software and the Dazzle hardware.

BTW: If anyone else out there thinks that I seem to be spending a lot of money twice; YOU'RE RIGHT!!!! I admit it. In buying the Dell, I was lazy and stupid. I didn't feel like going to the trouble of building a system from scratch, when Dell apparently offered what I wanted, and for less money than I would have had to pay for piecing a system together.

I learned the hard way: I paid good money for a box full of either semi or non-fuctional crap, to a company that didn't give an obese rodent's posterior about my problems. From here on, I will always build my own, because then I will at least know what's really in the box.

kcarroll
Chienworks wrote on 3/21/2002, 9:53 AM
kcarroll: i know what you mean about the video capture program seeming unresponsive sometimes. When i first start it up with the intention of printing to tape, i usually have to wait 5 seconds or more while it does .... *something* .... whatever it's doing .... until it lets me click on the Print to Tape tape. However, keep at it, be patient, and do look for that "Enable DV Device Control" setting under Options, Preferences. What you describe about the VF - ADVC interaction is quite correct, and turning off this option should clear up your problems.
VinceG wrote on 3/21/2002, 3:10 PM
kcarroll-
Good plan! Yeah, it could be your operating system. I would suggest installing XP instead of Win2000, but if Win2000 works for you... GO FOR IT. ;)

Sounds like you're almost there.