HOW are you getting the flickers?

How are you connected to that external monitor, is it through the DAC-2?

Is the VV preview screen on the computer flickering, as well?

What is your setting on the computer monitor's VV preview screen? Is it: Draft, Preview, Best?

<<How are you connected to that external monitor, is it through the DAC-2?>>

Yes. I've tried the composite output as well as the S output.

<<Is the VV preview screen on the computer flickering, as well?>>

No, never.

<<What is your setting on the computer monitor's VV preview screen? Is it: Draft, Preview, Best?>>

I've tried it on all settings. No difference.

jp

I think you answered your own question. "It even flickers if the video timeline is paused in VV." That all but rules out Vegas. If some strange flicker was caused by Vegas it should show up in the preview window. If your problem only happens when viewing on a external monitor and never when looking at the preview window off your computer monitor I would check your external hardware and your PC for any hardware problems.

Try wiggling the connection between your PC and your camera/box and your monitor while you have something playing from the timeline. Does the flicker go away or get worse or change as you wiggle? If so be sure the cables are tight and all the way in or try better quality cables. I once had similar problems with something else. Turned out it was a cold solder joint on one of the output jacks. A 30 second repair cured it.

Jmpatrick:
Billy Boy is correct. I believe your problem is from the DAC-2 to the
monitor and it obviously isn't the monitor since you substituted it.
I use a Canopus ADVC-100 and when I select my set top DVD player the
monitor display dissappears until I set the Canopus back to S-video
from digital. What I am trying to say is there might be some kind of
incompatability issue or bad cables. Double check for the proper cabling
hookup and also if there is a AV selector amp involved with your equipment
(distribution amp) that it is cabled correctly. You might have to install
a AV-Selector (JVC-JX-S-700) to isolate the Monitor from the Dac-2. When
you check the cables use a large magnifying glass to look at the connectors
and look for shavings, hairs, etc. and if not sure toss the cables and get
new ones. Peace of mind is far better than the cost of the cables.

James J. Kizak

After checking all the connections, changing wires, etc. IF you still have not resolved your problem, go to:

www.datavideo-tek.com

and get the technical address or phone number. I had a problem similar to yours. The representative who called me from DataVideo spent about an hour on the phone with me working through all possible causes. After much effort, they asked that I send the almost brand new DAC-2 back for service.

Don't jump into it, though, because the rep will certainly ask if you checked all the wires and cards and cables and stuff that only connect to the DAC.

Further, if you are using Windows 2000, there is a special thing that you have to do to get the DAC-2 into Windows 2000 mode. So, look at the FAQs on the DataVideo board. They SPECIFICALLY address Vegas Video and Windows 2000 mode. Be aware that if you do not do what you are supposed to do, it is NEVER going to work correctly.

The only problem with that is, somewhere along the line they changed the FlashBIOS chip setting in the DAC-2, and some of the very newest units have a different setup for Vegas. So, if the FAQs don't help, drop them a line or call. Give them the version number (off the bottom of the unit) and they can tell you how to set it up if you can't.

Best of luck.

Aah, finally the voice of experience!

I called Datavideo and they confirmed that cannot access the WIN2000 mode with my current firmware. I'm shipping it off to them so they can fix it.

Thanks!

jp

I had assumed you would have done at that before asking here. I guess I shouldn't assume. LOL!

Nope, I checked all the documentation that shipped with the unit and there was no mention.

jp

Apparently his version of the firmware was BEFORE Windows 2000, so the materials dealing with Windows 2000 and Vegas would NOT have appeared in his documentation. He is off the hook, on this one. And, he asked in the right place for help.

What I do EVERYTIME I buy any hardware is read through the documenation, check for any README files on the CD, then visit the company's web site looking for firmware updates, patches, bug reports, etc.. In the long run the invested time is better than having odd things go bump in the night that sometimes take days or weeks of wondering and guessing what's going on. Ditto for software.