Just starting to Capture. Help Please

barbnewbie wrote on 1/13/2003, 7:57 PM

I just plugged everything in. Sony camcorder, vcr, Dell computer. I made sure the firewire said Sony compliant. I am on my way. Then the first problem. I get in to the VideoFactory software, choose the capture icon, and then nothing! I hit play on my VCR and I start hearing the audio, but no video shows up. I can't choose the start capture button because it is grey. Help.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 1/13/2003, 8:27 PM

I'm assuming you're using your camcorder to convert analog from the VCR to DV, correct? If this is the case, then the video capture program is waiting to be able to control your camcorder and start/stop the tape. It can't do this because the tape is in the VCR. You'll need to go to Options / Preferences in the vidcap program and UNcheck "Enable DV Device Control". This will allow you to run the VCR manually without vidcap trying to do it.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 1/14/2003, 7:33 AM

I had a similar problem and it was actually my camera (Panasonic PV-DV601). Your camera must support pass-through of the incoming video signal to firewire. Mine doesn’t. So while I can record a VHS to miniDV tape and then capture that miniDV tape to my computer, I cannot play the VHS through my camera and record the output to firewire in real-time. Apparently it doesn’t do the DV conversion unless it’s recording. The audio was there but not the video. So this may be a limitation of your camera unless you know of others with your camera that have does this successfully.

You might want to record a bit of the VHS tape to miniDV tape and then capture that miniDV tape from your camera to the PC just to make sure all your connections are working. If so, I’d say the camera was at fault. (just like mine)

~jr

ralphied wrote on 1/14/2003, 3:28 PM

My brother and sister each have a Sony camcorder with a AV->DV port. I borrowed it once to digitize some old 8mm analog tapes. I found out the camera required a menu setting change to let it know which way you're trying to use the port, DV-IN vs. DV-OUT.

I would check your camera's user's manual.

BillyBoy wrote on 1/14/2003, 7:55 PM

Yep, that's pretty typical. Same on my Cannon I think.

barbnewbie wrote on 1/14/2003, 8:26 PM

Perfect. It works!!! Thank you so much !!!