OT: Can YOU Help Me Preserve Some History?

mjroddy wrote on 3/23/2006, 4:46 PM
Ok... It's personal history I'm asking about here.
I used to edit on an old DPS/PVR under Speed Razor. I have hundreds of files on that system - and it done broke!
I was just told by my tech guy that the PVR board is toast. He mentioned that there is a codec that will take the PVDs that Speed Razor made and convert those to AVIs that Vegas can then read.
Can anyone out there help me out? It would nearly kill me to loose all those years of work and play.
Thanks very much!

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 3/23/2006, 4:53 PM
You might look over at the AVS Forum. They have lots of hints and links on how to manipulate information on PVRs. Since they don't support hacking, you often have to link to another site to get the actual tool and instructions you'll need. Pretty much every format has been hacked, so hopefully you'll be able to recover your files.
rs170a wrote on 3/23/2006, 4:59 PM
This questions comes up once a year or so on the dpsVelocity forum I subscribe to.
I'll post this question there and let you know if anyone has any answers.

Mike
Former user wrote on 3/23/2006, 7:11 PM
I've got a complete PVR card set -- you want it?

Jim
kentwolf wrote on 3/23/2006, 7:15 PM
Exactly what sort of help are you needing?

I do not understand from the post.
Former user wrote on 3/23/2006, 7:46 PM
Exactly what sort of help are you needing?

Well, if he has the PVD files (the file format the PVR card set uses) backup'd on some sort of media, like CD-R's then he might be able to find a program / driver set that will let him convert the PVD files into a format (like .avi) that he can use with Vegas.

On the other hand ---

If he only has the original SCSI drives that attached directly to the PVR card then his only option will be to use a PVR card set to read the drives. Drives attached to the PVR card use a propriatory formatting that only the PVR card / driver set can read or write to. They won't work directly with Windows (other any OS that I'm aware of)

Jim
johnmeyer wrote on 3/24/2006, 8:45 AM
Drives attached to the PVR card use a propriatory formatting that only the PVR card / driver set can read or write to. They won't work directly with Windows (other any OS that I'm aware of)

Don't most of them use a Linux variant?
Former user wrote on 3/24/2006, 9:06 AM
Not sure about Linux...

But, I've read where any of the SCSI drives attached to the PVR card set use a variation on the standard "FAT" formatting, but uses its driver set to handle all "communications" between the drive and the OS. As far as I know, only NT3.x and NT4 had drivers specifically written for the PVR. DPS did release a patch for Win2K and an INF patch / file to do an installation on XP, but they indicated that it was highly unlikely that the PVR would work on XP.

There is an PVD to AVI conversion utility within the PVR driver controller software app. But, of course, you will need the PVR card set / drivers / SCSI drives installed in the host system before you can convert any of the PVD files.

Also, keep in mind that PVD files are video only. Typically any files captured via the PVR card also have associated WAV files stored on a system controlled drive.
rs170a wrote on 3/24/2006, 11:29 AM
Matthew, I asked the folks on the dpsVelocity list about saving PVR files and got the following suggestion.
Be advised that it might not work but, other than replacing your old one (which one guy has and is willing to part with for a few hundred bucks), you don't seem to have a lot of options.

Download and install the following files. Be sure to read the documentation for each one. It's not long but they do have some specific instructions.
dpsReality conversion utility;
DPS AVI Codec version;
DPS Software Player and Codec.

The first utility converts Perception files to *.dps files. Then install the DPS Avi Codec and the DPS Software Player and Codec.
After all this, you'll (hopefully) be able to access the files in Vegas.

If none of this works for you, put one of your PVR files on your site and send me a link. I still have 2 dpsVelocity systems at work and might be able to do it even though you can't.

Mike
Former user wrote on 3/24/2006, 12:23 PM
Mike,

A couple of things...

1. I was offering to give him the card set -- free. All I would ask is that he pay the shipping costs. But, then again he hasn't responsed, so he might not want 'em. I'll keep the offer open for a little longer.

2. If the video files are still on the PVR drives, then he has no option except to get the card(s) to read the info from the drives, he can then use your suggestions to attempt to convert the PVD files to another format. It's just that without the custom SCSI controller that is physically on the PVR card set, the PVR SCSI drives can't be accessed.

Jim
mjroddy wrote on 3/24/2006, 12:29 PM
Wow! Thanks VERY much yous guys! This is great info for me!!! I'm most pleased that I won't be loosing this old info after all.
I'll bookmark this info and look at it when I'm not so crazy at work (that computer I'm trying to rescue is my personal computer). So this weekend, it's PVR Rescue - the New Hit Coming This Spring!
Thanks again! Much appreciate, one and all.
rs170a wrote on 3/24/2006, 2:52 PM
It's just that without the custom SCSI controller ...

Thanks for that info Jim.
I had no idea you needed this to even get the data off the card.
I see that Matthew did respond but he seems to be a wee bit busy at the moment :-)
We'll see what the weekend brings.

Mike
mjroddy wrote on 3/24/2006, 5:14 PM
DPS AVI CODEC Version looks like EXACTLY what I'm looking for!
My computer is presently at my IT guy's facility, so I can't experiment, but ... AWESOME! That sould be the ticket - assuming I can access them doggon PVDs!
I might be taking you up on that PVR card option.
Monday will tell, I think.

Thanks again!!!!!
Former user wrote on 3/24/2006, 7:50 PM
It sounds like you've got it taken care of.

I'll put the cards back in my DEC Alpha -- who knows -- I might need them one day myself :-)

Jim
Former user wrote on 5/2/2006, 10:21 AM
What ever became of your PSD file recovery effort? Did you manage to get the PSD files recovered, converted and imported into Vegas?
Steve Mann wrote on 5/2/2006, 11:25 AM
When people start looking for Vegas to be tied to specific hardware, this thread should be required reading.

Steve