Printing To Tape, BAH!!

FightingForAir wrote on 6/9/2002, 11:57 AM
I have a Sony DCR-TRV740 Digital 8 Camcorder. I made a cool video montage of me and my friends skateboarding, and I want to through that video from Vegas Video onto my camcorder. I have the I-link connected, I then click Record video and then I get an error that says "Invalid file format". I've tried just about everything and can't figure out how to get this to work. Can someone help shed some light on this problem?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 6/9/2002, 12:16 PM
Are you printing from the timeline or from Video Capture/Print to tape? If you're using Video Capture, you must have rendered the project first. You must render to the default DV .avi template (either NTSC or PAL) depending on where you are. If you use any other templage, or even modify the default DV template, then you will have an invalid file that can't be printed to tape.
FightingForAir wrote on 6/9/2002, 12:48 PM
I captured a new project, just messing around and made sure I rendered it as .avi and made sure it was NTSC, and I still got the same message again.
HPV wrote on 6/9/2002, 1:22 PM
What version of Vegas ? Was that AVI file a DV avi file ? Did you render it from the "Render As" option in the Files menu ? In Vegas three you can also do a "Print to DVtape" in another menu. This doesn't create a whole new AVI DV file, just a bunch of small avi DV files in the areas of the timeline that need it. You don't need to use the VidCap program for this.

Craig H.
FightingForAir wrote on 6/9/2002, 4:32 PM
That works better but I get through the rendering and it says that the device is offline. I turn the camera off and on but it still doesn't detect it. I know the drivers are on there and everything. In video capture it detects it but when I choose print to DV tape it says device is offline. This is so frustrating
seeker wrote on 6/9/2002, 5:00 PM
Are you sure your camcorder is in the "VCR mode"?
FightingForAir wrote on 6/9/2002, 5:04 PM
yeah, its in vcr mode.
HPV wrote on 6/9/2002, 5:16 PM
What OS. In ME, I had to go to Settings, System, Device Manager, click the plus sign in front of the 1394 Buss line, right click the the line that comes up under that (1394 card) and select properties, go to settings tab, put a check in the box for "support Non-Compliant Devices".
If that doesn't do it, do you have access to another 1394 cable and/or camera to test with ?
If you can put up with the PAIN of learning to skateboard, then you'll make it thru this issue.

Craig (Old school-Skate,Snowboard,BMX) H.
clifburns wrote on 6/10/2002, 9:26 AM
I'm having the exact same problems as FightingForAir. I have the video rendered to AVI and I get invalid file format messages or device not on. I have the camera (a Sony TRV-27 mini DV) set to VCR. I'm also running ME. I'll try what HPV suggested, but does anyone else have any other ideas? Thanks!
BillyBoy wrote on 6/10/2002, 9:57 AM
Here's what I do, should work if you have a digital camera and a 100% compliant firewire card.

Render to Video for Windows (AVI file type) using the NTSC DV template. This creates a RENDERED file in the proper 'print to tape format' on your hard disk.

Once finished, (will takes hours) click on the Media Pool tab. Now click on the camera icon which will open the Video Capture/Print to Tape applet.

Power up your camera. Be sure you are in VCD mode. Connect the firewire cable between your camera and your computer. If your OS bring up a window asking what you want to do, just dimiss it.

Click on File, then open and locate the file you just rendered. The print to tape button should no longer be grayed out. Proceed to record your project.

Your camera viewfinder, LCD screen should show DV IN or some indication it has established a connection to your computer. If you don't see that or the print to tape button is still grayed out try removing and then re inserting the firewire cable and/or power off/on your camera. If still nothing, click Options, reconnect to device.

Still nothing, click on options on the Menu Bar of Vegas Video, not the capture applet. Select preferences, then the video device tab. Under device it MUST be set to read: OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394/DVD. Try the previous steps again. If nothing, check the knowledgebase for details about your specific camera or maybe time to call Sonic Foundry.
FightingForAir wrote on 6/11/2002, 4:09 PM
Well, I tried what you said and I still come up with the same results. "Invalid File Format" or "Device Not Detected". I did notice that when I went into Preferences and then under the Video Device it said that my device was unavailable. I turned the camera off and then turned it back on in VCR mode and then windows brought up that it detected new hardware. Any ideas on what to do?
BillyBoy wrote on 6/11/2002, 4:17 PM
Can you now see some indication in your camera's viewfinder or LCD window that says DV IN or something similar? If so, then if you followed the steps it should work. If not maybe one of the SF techs or someone else can advice further.
deef wrote on 6/12/2002, 3:58 PM
You should be able to bring this rendered DV file into Video Capture and go to the Print to Tape tab.

Use the Preview on Device button to test the connection, the video should show up on the Device's LCD.

Another test is to just capture a raw DV clip, and then double click the clip to bring it into the Print to Tape tab. Now try Preview on Device.

Check to make sure the default MS DV driver is in use. The DV device should show up in Device Manager under "Imaging Devices". In the Video Capture menu, it should be listed as "Microsoft DV Camera and VCR"