USB video capture/no sound

Studiodawg wrote on 9/12/2007, 1:21 PM
OK, I've captured DV via USB on both an XP SP1 and XP Pro SP2 PCs and both had no sound. Is it correct to say that Vegas captures via firewire-only? I did capture the video footage using my Panasonic mini DV cam's software and could open it in Vegas no problem...I guess it doesn't make much sense to me to have this high-powered program that can't handle USB data transfers!? And for what it's worth, I capture the DV via firewire on my XP SP1 machine...

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/12/2007, 1:52 PM
No application (to my knowledge) supports capture via USB. While some apps actually do function, it can't be guaranteed to capture all frames, given the nature of how USB and resources are allocated
Guy Bruner wrote on 9/12/2007, 6:22 PM
There are a number of applications that capture DV via USB. Windows Movie Maker is one common one on every PC. Panasonic also supplies a limited video editing software with its cams that will capture via USB. The problem here seems to be associated with Type 1 and Type 2 AVI files. Vegas, as a video for Windows (VfW) application, likes Type 2 AVI files. USB video capture is a recent development and uses DirectShow filters to allow capture of video over USB 2 High Speed, Vegas apparently doesn't use DirectShow to allow capture of Type 2 AVIs. So, the audio proxy file that is a hallmark of a Type 2 AVI is not created during Vegas capture over USB. Then, of course, Vegas can't detect the audio stream in the encapsulated DV file and you get no audio. We noticed this problem in 2004 when the Panasonic GS400 came out with USB High Speed video transfer. The solution is to only use Firewire to capture with Vegas or to capture over USB with a capture application that will allow you to create a Type 2 AVI, such as the software Panasonic includes with its camcorders. Alternately, you can capture over USB with Windows Movie Maker then import the video into Vegas. Vegas will detect the Type 1 AVI and create the proxy audio file during import.
Terje wrote on 9/12/2007, 9:20 PM
Let me correct this slightly, it is correct that Vegas can not capture DV over USB properly, but it can still work with the captured Type 1 AVIs fine. Vegas 6 could not, but somewhere between 6a and 7, I can't remember exactly where, that was fixed. When my GS400s firewire port died, I used Windows Movie Maker as the capture app and edited in Vegas. It works like a charm.

The only disadvantage is that Movie Maker is a rather crappy capture app compared to the Vegas Vid Cap.

So, if you don't want/can't get a FireWire card for your PC, capture using Movie Maker and edit with Vegas. Works like a charm.
Studiodawg wrote on 9/13/2007, 8:36 AM
Thanks everybody for giving me the scoop regarding this issue. Perhaps Sony's developers can address this in Pro 9?! So, in my little video world, I can transfer via Panasonic software app on one PC and firewire on the other PC...thanks again.
Chienworks wrote on 9/13/2007, 8:53 AM
I could point out that a firewire card and cable will only cost you about 1/6 as much as a Vegas upgrade, even at the earlybird special price.
BrianStanding wrote on 9/13/2007, 10:10 AM
Why do you want USB video capture anyway? I can't imagine a scenario where that would be preferable to standard DV over firewire.