Are you using version 2.0b or 2.0c? If not, please upgrade to 2.0c now. Go ahead; i'll wait for you. I promise ;)

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All done? Good!

When you render your project to DV .avi under FAT32, VideoFactory will automatically break the output file into approximately 4GB sections. These sections are about 19 minutes long. If you name your output file "myvideo", VideoFactory will generate files named "myvideo.avi", "myvideo01.avi", "myvideo02.avi", etc., as many as are needed to hold the entire output.

When you print to tape, open up the first file "myvideo.avi" and start the printing process. VideoCapture will automatically and seamlessly print all of the files, not just the first one. Your entire project will be printed with no gaps or breaks.

*Sigh* sadly, this will only happen when you render your whole project to DV all in one shot. Apparently the rendering process inserts some information in the files that VideoCapture uses to detect that they are continuation files. You can't just rename a bunch of existing .avi files and expect this to work. It won't even work with the sequence of files that VideoCapture produces when you capture more than 19 minutes. It would really be nice if one could simply specify a list of .avi files and have VideoCapture print them all sequentially. Vegas' VideoCapture allows this, but it's very clunky.

Thanks BillyBoy and Chienworks. Here is exactly what I do to record directly to my VCR. I know it is awarkward, but so far, it is the only way I have been able to get both ausio and video to record on to the VHS tape: To make a recording from a rendered project, I have to first change my computer's display from being "primary" to "secondary." A Gateway tech figured out that I needed to "video enable" the computer and he walked me thru making this switch in the display settings. Next, I go into the computer's audio controls and uncheck the box that says "digital output only." Now, I open Media Player and the .avi file I want to record. I then play the file, and push the record button on the VCR. The problem comes when I push the play button on Media Player. When the file plays, the monitor goes to black, and you can't see the file play, because I have switched the computer monitor to be "secondary". The Media Player screen comes back when the file finishes playing, but you don't know what's happening during play. This method works fine if your .avi file is less than 4GB. But when you have it broken down into multiple files, I don't know how to get them to record together, seemlessly, since literally, I am working in the dark. By the way, I'm using a Gateway computer with Intel 1700MHz, P4 processor. Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Ange, ooooh, so you're not printing through firewire then? OK, then never mind what i posted. It only applies to printing DV through firewire.

You can load several files into Media Player 7 and have them play sequentially. There will be a slight pause (1 or 2 seconds) between files though.

How did you orginally capture this video?

I guessed that was your method. To see how far along you are you could connect the VCR out to a small TV, while you're recording which is what I used to do way back when.

Chienworks- I originally shot the video on a Sony Hi8 Camcorder, and then had a camera store transfer to CD. I then saved the CD files to my hard drive, and used that as the source for my Media Pool.

Ange - I am racked with admiration for your creativity!

Have you considered using an Analogue (AV) to Digital (DV) video convertor?

Unless I am mistaken, your Sony Hi8 has S-Video connections - mini A/V, i.e. S-Video output. Is this correct? Do you directly view your Hi8 footage on a TV via a VCR? I would have thought you could "output" your Hi8 footage using the leads supplied or came with your camcorder to a AV:DV convertor instead, and then onto your PC - you'll also need a video "capture" card. I understand that at present you "pay" a camera store to convert your Hi8 tape to CD. This costs you money? How much do they charge for this service? My point is this - what you are presently spending, and will further spend on "conversion", you could be putting to one side to save up for an AV/DV convertor. There are few affordable (?) AV:DV convertors on the market now. I've got a Dazzle Hollywood Bridge which does have its foilbles, but it does allow me to "capture" my AV from my old Panasonic Analogue camcorder directly to my computer [No camera store cost or inconvienence!]. It also allows me, with something like a 75% success rate to Print TO Tape [PTT] back through its DV to AV set-up, to a VCR. I use an old Hitachi VCR and even older TV, to monitor the "progress" of this PTT. I don't change any monitor settings on my laptop, nor do I have to reset everything. This process, as I understand from Chienworks, takes advantage of the "chaining" of larger that 4gb AVI files. - There are other AV/DV convertors on the market. People on this Forum are presently giving the Canopus AV:DV convertor a big Yahoooo.

Sooooo... you have other options. If you know all this all ready, then I apologise. However, if you do know this already then please tell me why you have opted to go this route? If it is the "cost" of an AV:DV convertor then consider the "upfront" costs of store-conversions. The unseen costs of having to travel to and fro from the store; the emotional costs of having to wait until the store has done its thing and the general "lack" of control you have over the whole process - "Oh I've just shot some footage and would reeealy like to get on an edit it into some film and prin it to tape! But I'll have to wait till the store opens up on Monday" etc etc.

If you feel comfortable with, and I really mean this, your creative "work-round", to your process - then, as the Beatles put it "Let It Be!". But and this is a big BIG but, if you have seen or appreciate the possibilities of the above then I would advise you to firstly "investigate" an AV:DV conversion option; secondly bone-up on the techonolgies and what this means and thirdly - if cost is an issue - start an Excel spreadsheet with a simple "Research and Development" budget, listing all the elements you can and can't afford, placing when you want certain parts of your project to come on stream.

I use Firewire technology to input footage into and out of my laptop. I also use this same technology to access further external firewire drives [ I now have two external firewire HDs - 60gb and 80 gb drives]. My opinion is that you may "out-grow" the space on your Gateway very soon and having firewire techonolgy could be a way of extending your PC's shelf life - oh this is of course if you don't expand your PC's storage capacities by installing extra hds into the box itself. I don't know how secure, confident or proficient you are with this wacky world of digital IT. However, if I can do it then the chances are that others can do it aswell!

Please take on board what I've written. I've given your situation a lot of thought and hope you see "another" way.

Kind regards

Grazie

Grazie -- Thank you for the thoughtful response to my issues! To answer some of your questions....no, I did not consider an AV/DV converter because I was unaware they existed. This project started out to be a "one shot" thing, whereby I was going to make a documentary of my parents, and then produce VHS tapes for family. I borrowed a camera, did the filming, had the tape converted to CD, and expected to be off and running with a final edited clip that could be copied to VHS tapes. I had no intention of ever getting into making videos after that. I also had no idea of all the hoops I had to jump thru, just to get the rendered clip to print on the VCR. This has truly been a learning process for me, and your responses to my questions have really been helpful. You have opened my eyes to the possibilites that exist, and I am now thinking of other video projects for the future. I appreciate your compassion and insight. I have already visited the Canopus web page, and have started to get acquainted with their line of porducts. Once I get past the problem of recording multiple .avi files, I may start another project. Only this time I will research the technology first, as you have suggested. Thank you so much for your help. Ange

Ange - it's a pleasure.

This DV editing stuff can really open up some tremendous creative possibilities. It brings together all the options of sound, movement and colour and when executed with simple and yet thoughtful intent, can potentially elicit in the viewer emotions of happiness and sadness, wonder and speculation. You, me and all of us on this Forum, have been given the opportunity to "dabble" (yes - you can have serious "dabblers" as well!) in this remarkable craft - and presently for sums of money which would have been thought to be "pie-in-sky" amounts even one or two years ago. Your approach has really made me rethink how "straightforward" I could and should approach my videography work. Was it Picasso who said "Less is more!"? - Strangely, your clear and uncluttered "technical" enquiry has reminded me of the reasons why I do this "thing" and refreshed my approach to it.

Last Saturday I filmed a major local traffic interchange. Noisy, dirty with polluting motor vehicles. Lots of colours, different sounds and plenty of movement. This interchange occurs on two levels of road systems. It is a typical edge-of-city nasty little junction. However, running parralel with this road is about a mile of "nature" reserve with a lake. This expanse of water allows people to participate in recreational sailing and to generally muck about in sail boats. Its banks allow people a quiet and "safe" place to have picnics, walk a dog and enjoy a little piece of tranquility. As a youngster, this juxtaposition had always intrigued me. Now with this "affordable" medium I am in a position to "capture" what it means for me. It'll probably end being a small two to three minute movie - and that's it! In the future I may revisit this project - but for me to have this opportuntiy to express what I feel about this place - in video - is important.

If you have some projects of your own you wish to talk-up, let's start a "Creative-Thread"!

Hey this a long way from your enquiry about AVIs - or is it? I suppose what I am trying to say, again, is that I don't like seeing people struggle - it reminds me too much of the frustrations of the technical side of this activity. Also, if I had had plans to expand on the IT front, in this "video" NLE direction, I would not want to have lost sight of what I wanted to do - ie make movies. And I really don't want to see people being "ripped-off" with sub-standard and frustrating NLE [Non-linear Editing] software and hardware - because "It is out there" [ the comparison with the X-Files is meant ] and it aint the truth.

'Nuf said -I'll go forth and edit!

You said some kind things about my response - thank you - However, you also gave me something in return.

Grazie

Hi, Grazie

I like your idea of the 'creative-thread'. Would be some good reading!

(I've also learned alot on Chienworks web site).