Vegas 4.0e: Capture working, Print to Tape doesn't

linuxlover wrote on 5/26/2004, 3:26 PM
I searched this forum for solutions, and found quite a few postings in the subject, but it seems that my problem is somewhat different:

As the subject line hints, Capture Video from my camcorder (Panasonic PV-DV600D) works flawlessly. However, when I try to output my edited video back to the camcorder (via firewire), the Leader test pattern (SMPTE Bars NTSC, 1KHz tone) shows up on the camcorder's LCD screen and recorded correctly (!) but then the video material itself doesn't. Instead, what is recorded is some noise that looks like an attempt to get the signal synchronized (without success).

The same problem happens when I try "Print to Tape" from "Sony Video Capture" as well (after rendering my edited video to an AVI file, of course).

It is very unlikely that the problem is in the camcorder, since *manually* I can record on the same exact tape (same area). I can also see (on its LCD screen) that the problem exists *before* the signal reaches the tape, so I must assume that the camcorder is not receiving correct signal via the firewire cable.

What's even more baffling is the fact that this same exact system used to work flawlessly! That is, same exact hardware, same exact Sony Vegas version (running on Windows 2000). The only thing that changed since it last worked is that I had to re-install the entire OS and Sony Vegas from scratch due to a crash. So, I know that the hardware (P4 3.2 GHz, 1GB RAM, latest BIOS etc.) is absolutely capable of flawless "Print to Tape". What I don't know is what have changed in the configuration of Sony Vegas (or perhaps the OS?).

Anyone could help, please?

Thanks,
Lynn

Comments

linuxlover wrote on 5/26/2004, 9:27 PM
More information about the problem while continuing to troubleshoot:

In order to experience the problem, it is enough to use "Preview on Device" while in "Sony Video Capture". This further verifies that the problem lies in the signal sent from Vegas to the camcorder and not in the camcorder's recording mechanism.

Now... for an even clearer idea of what I am seeing on the camcorder's LCD screen when I output the video using "Preview on Device", please look at the pictures I took at the following URL: http://linuxlover.50megs.com/photo2.html

I am still clueless about what's causing the problem and how to solve it. ANY hint would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lynn
OddDuck wrote on 5/26/2004, 10:23 PM
Hello. I am unfamiliar with the Pansonic equipment, but I had a similar problem with an old JVC 9500. It required I had a tape in *and playing* before plugging in the firewire.
linuxlover wrote on 5/27/2004, 3:37 PM
OddDuck, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, this is not the source of the problem as my Panasonic camcorder is used in exactly the same manner I used it before (when it used to work flawlessly) with the "Print to Tape" function.

That said, I just tried a small utility named, DVIO v1.32, which I downloaded from http://www.dawnload.net/video_software/video_capture_tools/dvio.cfm

I tried to use it to send video over FireWire/IEEE.1394 to the camcorder. It exhibited the same exact problem!

I think this pretty much proves that the problem is clearly NOT in Vegas, but rather in my system (hardware/OS) configuration.

Now... my hardware did NOT change since it worked flawlessly 3 months ago.
But before re-installing the OS (Windows 2000), I upgraded my mainboard's BIOS from version 1014 to 1016 (it's an ASUS P4P800 Deluxe). Windows 2000 also has newer hotfixes (both old and new installations had SP4 though).

I have only one FireWire device in the system - my Panasonic camcorder.

The chipset on my mainboard is "Intel i865P/PE/G/i848P rev. A2", not the infamous "VIA KT266A" described here: http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=282312&Page=0

Also, I have no explanation for why it works perfectly in capture, but not in print. Isn't the video (digital) signal travelling on the same wire (firewire)

Any ideas?

Many thanks!
Lynn
OddDuck wrote on 5/27/2004, 4:16 PM
In Vegas, with your camera connected, do you get a proper image at the camera when you "Preview on external monitor"?

Also, what are your settings under Preferences->Video Device ?

Have you attempted to remove the video device from the Device Manager (while it's plugged in), and letting windows re-install it?

Very strange as you say it worked perfectly before...
linuxlover wrote on 5/27/2004, 4:36 PM
No, I get the same exact problem when I "Preview on external monitor".

My settings under Preferences->Video Device are:

Device: OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394/DV
Details: This device supports recompression, Hot pluggable device, Device connected.
Format: NTSC DV
Sync offset (frames) 4
Record engage delay (frames): 7
[checked] Recomress edited frames (I tried without recompress, too - same problem).

I will try your suggestion of removing the video device from Device manager and report the results later.

Thanks,
Lynn
linuxlover wrote on 5/27/2004, 8:52 PM
OK. Here is the update on removing the device from Device Manager:

1. While camcorder is on (VCR mode), I uninstalled "Microsoft DV Camera and VCR"
(in Device Manager).
2. Then turned camcorder off, waited a few seconds and turned it on again.
3. Device automagically re-installed (this time with iyuv_32.dll that previously was missing).

I now tried to "Preview on external monitor" again - same exact problem. Agrrrrrrr....

linuxlover wrote on 5/28/2004, 5:44 AM
Update on troubleshooting (no light @ the end of the tunnel yet...) :

I just verified beyond any doubt that the problem is NOT in the camcorder or cable: I happened t o have an older PC with StudioDV 1.05 on it. I plugged in the camcorder (via same firewire cable) and recording/preview to camcorder works perfrectly.

However, DVIO 1.32 (on that older PC) seemed to exhibit the same problem I am seeing on the new PC. Is it possible that DVIO and Vegas are using some different methodology from StudioDV to send video over FireWire?

Weird.
linuxlover wrote on 5/30/2004, 7:17 AM
I managed to revive "Print to Tape" by disabling the IEEE194 onboard (crappy VIA controller, what else did you expect from a company like VIA?) and installing the Pinnacle IEEE1394 PCI card (TI controller) that I had from my old StudioDV that I bought years ago.

Not really a solution in my view, but it works and I spent far too much time on troubleshooting this problem. So, until I hear from ASUS (the manufacturer of my PC's motherboard) about some BIOS update that addresses this specific problem, I am not going to spend any more time on this.

Thanks everyone for your attempts to help.
slambubba wrote on 5/30/2004, 8:38 AM
i ran a patch for the via chipset that fixed my PPT problems. check out this thread.

also, try changing your audio device in the properties.
linuxlover wrote on 5/30/2004, 9:38 PM
slambubba, in my third post in this thread I indicated that the chipset on my mainboard is "Intel i865P/PE/G/i848P rev. A2", not the infamous "VIA KT266A" described in your thread. Thus unfortunately the solution that worked for you, did not work for me (I tried, believe me).

The amazing thing is that despite the fact that most of my ASUS motherboard (P4P800 Deluxe) is mostly Intel-based, VIA somehow managed to "sneak-in" its crappy products: the IDE RAID controller is VIA VT6410 and the IEEE1394 controller is VIA 6307.