Vegas & HC5 capture problems

SA1 wrote on 9/14/2007, 5:47 PM
I don't seem to be able to capture DV from my HC5. When downloading HDV it works fine and but there is no option to select the camera when it is in DV mode or when I have a DV tape from another camcorder my HC5. (My friend has a PC1000 and some material he recorded I want to capture).

When you select the IEEE firewire port under devices there is the option to select HC5 below it in HDV but this disappears in DV mode.

I'm still finding my feet with the software but I've worked through all the tutorials and I'm tearing my hair out. I have to capture it through windows movie maker at the moment and then import the AVI file. This seems to work fine but is not ideal. It also indicates to me that there is nothing wrong with the tapes or camera as WMM picks it up with no problems but Vegas doesn't with the same settings.

All help gratefully appeciated!

Comments

Eugenia wrote on 9/14/2007, 5:52 PM
I smell that this is a bug of the camera then, not exposing itself correctly to the system when in DV mode...
4eyes wrote on 9/15/2007, 12:29 AM
Make sure that the cam is in internal downconvert and the other setting in the cam for HDV or DV read is set to automatic.

I don't know if your aware that capturing DV is a different module, actually seems to launch another program, it's not the same as capturing HDV, totally different interface.
Under Options or Preferences there is a TAB that says use this program for capturing, you need to check this option ON. I think the program is called Vidcap.exe.
Then restart VMS and turn your cam on. Hit capture and a box should appear asking to to capture DV or HDV, when you answer DV it will launch the other program.

SA1 wrote on 9/16/2007, 9:07 AM
Wow, the joy of forums, worked first time.
Many thanks 4eyes.
4eyes wrote on 9/16/2007, 9:29 AM
In VMS8-Platinum I have this setting unchecked. When I hit capture the box appears whether to capture DV or HDV. Not sure what happens if you check the box off that says "Do not display this message again". Maybe toggling the checkbox on and off in the configuratiion panel will reset whether the message is displayed again or not.
You have the hang of it.
tstephen wrote on 9/16/2007, 10:09 PM
What does the interface to capture HDV look like. I have a Sony HC7 and when I select capture I get the dialog box you mention asking if I want to capture HD or HDV. If I select HD I go to the familiar interface from MS7. If I select HDV it comes up with the "Device Not Available" message on the preview window and no camera controls are available. I just finished a small project importing HDV but I think the application that downloaded the files was the Sony software that came with the camera. I downloaded the clips to a folder and then brought the files into MS8 using import. I don't think MS8 recognizes the camera in HDV mode which is weird as it's a Sony camera and Sony software. Any suggestions?
4eyes wrote on 9/16/2007, 10:32 PM
I suggest going to version 8 plat for highdefintion.
After the pop-up box select HDV.
Hit the Icon above the capture preview window that says Pref (preferences), go to the device tab or the 3rd tab on the right, click on the dropdown box and your cam should be listed.
You can also assign the capture directory is this screen & other options.
Until you start capturing if you click outside of the capture preview window you will lose focus on the cam. This doesn't happen during capture.
The preview will be choppy and playback of HDV will be choppy on the timeline. This is normal for VMS 7 Platinum and is explained in the VMS7 ReadMe file. Capturing, playback and working with HDV works much better in VMS8_Plat, which can also split by scene while capturing.
tstephen wrote on 9/17/2007, 1:08 PM
Thanks for the response.
I am using V MS Platinum 8.0b (build 122) - sorry I wasn't clear on that.
Dropdown box does not show my Sony HC7 camera (or any others) listed.
I can assign or change capture directory.
There are no camera controls available (all dimmed)
I upgraded to V MS8 (Platinum) to facilitate HDV capture/edit and don't understand why the app doesn't see my camera in HDV but I can capture/control from it with same wired firewire connection in SDV.
My workaround has been to use the Sony Picture Utility software that came with the camera (SPUTapeImporter.exe) to capture the vid to a folder and then import into V MS8. Additional weird thing is that when I capture to a folder then open the folder to see files - Explorer crashes. Finally, I changed the folder view to List or Detail - (avoiding thumbnails) and the crashes stopped. Got 1 GB mem and a GeForce 5200 card as I thought it was memory at first but think now it's something else.
4eyes wrote on 9/17/2007, 6:42 PM
It sounds like you in the DV capture program and not the HDV capture.
The HDV capture is done on the same interface and shows up on the left side of the explorer window.

You may have to contact tech support.