VF VideoCapture dropping frames and freezing

gogiants wrote on 6/12/2002, 5:40 PM
I'm using the VideoFactory 2.0c demo version trying to make sure things work on my system.

When using Video Capture, I get a noticeably large number of dropped frames and a large amount of pixelation. Also, after about 2-4 minutes of capture, I get oen of two things happening:

1) "Windows - Delayed Write Failed" error messages, after which my external disk drive is dismounted and capture stops.
2) Capture app freezes up, and no .avi files are created. Have to forcibly stop the capture app and then restart it.

Normally I'd blame this on my configuration, since I'm on the lower end of the required config in terms of CPU, and since I'm using the same FireWire PC Card on my laptop to connect to my DV camera AND to my external FireWire 7200 rpm hard drive.

BUT, video capture works flawlessly in both ULead Video Studio v5.0 and v6.0. I really dislike everything else about ULead, so I'd love to get Video Factory working.

For what it's worth, the same things happen when I use the video capture feature of the Vegas Video 3.0 demo version.

Anyone else seen this? Any tips on configuring capture to work? Any theories on why ULead would work so well when Video Factory doesn't?

Thanks.

Comments

Grazie wrote on 6/13/2002, 12:58 AM
Hmmm... Are you sure you have in fact VF Version 2.0c? I think you have the demo version 2.0. I bought VF version 2.0 and then dowloaded the VF version 2.0c update - which amongst other things has a capture fix.

Gogiants, really research your version and build number to confirm your present state of affairs, otherwise, in my humble opinion, you maybe trying to start from a hobbled postion anyway. Please get back to us with your version/build number.

Another thing is that I elected to leave my 4-pin firewire Dell Qualified video port solely for that - and nothing else. I've bought a separate PCMCIA Maxtor firewire card which only deals with the editing aspects to a separate external Maxtor firewire 7200 rpm 60gb hd. You seem to be "squeezing" a lot of stuff through the same port. Have a look at the thread relating to this - can't figure out when this was, maybe within the last 30 days - anyway have a look it might be of value.

Hope this is of use,

Grazie
gogiants wrote on 6/13/2002, 3:12 AM
I double checked, and I am running 2.0c build 125, demo version. (This is the demo download now available on the Sonic Foundry site.)

I believe I found the postings you referred to. I did stop all other programs from running, but still had the problems.

I may try to use separate cards for the drive and the camera, but I'm wondering if there are any other guesses out there...

Thanks...
laz wrote on 6/13/2002, 3:36 AM
How did you stop all the b/ground progs from running; Ctrl,Alt,Delete? It's always surprising how many progs do run in b/g. Only Syst Tray and Explorer should be running otherwise dropped frames will be an issue.
Grazie wrote on 6/13/2002, 5:01 AM
Gogiants,

I use msconfig to make sure I have systray IS running and other win progs running or not. I definately get any virus protection and email virus scripting blocking out of the way. REMEMBER if you do stop these Anti virus progs. working make sure to activate them again, through msconfig, prior to going back onto the Internet!!!!

I'm running WinME I don't know how one stops this stuff working from within XP.

Grazie
gogiants wrote on 6/14/2002, 10:41 AM
I'm on Windows 2000, so indeed I did use Ctl-Alt-Del to stop the background programs that were running. That left me with over 160 Meg of free memory.

But, I still have the problem. It is often worse than skipped frames: after a minute or two, the VF capture program freezes up, leaving the camera running, but capturing no video at all. No captured .avi files are generated at all.
kcarroll wrote on 6/14/2002, 11:15 AM
I use a IEEE-1394 external Maxtor 80gb for video capture as my standard configuration, so I don't think that there is an inherent problem with using a 1394 storage device while capturing on the other 1394 port.

kcarroll
soundguy63 wrote on 6/14/2002, 1:46 PM
I would also make sure you have all the latest and proper Windows2000 drivers installed for all your equipment.