Video imported from Mini DV is juttery and broken up.

Ronald-Long wrote on 2/17/2021, 5:05 AM

Hello,
Finally decided to back up our mini DV tapes. No matter what program I use, the end result is a very juttery, broken up video. It looks fine when I simply play it back on my Canon Zr70 MC recorder. I used several free programs (winDV etc..) and finatlly decided to give Vega a shot and got the same result.


Additionally, it seems that the video is getting broken up into tiny segments. I don't want it to do that, but can't figure out how to stop it. I just want to transfer the entire tape, as is, to one file.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

I'm using the trial version of Vegas Movie Studio. Will buy it once I can get the import to work correctly

I'm doing this in a Windows 10 computer (latest build) and had to purchase a new firewire card so I could connect the Recorder. I've updated the drivers.

Comments

EricLNZ wrote on 2/17/2021, 5:09 AM

It appears to be a camera or camera to pc problem if all editing programmes give the same result. Maybe a problem firewire cable or camera outlet connection. Try a different cable and if that doesn't fix it get your camera checked.

Musicvid wrote on 2/17/2021, 5:29 AM

Be sure to use a firewire interface, not USB.

Turn off scene detection.

Turn off Device Control.

Clean tape heads, rollers, and capstans properly.

For troubleshooting your firewire card, see this excellent article.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/proxy/0c663c9b8c2b549708bc/?link=https%3A//www.studio1productions.com/Articles/Firewire-1.htm

Ronald-Long wrote on 2/17/2021, 12:57 PM

Thanks to you both for the quick responses. I actually solved the issue this morning. I went into the settings on the Canon and there's a setting to output as AV or DV. It was set to AV, which I assume is Analog Video and I swtiched it to DV (Digital Video?). No more weirdness.
But I appreciate the other advice as well as that link. Good stuff there. Wish I had found that last week when I was shopping for a firewire card. And I don't think I've cleaned the heads on that...ever! I've had it at least 15 years, so I'll do that!

 

Musicvid wrote on 2/17/2021, 1:31 PM

Find a highly rated miniDV head cleaner on Amazon.

Even QTips and alcohol can scratch your heads, and working tape camcorders are getting harder to find at Goodwill.

Ronald-Long wrote on 2/17/2021, 4:00 PM

Find a highly rated miniDV head cleaner on Amazon.

Even QTips and alcohol can scratch your heads, and working tape camcorders are getting harder to find at Goodwill.

Wise advice! Thanks again.