I'd try just capturing that part of the tape, +/- a minute. If it is the tape, then it will happen. If it's your computer, it won't happen. It could be that a process is trying to access the CPU/HD every x minutes, and that could drop frames.

An Antivirus, program accessing the internet, system monitoring program, all those could be a problem.

I conclude that because it does this with any tape, always choosing a particular scene. It could be a VHS tape I own, or it could be a DV tape of some kid's bar mitzvah.

I tried it again using your method, and sure enough it drops frames at that exact spot every time. However when I capture the video with my All In Wonder it doesn't drop the frames. And it also doesn't explain why Sony DV Camera tapes do this too?

Anyone please?

If it works with your AIW, I would conclude that there is a slight glitch on the tape, but your AIW doesn't care. Here's a work around:

Capture everything DV.
Capture just a minute using your AIW. Overlay that the bad spot with the AIW footage in Vegas. Re-render.

Check your IRQ settings. ensure that your firewire port is not sharing an irq with something else (USB controler or csoundcard?). If it is then when the other piece of hardware sharing the same IRQ wants to do something it will interrupt your firewire port for a few milliseconds while it does its thing which causes you to drop frames.

When you said you can capture ok withyour video card, thats most probably becasue it has its own IRQ.

jc

This is a huge possibility. How do I see that IRQ list thing? I know I've seen it before.

"I bought a nice DV to firewire product............."
........."Maybe it's because I am using my onboard firewire? Is that possible?"

I suspect that the above interaction is where the problem lies. Try going to the website for the "nice" DV to firewire product and look under FAQ for some clues.

John

John, that's impossible because you missed this part of my post:

Now before anyone blames the device I bought, the EXACT same problem comes along when I use my Sony DV camcorder with firewire outputs.

Here's the deal. I've had the same issue with my capture device (datavideo DAC-2).

Just because the tape appears to be fine doesn't mean it's fine. VCRs tend to have very crappy TBCs (time base correctors). This results in a weak sync signal. Strong enough for a TV to hold on to, strong enough for some cheap capture devices to hold on to, but when you try to run it through a top notch capture device it will lose sync. The 34 frames is the amount of time it takes your box to re-sync. Mine is 12 frames.

I brought a Sony DSR 45 home from the office, ran my VCR into it, and then into my computer via firewire. With the 45's better quality TBCs, it worked great. No dropped frames. Then I tried running the VHS into the 45, and then ran the analog outputs into my capture device. Worked perfectly again.

My solution was to pick up a datavideo TBC100 time base corrector PCI card. I think it was about $200. Run the video into that, then out of there into your capture box. The PCI card strips the sync signal off the VHS signal and completely replaces it with a stronger signal that your capture device should be able to lock up to.

Why do cheaper capture devices sometimes work better? Lower quality, less finesse.

Travis Ballstadt
www.thrillcatproductions.com

Travis, isn't there some way I can tell the program/capturing device to ignore the TBC? It's a VHS tape. I don't need any TBC.

This worked! I borrowed my boss's Sony VXD 2000 camcorder (really nice one with S Video In/Out and firewire) and it worked PERFECT. Thank you SO much! Now to return this crappy DV bridge I bought.

Also, can you tell me why capturing with this method produces like 2x the amount of interlacing than when using my DV bridge?

John, that's impossible because you missed this part of my post:

Now before anyone blames the device I bought, the EXACT same problem comes along when I use my Sony DV camcorder with firewire outputs.

===============

You never said what the other device was. Did it require an installation in Windows? If it did it may be causing a conflict regardless of which firewire device you try.

John

you need a TBC. You just need a better TBC than the one built into your VCR.

If I were you, I'd keep the capture box and get a TBC card. Unless you can use your boss' VX2000 for all your captures.