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Video Editors
Happy Expat:
4wd: I see, I'm now trying to beg, borrow or steal a Sony 8)
Vurbal: I guess you weren't kidding when you promised me the potential of frustration.
VirtualDub was unpacked on the 32bit XP machine and then placed in the c:\Program folder and run from an Admin account.
Everything was connected via EZCAP and VD found the device. In Capture mode, VD displayed the Camera's entry Screen with Date/time display.
Activating play on the Camcorder gave me a functioning playback in VD and sound from the external speakers.
I named the target location for saved files and then started playback on the Camcorder, I selected "test video capture" but VD's display blanked. I had noticed a parameter to suppress the monitor and suspected this was the cause. I didn't bother to change anything but simply stopped the "test" and then proceeded with a live capture. Again the monitor was blank but I could hear the soundrack so I simply continued for a few seconds and then "stopped" the capture.
When I tried to open the file in VD the target directory was displayed but explorer crashed.
Error Signature: AppName: explorer.exe AppVer: 6.0.2900.5512 ModName: shmedia.dll ModVer: 6.0.2900.5512 Offset: 0000ac54
The detailed error report can't be cut and pasted and because I chose the option not to send the report to MS the anticipated detailed log file (C:\DOCUME~1\THEFAT~1\LOKALA~1\Temp\c002_appcompat.txt) was never created, or at least, I was never able to find it :-(.
I bit the bullet and tried to do it again, this time to try to capture the log file before saying no or by saying yes to transmit. I now can't see the camcorder output. If I stop playback then a single frame is displayed which seems to be the first frame on the tape. This is a "ghost" from previous attempts because if I access the settings menu it clears and if I restart VD, it resets to the current Camcorder status screen. Any attempt to capture the output in either test or genuine mode simply results in a capture error poppup and the message "unable to start video capture".
Two attempts to capture were made and two small files created. Both files could be opened with VD but were empty. Heres the Media info on one of those files just in case it's significant.
hidden textGeneral
Complete name : C:\Users\Colin\Downloads\VDtest2.avi
Format : AVI
Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave
File size : 10.0 KiB
Video
ID : 0
Format : YUV
Codec ID : YUY2
Codec ID/Info : YUV 4:2:2 as for UYVY but with different component ordering within the u_int32 macropixel
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 3:2
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:2
Compression mode : Lossless
Audio
ID : 1
Format : PCM
Format settings, Endianness : Little
Format settings, Sign : Signed
Codec ID : 1
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 3 072 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 96.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Alignment : Aligned on interleaves
I now can't re-create the first error conditions because of the "new" capture error status so I simply can't provide a representative windows crash log file.
Is there a VD log/crash file that I can inspect?
As soon as the explorer error condition is acknowledged then Explorer (not the machine) re-boots. If I then try to use the Start Menu to get to the file location it still crashes immediately the location is accessed. However, if I take the route through Computer\C:\Docs and Settings\etc I can at least "open" the appropriate folder but as soon as I attempt to even right click the supposed video file then Explorer crashes. I do briefly get the right click context menu. I can access other files/folders in that directory but not the offending video clip - even mouse-over causes a crash.
I was able to remove the file only by capturing it in a marquee and then deleting it AND I EMPTIED THE WASTE BIN AND REBOOTED FOR GOOD MEASURE so, NO, I can't provide any kind of header or any other information from that particular menace!
For the record, a subsequent capture test utilising Showbiz successfully completed, so, if there are any common .dlls or CODECS they remain in functioning condition.
4wd:
Not trying to muddy waters or anything but you might try VirtualVCR.
Video Editors
Hit the Settings button to get:
Video Editors
Under the File tab set your output file name/location, check the Add Compatibility Index, and optionally whether you want to keep the stats output and/or have the date/time in the file name.
Video Editors
Under the Audio tab, check Capture Audio. Click the Input Settings button and select your input volume control, (I have to use Front Mic input and Master Volume on my machine), and set the volume level.
Video Editors
Check Compress Audio and select PCM, click the Properties button and select the highest 44.1kHz Stereo setting.
Video Editors
This bit is going to be completely different for you. Under the Devices tab, select your Video/Audio device, select the Video Source, and then under Device Settings there'll be an entry pertaining to Video Capture, (there may be more than one), click the Properties button and make sure the Stream Format is correct. Yours will probably say NTSC-M or J, Frame Rate 29.97, Color Space YUY2, and 720x480 (default).
You can OK out of settings now and click the Save button, (next to Settings button). Click the Stats button, (second from right), and move the Stats window out of the way.
This sets VirtualVCR up to capture RAW video with PCM audio, space required for the capture will be ~1.2GB/minute, (600GB is good for about 7-8 hours recording).
Here's the Stats window:
Video Editors
The ones of most interest are: Dropped(2), Time/Space Left, and A/V Rate Matching
The first two are how many frames have been dropped due to: poor quality tape, high CPU/HDD usage due to other processes interfering, sync correction if necessary, etc.
Time/Space Left tell you how much more recording you can do to that drive.
A/V Rate Matching informs you of how well synced the output is likely to be - you want the Video fps to be as close to the standard as possible, at the same time you want the Audio sampling rate to be as close as possible to what you chose. The Delta to be as small as possible.
If you're having problems with keeping A/V sync then you can try playing with the A/V Sync settings.
Until you get the input set up correctly I'd probably enable the Smart Tee filter under Settings->View, this will allow you to view the video stream, (this doesn't work under Windows 8). After you've got the inputs set, I'd disable it as it puts unnecessary load on the system, something you don't want while capturing.
Just having played with VirtualVCR again, I have to say I'm impressed with Windows 8.1 - one dropped frame over 10 minutes while I was typing this and other programs running in the background. Something that wasn't even remotely possibly under Windows 7 on my machine previously, I would have had to kill almost all tasks and even then it'd be touch and go.
Happy Expat:
4wd: Have found a Sony DCR TRV-355 which seems to have AV interface component video and s.video - not sure if it's one of these that's supposed to connect to firewire.
specs attached - does that seem to fit the bill?
hidden text
Part Number:DCR-TRV355
General
Packaged Quantity 1.0
Product Type Camcorder
Localization English
Digital Zoom 700.0 x
Camcorder Media Type Digital8
Optical Sensor Size 1/6"
Optical Sensor Type CCD
Min Illumination 0.0 lux
Analog video format PAL
Digital Video Format MPEG EX
Special Effects Mosaic,
Chroma Key,
Old Movie,
Solarization,
Slim,
Sepia,
Trail,
Flash Motion,
Still,
Luminance Key,
Stretch,
Monotone,
Low Shutter Speed (LSS),
Negative Art,
Pastel
Image Stabilizer Electronic (Super Steady Shot)
Digital Scene Transition Bounce fader,
Mosaic fader,
Overlap fader,
Random,
Monotone fader,
Black fader,
Window wipe
Min Shutter Speed 0.33333334 sec
Max Shutter Speed 0.00025 sec
Shooting modes Digital photo mode
Shooting Programs Sunset & moon,
Beach & ski,
Portrait mode,
Landscape,
Sports mode,
Spotlight
White Balance Automatic
Exposure Modes Automatic,
Program
Camera Flash None
Image Recording Format JPEG
Webcam capability Yes
AV Interfaces Component video,
S-Video
Lens System
Type 20.0 x x Zoom lens - 2.5 mm - 50.0 mm - F/1.6-2.4
Lens aperture F/1.6-2.4
Optical Zoom 20.0 x
Lens system type Zoom lens
Min focal length 2.5 mm
Max focal length 50.0 mm
Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
Filter Size 37.0 mm
Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera -855.0 mm
Focus Adjustment Automatic,
Manual
Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
Additional Features
Built-in Light Yes
Low Lux / Night Mode Yes
DV input Yes
Additional Features Backlight compensation,
Built-in speaker,
Digital noise reduction
Software Drivers & Utilities,
PIXELA Image Mixer
Included Accessories Power adapter,
Camcorder shoulder strap,
Audio / video cable,
IR remote control,
SCART adapter,
Lens cap,
USB cable
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Type LCD
Viewfinder Diagonal Size 0.44 in
Viewfinder Resolution 113000.0 pixels
Display
Type 2.5 in LCD display
Connections
Connector Type 1.0 x DC power input,
1.0 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire/i.LINK),
1.0 x Control-L (LANC),
1.0 x S-Video input / output,
1.0 x Microphone,
1.0 x USB,
1.0 x Composite video/audio (input/output)
Memory / Storage
Media type Digital8
Memory Card Slot Memory Stick card
Image Storage Standard JPEG 640 x 480 : 40.0 VA - With 8MB card,
Super-fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 122.0 VA - With 8MB card,
Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 81.0 VA - With 8MB card
Video Capture MPEG - 160 x 112,
MPEG - 320 x 240
Video Recording Modes SP,
LP
Battery
Supported Battery 1.0 x Li-ion rechargeable battery - 700.0 mAh ( Included )
Audio Input
Audio input type Microphone
Microphone type Built-in
Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Microphone technology Electret condenser
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Power
Mfr estimated battery life 105.0 min
Viewfinder / Display
Display Features Rotating
Viewfinder Color Support Black & white
Physical Characteristics
Width 3.5 in
Depth 7.8 in
Height 4.0 in
Weight 1.8 lbs
Happy Expat:
Vurbal: My 90minute tapes are going to produce more file than the drive space on my xp machine (x32 with a dual core 3.2ghz processor). I can plug in a USB 1TB transcend drive (would USB be fast enough?) or simply transfer the project to the bigger machine where I've got 1.7TB of free space and the pluggable potential. I'm also assuming that once the files are encoded into the final format they take a little less space.
It is quite convenient to utilise the XP for projects like this but whilst I'm biting bullets..........
4wd:
4wd: Have found a Sony DCR TRV-355 which seems to have AV interface component video and s.video - not sure if it's one of these that's supposed to connect to firewire.-Happy Expat (March 09, 2014, 12:33 AM)
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What country are you in?
I had thought you were in the USA. That models PAL, as long as the Hi8 tapes are recorded in PAL there should be no problem.
The TRV-355 would be suitable according to specs, it has Firewire, (IEEE1394), and according to this review on Amazon it should fit the bill nicely.
I had been concerned that I would not be able to save my old Hi8 tapes that had been taken over tha past 8 years when my old camcorder packed up. I trawled the net to find a product that could use my old tape format Hi8 but also give me the new digitised system Digital 8 of recording. Well, this camera does it and more! Within minutes of it's arrival I was linked up and downloading my video footage. [Pre order a firewire cable]. ......
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To transfer DV from the camcorder will require ~2GB for every 10 minutes of footage IIRC.
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