Capturing video from DV camera

[Guest]

I'm having a problem capturing the video from my mini dv camera. I have a
laptop with a firewire and an adapter card. Everything seems to be set up
correctly with all the appropriate drivers and software. When I go to
capture video, using the camcorder controls in Windows Movie Maker the video
will start to play and after about 2 seconds freeze up. What's strange is
that the camcorder keeps playing. Also, I have no problem rewinding or
fastforwarding the camera using the Movie Maker buttons. It's only when I go
to play the video that it hangs up every time. Can someone help me figure
out where the problem may be? Thanks.

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Try a test capture using the WinDV utility (link on the digital camcorders >
intro page of my site)... if you have the same issue, it'll be someplace
between your capture device and camcorder.
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 and Photo Story 3 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
..

 

[John Kelly]

Hello,

I am assuming that you mean you are previewing the tape via the window in
Movie Maker and it is in that window that the video freezes.

First though, that freezing is a separate issue to any issue you could have
had with the controls...So the fact the controls work is not in itself an
indicator.

The video freezing in the preview has a number of possible causes and they
are all related..so the solution is as follows..

1) Go to the website for the manufacturer of your video card and download
the latest driver. Please note...do not get this driver from Microsoft or
from the chipset manufacturer...such as NVidia. Those drivers are generic
and conform to the base specification for the particular chipset. The card
manufacturer as in the case with one of my video cards may make changes to
the implementation of the chipset and therby gain some extra speed or
feature.

2) Go to Microsoft and grab the latest version of DirectX which I believe
is Ver 9.0c (It is VERY important that you do not take the option to
install over the internet...there are good reasons for that...but I'll keep
it short and not bother explaining

3) While at Microsoft grab the full version of either Windows Media Player
9 or 10 again...do not install it over the net

4) If you have a good broadband connection download the full package of
service Pack 2...grab the developers version as it is the most complete of
all those offered...If no broadband look for SP2 on a free cd of a computer
mag

The Method
---------------
A) Reboot the machine

B) Install Graphics Driver and reboot the machine again

C) Install DirectX and reboot again

D) Install Media Player and reboot

E) Finally install SP2 and reboot again

Rebooting forces Windows to close any file locks that may be in place. Such
a lock can cause an install process to fail and you may not be informed
that a failure happened...yes there are a couple of "IF's" in there...but
rebooting removes the possibility completely.

Give that lot a try and let us know if it fails for you...the procedure has
solved a lot of troubles for others so you stand a good chance of solving
yours.

--
Have A Nice Day.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org
www.the-kellys.co.uk
Check out free video hosting at www.the-kellys.org
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(oo)
----------ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------
All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value is
obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work

 

[George Ellis]

To add, if you do all of John's recommendations, don't forget the audio
drivers. They can also play a role in this.

 

[John Kelly]

Yes, that's a point I decided I was going to put in my FAQ and never got
around to doing it....thanks for reminding me. I will get around to it
tomorrow, or maybe the week end

`She who must be obeyed is giving me one of those looks just now.....Its a
good job she is too far away from the screen to be able to read
it.............Ouch Wrong again

--
Have A Nice Day.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org
www.the-kellys.co.uk
Check out free video hosting at www.the-kellys.org
----
\|||/
(oo)
----------ooO-(_)-Ooo-------------
All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value is
obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work