Panasonic NV-GS - Can't capture the video in my PC

N

nineu

Hi, we bought a Video Camea last year, its a Panasonic NV-GS 50. When
installed the drivers, I captured the photos that we recorded on th
card and I didn't have any problems. Now I'm trying to capture a vide
from my panasonic camera to windows movie maker (the camera is connecte
to my computer via a USB cable), the video is saved on tape and I can'
see it. I mean I can see it directly from the video camera, its there
but I can't see it from my PC. The only thing that I can see via P
are the photos saved in the card. Unfortunally I can't find the cd-
with the drivers so I don't know if I missed something when I did th
installation last year or what.... can anybody help please??

Nine
 
T

Trevor L.

Hi,

We (my wife and I) have recently bought a Panasonic GS-35 so my experience
may help you.

You a quite correct that you can only get the still pictures on the card
when using the PC setting on the video camera.

For video download, you need the program Panasonic MotionDV STUDIO LE for DV
which should have been supplied on a CD with the video camera. On my PC it
installed as "C:\Program Files\Panasonic\MotionDV STUDIO LE for
DV\MotionDVSTUDIO.exe". The entire installation on this folder is about
100MB.

To use the program to download the video, set the camera to video replay,
position at the beginning of the tape, connect via USB2 and start the
program. Use Editing Assistant which will guide you through the steps.

The program creates files in .avi format. For 60 minutes of tape, you need
approx. 13.3 GB (18 minutes ~= 4GB). You will then need to output the file
in MPEG1 format, an operation that takes about 8-9 hours for 60 minutes.
(Unless of course you are willing to work with the .avi format - I am told
it is better, but uses a lot of disk space.)

Note that firewire is *not* needed for this operation, although it may work
better. (This is something I cannot test, since I don't have it.) I read
this advice and was dismayed to think I would have to invest in another
card, etc, on the PC. However, USB2 certainly works quite O.K. with MotionDV
STUDIO.

I don't know what to suggest if you can't find the program on C:\Program
Files\Panasonic\ and you can't find the CD. Perhaps check with your dealer
and/or the Panasonic Website (www.panasonic.com in North America). I just
had a quick look at this site and unfortunately I can't find anything about
software downloads.

Good luck and hope it goes O.K.,
Trevor L.
Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au
 
C

Cari \(MS-MVP\)

You will find that USB 2.0 is not as fast as firewire in the real world and
you will end up with plenty of dropped frames if you use that rather than
USB.
 
T

Trevor L.

Cari,

Do you mean "you will end up with plenty of dropped frames if you use
that (USB2.0) rather than *firewire*."

If so, I will definitely get a firewire card. Just not sure how I would use
it with MotionDV STUDIO. I suppose it a case of "suck it and see" - don't
know whether that is an Aussie expression or not .
 
N

nineu

Hi, thanks to all of you for your replies. I will try them asap.
About the Panasonic MotionDV program, unfortunatelly I can't find the
CD-s that we get with the camera.
I checked also the Panasonic web page but I can't find any driver
downloads... you can get the "Titles" but nothing else.... if anybody
knows where to download the drivers PLEASE let me know. Last year we
installed the camera drivers in my sister's pc and now that we've got
our PC we'd like to use this one. Thanks a lot.

Nineu
 
N

nineu

I suppose I can do that also. I've heard about a program calle
"MyDrivers" that helps you with this but I haven't used it yet. Doe
anybody know any good program to backup/restore drivers?

An
 
T

Trevor L.

Hi,

If you insatlled the drivers on your sister's PC, did you also instal the
Panasonic MotionDV?
If so, this is a good place to copt it from
 
T

Trevor L.

Thanks Graham,
I capture in .avi. It is about 4Gb per 18 minutes, so I think this is
probably the highest quality.

I don't understand the reference to motiondv. I know I have a DV connection
on the camera. So I suppose if I install a firewire card, I use a cable from
the DV connection on the camera to the firewire port. But what will the
Panasonic program do? Are you saying it will pick up the camera, or will
Windows XP do that?
 
G

Graham Hughes

Motiondv is acapture and edit programme, so when you connect the cam via
firewire the programme should list the cam as a capture device.
If you are capturing avi at 4gb per 18 mins (full frame dv-avi) and are
happy with the way you work, I'd suggest leaving be, if it ain't broke don't
fix it :)

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com
 
T

Trevor L.

Thanks Graham

I am being stupid because I referred to motiondv myself as MotionDV STUDIO
LE for DV. For some reason I didn't recognise it in lower case. Perhaps I
thought it was a generic term - having an old person's day, I guess. :))

Yes, I am happy with the quality of dv-avi, but I can't write over 12 GB to
a DVD, so I convert it to MPEG1 via MotionDV STUDIO LE for DV. I think the
quality suffers somewhat. Perhaps I need to use other formats. I have used
DivX converter, so I wonder whether it would convert dv-avi and whether
would get a file small enough for DVD, and whether it is compatible with DVD
format.
 
G

Graham Hughes

Always capture as dv-avi. Then as you have done use another app to get the
required format for teh end product.
You say you have converted to mpeg1, this is vcd and about the same quality
as a good vhs tape.
For dvd you need a dvd authoring app which will allow you to convert the
dv-avi to mpeg2, then wrap it in a vob file so a std dvd player can play it.
1 hour dv-avi = 13gb, which a normal app will convert to about 4gb mpeg2 and
will fit on one disc, at best quality.
The likes of nero/roxio will do this f you have the latest full versions.
I'm not sure if motiondv will do it.
Using divx will limit the amount of players, you'd need a divx dvd player.

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com
 
T

Trevor L.

Thanks, Graham

It seems like MotionDV STUDIO LE for DV only has the one output format -
MPEG1. When this output was written to DVD, it did appear lesser quality.

The other video editor I have is Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3.5 Suite Deluxe. I
don't know what format it writes to. I also have the RAD Video Tools by
Bink. Maybe one of these will write MPEG2

I have used DivX to write some files to a portable player (MP3 type)
 
G

Guest

I don't think you need MotionDV at all.

I don't undestand all this nonsense about firewire being the only way for DV
etc. All you need is a USB 2.0 HS port, Windows XP SP2 (that includes the
video stream driver) and enough space on your hard drive. Then your camcorder
is recognized. Then Windows Movie Maker or any video capturing/editing
software will do the job.
 
G

Graham Hughes

And you have this working?

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com


Dio said:
I don't think you need MotionDV at all.

I don't undestand all this nonsense about firewire being the only way for
DV
etc. All you need is a USB 2.0 HS port, Windows XP SP2 (that includes the
video stream driver) and enough space on your hard drive. Then your
camcorder
is recognized. Then Windows Movie Maker or any video capturing/editing
software will do the job.
Click to expand...
 
G

Guest

Yes, I capture with Windows Movie Maker for exemple.
I was told I would have problems with the sound as USB transfer was supposed
to create type 1 AVI files, but I had no problems. My files are type 2 AVI (I
verified with DVdate) and when I import them into my editing software the
sound is there.

I have 0 dropped frames, and I use my camcorder as a webcam as well.

But you need SP2 (or the Video Stream Driver included in the Panasonic CD)
or a hotfix for this to work.

Graham Hughes said:
And you have this working?

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com


Dio said:
I don't think you need MotionDV at all.

I don't undestand all this nonsense about firewire being the only way for
DV
etc. All you need is a USB 2.0 HS port, Windows XP SP2 (that includes the
video stream driver) and enough space on your hard drive. Then your
camcorder
is recognized. Then Windows Movie Maker or any video capturing/editing
software will do the job.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 

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