Pinnacle Dazzle Video Creator Platinum vs. Windows Movie Maker 2

[Guest]

I recently loaded Pinnacle's Dazzle Video Creator Platinum onto my PC that
has the Microsoft XP Media Center operating system on it, which includes
Windows Movie Maker 2. With the Pinnacle/Dazzle hardware and built-in
software package, I can hook my analog VCR to my PC and do a direct analog to
digital transfer of VHS tapes onto my PC. Then I can edit with the software
program that came with Dazzle Video Creator Platinum. I was hoping I would
also be able to use Movie Maker 2 with the Pinnacle/Dazzle hardware to
capture and edit video if I chose to. When I try to "capture video" from my
VCR using Windows Movie Maker 2 then I get an error message telling me that
"The device is not responding. Close any other application that is using the
device and try capturing again." I can use the Dazzle software to transfer
and edit, but Windows Movie Maker 2 has some functions that I like and I was
hoping it would recognize my VCR via the Pinnacle/Dazzle hardware hook-up.
My emails to Pinnacle have gotten me nothing but dumb or brush- off
responses, so I think I have asked them something beyond their technical
knowledge of their own product. Maybe Windows Movie Maker 2 is not
technically advanced enough yet to recognize and handle another
analog-digital transfer device? But I guess I want somebody with a lot more
experience than mine to give me that bad news. Unless I ask, then I will
never know if there is an answer out there. Thanks for any responses.

 

[Guest]

Hi Cyclone,

I have the same issue with the analog connections through WMM. If you get
your answer, please let me know.

Question for you: Does the Dazzle software let you "preview" your analog
feed before you actually have to capture it? In other words, could I use
that software to monitor a security cam connected to my PC with the analog
inputs?

Thanks

 

[John Inzer]

I recently loaded Pinnacle's Dazzle Video Creator Platinum onto my PC
that has the Microsoft XP Media Center operating system on it, which
includes Windows Movie Maker 2. With the Pinnacle/Dazzle hardware
and built-in software package, I can hook my analog VCR to my PC and
do a direct analog to digital transfer of VHS tapes onto my PC. Then
I can edit with the software program that came with Dazzle Video
Creator Platinum. I was hoping I would also be able to use Movie
Maker 2 with the Pinnacle/Dazzle hardware to capture and edit video
if I chose to. When I try to "capture video" from my VCR using
Windows Movie Maker 2 then I get an error message telling me that
"The device is not responding. Close any other application that is
using the device and try capturing again." I can use the Dazzle
software to transfer and edit, but Windows Movie Maker 2 has some
functions that I like and I was hoping it would recognize my VCR via
the Pinnacle/Dazzle hardware hook-up. My emails to Pinnacle have
gotten me nothing but dumb or brush- off responses, so I think I have
asked them something beyond their technical knowledge of their own
product. Maybe Windows Movie Maker 2 is not technically advanced
enough yet to recognize and handle another analog-digital transfer
device? But I guess I want somebody with a lot more experience than
mine to give me that bad news. Unless I ask, then I will never know
if there is an answer out there. Thanks for any responses.

=======================================
Maybe the following link will offer some ideas:

Analog video capture
using a Dazzle DVC 80
http://tinyurl.com/9xgmk

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Guest]

Hi Czakk. I can watch the VHS tape playing in my VCR without having to start
the actual "capture video" process. The capture section of the Dazzle
software includes a 3" x 4" video screen to watch what is playing in your
transfer device (in my case the VCR). I just open the capture section of the
software, hit the play button on my VCR, and I can watch the VHS tape without
doing any physical capture onto my PC hard drive. There is a separate button
on the same screen to do the actual "video capture" if you want to. I just
purchased this software over the weekend, but I am impressed with how well it
seems to work. Will know more when I get into transferring hours of VHC
tapes. Anyway, it looks like it might just work for your situation.

 

[Guest]

Hi John Inzer

After I get the error message I mentioned in my initial question, if I click
"ok" on that error message it brings up another error message over the top of
capture device window that tells me "The video device cannot be used at this
time because there was an error starting the device." The VCR is on. I
checked out your article about the Dazzle DVC 80, but it seems to pertain
more to using an analog video camera versus transferring directly from a VCR
hooked to the Dazzle hardware device. Unless somebody gives me further input
here, it looks like Windows Movie Maker 2 has trouble recognizing the newer
Dazzle DVC 170 hardware device, or, it has a problem handling input directly
from a VCR versus a video camera. For whatever reason.

 

[John Inzer]

Hi John Inzer

After I get the error message I mentioned in my initial question, if
I click "ok" on that error message it brings up another error message
over the top of capture device window that tells me "The video device
cannot be used at this time because there was an error starting the
device." The VCR is on. I checked out your article about the Dazzle
DVC 80, but it seems to pertain more to using an analog video camera
versus transferring directly from a VCR hooked to the Dazzle hardware
device. Unless somebody gives me further input here, it looks like
Windows Movie Maker 2 has trouble recognizing the newer Dazzle DVC
170 hardware device, or, it has a problem handling input directly
from a VCR versus a video camera. For whatever reason.

===============================
Sorry I don't have instructions for your
specific setup...all I have to offer are
general articles....

Capturing Analog Video
http://www.papajohn.org/MM2-CaptureAnalog.html

Download Video to Your
Computer with Windows
Movie Maker 2
http://tinyurl.com/4fpea

Convert VHS to DVD
http://www.signvideo.com/conv-v-to-d.htm

Copying VHS to DVD
http://tinyurl.com/dzcho

--

John Inzer
MS Picture It! MVP

Digital Image
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Guest]

Hi- I forgot to mention that I use the Dazzle device to capture from a vcr as
well as an analog camcorder.

 

[Burgy]

I bought Pinnacle 9 when it first came out....I had some issues with it
saving movies. I sent several emails to support.
That was ,what 2-3 years ago? Anyway , I'm still waiting for a reply.. Read
several articles from others who never got any support. When you buy another
'key' so you can use another feature though, your account is charged
immediately. Their bookkeepers are on the ball.

Mine is shelfware now, after wasting over $100 ...........
GOOD LUCK...

 

[Guest]

Hi Breadstick

I wish I was having your success. I am using the Dazzle DVC170 capture
device. It was also my understanding from talking to the people (Best Buy)
who sold me the Dazzle DVC170 hardware/sofware package that Windows Movie
Maker 2 would also work with it for editing. The Dazzle DVC 170 shows up
alright my in my Device Manager under "hardware" on my PC so I know it has
loaded onto my PC alright, but for some reason Windows Movie Maker 2 is
having trouble with it. I am trying to capture directly from a VCR. When I
go into Windows Movie Maker 2 and hit "capture from video device", I get an
error message that says, "The device is not responding. Close any other
application that is using the device and try capturing again". When I hit
the "ok" button on that error message, I get another error message along with
the Move Maker 2 viceo device capture screen under it. That error message
says, "The video device cannot be used at this time because there is an error
when starting the device." I get both of these error messages whether I have
the VCR turned on or not. I am having no trouble capturing video using the
software that came with my Dazzle DVC 170 using my current hook-ups, but for
some reason Move Maker 2 is not recognizing the Dazzle DVC 170 capture
device. The DVC 170 hooks directly into one of the USB ports on my PC, so it
is a no brainer hook-up. Is there anywhere that you can go and just download
Windows Movie Maker 2 by itself without doing the entire XP Service Pack 2
download. I am beginning to wonder if it is not a problem with how the
program for Windows Movie Maker 2 was originally loaded onto my PC. I am
also communicating with Pinnacle on this issue and they are telling me that
Windows Movie Maker 2 should work with the Dazzle DVC 170. All I know is
that there is something missing somewhere as far as connectivity between the
two.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the additional reading material John Inzer. I will glean what I
can from it. It could be that I am having problems because my PC has the
Windows XP Media Center operating system on it, versus just plain Windows XP.
I will keep asking questions until I find the answer. Has to be a way here.
Is there any place where I can contact a Microsoft tech via email with these
types of written questions. I believe it is a Microsoft issue rather than
anything wrong with the Dazzle product.

 

[Guest]

Hi Breadstick

Do you have any Pinnacle capture/ediitng software that came with your Dazzle
DVC 80 hardware device? Maybe the Pinnacle 10 capture/editing software that
I loaded with my Dazzle DVC 170 hardware device is creating confusion with
the Windows Movie Maker 2 software on my PC???

 

[Guest]

Hi cyclone47- I really understand your frustration. I installed the software
that came with the Dazzle 80 capture device. The software is called
Pinnacalle Studio 9 Quick Start Version 9.3.2. The Studio 9 program captures
vcr tapes well. After a project is rendered and saved as an .avi file, open
it into Moviemaker. The end result is essentially the same as doing it
directly in MM2 except for the extra step. So if all else fails you could do
it this way as a workaround--hopefully. Moviemaker is more friendly for me to
work with.
In the MM2 capure configuration window, the Pinnacalle 80 audio icon must
show. When it is highlighted the "audio sound bar" blinks, indicating, to me
at least, that the sound is active. The selection in the dropdown menu below
must be "Pinnaclle audio". Then if you hold your breath you're off and
running.
I have MM 2.1. If you have MM 2 it may mean you need 2.1 -- I don't really
know. Ordering an SP2 Disc from Microsoft (free) would ease the pain a bit
if it were to be installed. If any of this isn't clear, let me know.
Breadstick

 

[Newtechie]

Hi Cyclone,

I experienced a problem similar to yours a couple years ago when I started
with all this video editing. I used the Dazzle 80 for a couple of days
before returning it to Circuit City. I found my problem to be having both
programs open at the same time. If you have Pinnacle open, try closing it
and using just MM. I don't know if that'll work for you but it won't hurt
to try. You might also have to end any processes that's related to
Pinnacle. If you're curious to why I returned my Dazzle, it's because I had
a TV tuner on my graphics card and didn't know what it was at the
time...lol - it allows me to do capturing as well so it was need to have two
of them.

Hope this helps,
Newtechie

 

[Newtechie]

Just an FYI Cyclone, Movie Maker really doesn't like mpg files. It's best
to use DV-AVI or wmv format for better results. There's a wealth of
information on Papajohn's website: www.papajohn.org . If you click on the
(+) next to Analog Video Capture, there's actually a Dazzle topic that you
can click on and read about capturing using your device. Hope this helps.

Newtechie

 

[Newtechie]

Hi again Cyclone,

I don't know how much you paid for your Dazzle but in my personal opinion
I'd return it and get a TV tuner card. I got mine from Amazon for $65.
It's a Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-150MCE model. Here's a link just in case you're
interested. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00064GI2O/104-3557369-4179905

Newtechie

 

[Guest]

I'm afraid you are right about returning the Dazzle. I will look into the TV
Tuner card as a replacement option. I am thinking I should just go to one of
the small PC builder/repair businesses here in town and get their input.
Should have probably done that in the first place. They will probably have
the right product to sell me also. Thanks again.

 

[Guest]

Hi Breadstick

I wil check it out. Thanks for your input also. I may take Newtechie's
advice and scratch the Dazzle for a TV Tuner card. This time I will go to
one of the small shop PC builders here in town and get their expertise.
Should have done that in the first place, but I thought this would be a
simple deal. WRONG! To heck with the big box electronics stores.

 

[Guest]

I checked out the article on your sight Newtechie. Of course my files do not
look like the ones shown in that article. He has three more dll tiles
showing in his Movie Maker folder than I have, and I have one showing in my
Move Maker folder that he does not show. I noticed that he has three that
show as being an older version than the 2.1.4026.0 he says they should be?
Those are the three I do not have. There are some "visual" discrepencies in
this article also. His list of dll's does not agree with the actual tiles he
has showing in his folder. I did a printout on that particular section of
this article. You are not seeing his entire Movie Maker folder, but it
prints out complete. I do suspicion that Movie Maker 2 is not correctly
loaded on my PC though. And it came from Dell that way. Thanks for your
help again.

 

[Guest]

Sorry Breadstick. This should have gone to you. Thanks again.


I checked out the article on your sight Newtechie. Of course my files do not
look like the ones shown in that article. He has three more dll tiles
showing in his Movie Maker folder than I have, and I have one showing in my
Move Maker folder that he does not show. I noticed that he has three that
show as being an older version than the 2.1.4026.0 he says they should be?
Those are the three I do not have. There are some "visual" discrepencies in
this article also. His list of dll's does not agree with the actual tiles he
has showing in his folder. I did a printout on that particular section of
this article. You are not seeing his entire Movie Maker folder, but it
prints out complete. I do suspicion that Movie Maker 2 is not correctly
loaded on my PC though. And it came from Dell that way. Thanks for your
help again.

 

[Guest]

Hi Newtechie. I found the paragraph below from the papajohn website. This
might be my problem. My Dazzle is only capable of MPEG-1/2, MPEG-4, and DivX
capture formats. If WMM does not like MPEG, then it looks like I am out of
luck using it along with the Dazzle capture device. Mine is Dazzle DVC 170,
but the situation with WMM would be the same.

2/9/04 - I am trying to use WMM to capture analogue video from my VCR
through a Dazzle Digital Video Creator 150. WMM states a "video capture
device was not detected". > The Dazzle 150 is an MPEG2 capture device.
Unfortunately, Movie Maker cannot currently capture MPEG2. This is why Movie
Maker can't "see" your capture device.