Timecode prevents scene detection

[Arkbob]

I captured a Hi-8 analog video by using the analog pass-
through in a digital camcorder, creating an AVI file.
Moviemaker imports the file but it will not automatically
detect the scene changes. I'm pretty sure that the reason
is that there are no breaks in the DV-generated
timecodes. If the timecodes were not present, I think
that MM would use the scene changes to create separate
clips.

Question: How can I get MM to ignore the timecode and use
scene changes to generate clips? Or, how can I strip the
timecode from the AVI file?

Thanks, Bob

 

[PapaJohn]

I don't think you can force it. See the info about auto scene detection on
the Importing Source Files > Video > Introduction page of my website. I use
a Hi8 camcorder and have to do my own scene splitting when I capture by
playing the tape in a digital8 camcorder.

 

[arkbob]

John,

Thanks for the reply. I guess I have these choices:
(a) Use another (hopefully free or cheap) capture program
that creates scene-based clips.
(b) Find a way to disable the timecode (datacode) in the
DV camcorder that I use for analog pass-through. (The
Sony support site says that the code isn't passed with a
USB or iLink transfer. However, I used firewire to my
Gateway and the timecode is there, showing on the MM
timeline.)
(c) Find a non-destructive AVI>AVI conversion that strips
the datacode without altering the video content (in the
way that AVI>WMV>AVI would do.) I wonder if VirtualDub
with the Panasonic codec would do the trick?

BTW, great web site (papajohn.org). It will be my first
stop for questions about MS MM.

Thanks again, Bob

 

[Guest]

I've had the same problem. I eventually captured my video through Ulead Video Studio 7.0 which allows you to run a scene detection scan of your video. It doesn't look for timecode changes, which only DV will have. Like you said the timecode that's added during pass through is one continual code. It looks for changes in scene elements (lighting changes, camera angle changes, subject changes). You can set the sensitivity on this as well. It does a great job splitting up your scenes. The only problem I had was that the program isn't as intuitive as Movie Maker so it takes some study to get comfortable with it.
Right now, I'm capturing my video through Ulead, importing the AVI to Movie Maker and doing my editing from there. Kind of low tech, but I'm comfortable with editing in Movie Maker.