Need some help moving miniDV to computer over firewire

[Chapbass]

Hey all,

So, im trying to take a hv20 camcorder and put its content (from a minidv tape) to a computer over firewire.

The problem lies in the fact that the 60min tape gets to somewhere between 35 and 42 minutes, and then the capture software basically stops. The tape keeps playing on the camcorder, but it almost looks like the capturing software (I have tried both pinnacle studio and winDV) thinks that the tape is done.


One thing I noticed is that this happens right at the change of a scene. The problem is, if i fast forward to the later scene, and try and start a NEW capture from there, the program just displays a black screen, like there isnt anything coming through the tape.


Now, the tape WAS recorded on a sony camcorder, which I might be albe to have access to...anyone think that will fix it? I've done a little googling, but nothing has come back as a for sure.

Anyone have any ideas i can try? Oh, btw, Ive tried it in two different computers as well, same result.


MODS: I might post a copy of this in the Software for Windows sub, but if youd rather not feel free to delete/lock it. Thanks

 

[gsellis]

This sounds like either a drop frame problem or a "TC", time code, break. Does the tape time change back to zero at that point? Was the whole tape recorded on the Sony? Was it just a Sony standard definition mini-DV or was it HDV (SOL if HDV).

Normally, if it is a TC break, the work around is to fast forward to the "new" section and start a new reel (advanced editors), but with the apps you say, a new project. Record from there. Export as DV, and import that into your project for the first of the tape. It may be that the TC break also has a format change and Studio and WinDV are trying to interpret it as the previous part of the tape. They do not mix formats like an advanced editor will.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Just wondering, have you tried using different programs to import the tape?

 

[gsellis]

FullMetal... He cross posted and it is explained better in the Software thread. The guy who shot the video mixed SD and HDV on the same tape from 2 different cameras. Doh.

 

[ScottMac]

How much drove space do you have on the target drive?

Raw DV can eat an amazing amount of space in a short time.

Check it out. Also, defrag your drive, as you fall below ~10-20% of available space, it takes longer to find a sector/cluster to put the information and the buffer can overflow (causes and error, causes an abort).

 

[gsellis]

Here is what happens in this case. The editor usually sets that capture based on the timeline. In this case, the editor was not HDV aware. The first part of the tape was recorded in SD. In the middle of the tape, either with or without a broken timecode, the format flags changed from DV in SD to MPEG-2 Packetized Stream. The camera plays it, but the editor does not (both understand MPEG-2, but not HD MPEG-2 PS. So, it plays on the camera but black in the capture (usually it is green). In advanced editors, usually you have to create two reels like you would with a TC break and record both seperately.