View Full Version : Captured Video and Playback Quality


Norm & Debbie

Group,

I'm using a Sony DV Camera Model DCR-HC40 with a USB cable, MM2 with XP Home
as a platform. The capture video appears like the pixels are off, the color
is in shades of gray but the audio is clear. After processing through MM2
the playback in Media Play, Real Player and DivX Player is the same poor
quality. I have tried increasing the resolution on the computer to no
effect and changing the configuration in the capture wizard to no effect.
When the resolution is changed in the capture wizard, no image is displayed
on the computer during capture. Help!

Thank You!

Norm



Rich

"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:3W6zc.18307$Hg2.7262@attbi_s04...
>
> Group,
>
> I'm using a Sony DV Camera Model DCR-HC40 with a USB cable, MM2 with XP
Home
> as a platform. The capture video appears like the pixels are off, the
color
> is in shades of gray but the audio is clear. After processing through MM2
> the playback in Media Play, Real Player and DivX Player is the same poor
> quality. I have tried increasing the resolution on the computer to no
> effect and changing the configuration in the capture wizard to no effect.
> When the resolution is changed in the capture wizard, no image is
displayed
> on the computer during capture. Help!
>
> Thank You!
>
> Norm
>
>

Capture with USB is of low quality. You need to use FireWire also called
iLink or IEEE 1394 to get the best quality. Your camera has the capability
but it did not come with the cable. You also need a FireWire port on your
computer.

Rich



PapaJohn \(MVP\)
For full digital video from a MiniDV camcorder, you need to use a firewire
connection, not a USB one. The USB is intended for still images and lower
quality higher compressed video.
--
PapaJohn

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

..
"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:3W6zc.18307$Hg2.7262@attbi_s04...
>
> Group,
>
> I'm using a Sony DV Camera Model DCR-HC40 with a USB cable, MM2 with XP
Home
> as a platform. The capture video appears like the pixels are off, the
color
> is in shades of gray but the audio is clear. After processing through MM2
> the playback in Media Play, Real Player and DivX Player is the same poor
> quality. I have tried increasing the resolution on the computer to no
> effect and changing the configuration in the capture wizard to no effect.
> When the resolution is changed in the capture wizard, no image is
displayed
> on the computer during capture. Help!
>
> Thank You!
>
> Norm
>
>



John Kelly
Hello there,

The capture of digital video in Movie Maker is done via a firewire
connection not USB. The USB option is for capturing still images (as far as
Movie Maker is concerned thaw is) In the capture wizard you should select
DV-AVI for the best quality capture. See the help file for further
information.
--
Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org
www.the-kellys.co.uk
---
All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value is
obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work

Norm & Debbie
Thank you group! What is a firewire and where can I get one. What is a
fire wire computer port? Is it like a serial or parallel port?

Norm

"John Kelly" wrote in message
news:Cyfzc.4159$Lr5.34220102@news-text.cableinet.net...
> Hello there,
>
> The capture of digital video in Movie Maker is done via a firewire
> connection not USB. The USB option is for capturing still images (as far
as
> Movie Maker is concerned thaw is) In the capture wizard you should select
> DV-AVI for the best quality capture. See the help file for further
> information.
> --
> Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> www.the-kellys.org
> www.the-kellys.co.uk
> ---
> All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value is
> obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work



Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media
Check to see if you have one by
Control Panel
system
hardware
device manager

look for ieee1394 bus host controller or something similar

If you have this listed you have a firewire connection already, you just
need to locate it. New pc's have some on the front and back, older ones just
at the back, If it's not listed you haven't got one and you need to look
insuide the pc to make sure you have a spare pci slot and you can buy a
firewire card and cable quite cheaply, check out amazon.

Here are pictures of firewire, there are two main sorts, 6 pin mainly found
on pc's and 4 pin should be on the cam.
http://images.google.com/images?q=firewire&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search
generally the cable you hget is a 6 - 4 pin version and should do you.

Graham

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.simplydv.co.uk

"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:1hhzc.33670$eu.30888@attbi_s02...
> Thank you group! What is a firewire and where can I get one. What is a
> fire wire computer port? Is it like a serial or parallel port?
>
> Norm
>
> "John Kelly" wrote in message
> news:Cyfzc.4159$Lr5.34220102@news-text.cableinet.net...
> > Hello there,
> >
> > The capture of digital video in Movie Maker is done via a firewire
> > connection not USB. The USB option is for capturing still images (as far
> as
> > Movie Maker is concerned thaw is) In the capture wizard you should
select
> > DV-AVI for the best quality capture. See the help file for further
> > information.
> > --
> > Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> > www.the-kellys.org
> > www.the-kellys.co.uk
> > ---
> > All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value is
> > obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work
>
>



Norm & Debbie
Thanks for the reply Graham! Under the device mamanger a IEEE 1284.4 Device
Manager is listed, but the HP printer is listed as a subdirectory under the
IEEE Device Manager. That may be sufficient, correct?

Norm


"Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media" wrote in message
news:%235GDFOhUEHA.3512@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Check to see if you have one by
> Control Panel
> system
> hardware
> device manager
>
> look for ieee1394 bus host controller or something similar
>
> If you have this listed you have a firewire connection already, you just
> need to locate it. New pc's have some on the front and back, older ones
just
> at the back, If it's not listed you haven't got one and you need to look
> insuide the pc to make sure you have a spare pci slot and you can buy a
> firewire card and cable quite cheaply, check out amazon.
>
> Here are pictures of firewire, there are two main sorts, 6 pin mainly
found
> on pc's and 4 pin should be on the cam.
>
http://images.google.com/images?q=firewire&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search
> generally the cable you hget is a 6 - 4 pin version and should do you.
>
> Graham
>
> --
> Graham Hughes
> MVP Digital Media
> www.simplydv.co.uk
>
> "Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
> news:1hhzc.33670$eu.30888@attbi_s02...
> > Thank you group! What is a firewire and where can I get one. What is a
> > fire wire computer port? Is it like a serial or parallel port?
> >
> > Norm
> >
> > "John Kelly" wrote in message
> > news:Cyfzc.4159$Lr5.34220102@news-text.cableinet.net...
> > > Hello there,
> > >
> > > The capture of digital video in Movie Maker is done via a firewire
> > > connection not USB. The USB option is for capturing still images (as
far
> > as
> > > Movie Maker is concerned thaw is) In the capture wizard you should
> select
> > > DV-AVI for the best quality capture. See the help file for further
> > > information.
> > > --
> > > Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> > > www.the-kellys.org
> > > www.the-kellys.co.uk
> > > ---
> > > All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value
is
> > > obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work
> >
> >
>
>



Dana Cline - MVP
> Thanks for the reply Graham! Under the device mamanger a IEEE 1284.4
Device
> Manager is listed, but the HP printer is listed as a subdirectory under
the
> IEEE Device Manager. That may be sufficient, correct?

Nope, that's a different port (maybe parallel port). You can pick up a
1394/Firewire card at most computer shops for under $20. Once you do that,
and have a cable, it's dead easy - you plug in the camcorder and up comes
Movie Maker (or a list of compatible programs).

Dana Cline - MVP



PapaJohn \(MVP\)
Norm,

Sony uses the name iLink, which is the same as firewire. Look it up in your
camcorder manual under iLink.
--
PapaJohn

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

..
"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:1hhzc.33670$eu.30888@attbi_s02...
> Thank you group! What is a firewire and where can I get one. What is a
> fire wire computer port? Is it like a serial or parallel port?
>
> Norm
>
> "John Kelly" wrote in message
> news:Cyfzc.4159$Lr5.34220102@news-text.cableinet.net...
> > Hello there,
> >
> > The capture of digital video in Movie Maker is done via a firewire
> > connection not USB. The USB option is for capturing still images (as far
> as
> > Movie Maker is concerned thaw is) In the capture wizard you should
select
> > DV-AVI for the best quality capture. See the help file for further
> > information.
> > --
> > Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> > www.the-kellys.org
> > www.the-kellys.co.uk
> > ---
> > All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value is
> > obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work
>
>



Norm & Debbie
Thanks Dana! Is the card recognized by the XP hardware wizard upon
installation? Is there usually a driver CD that must be installed also?

Norm

"Dana Cline - MVP" wrote in message
news:uPpKgViUEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Thanks for the reply Graham! Under the device manager a IEEE 1284.4
> Device
> > Manager is listed, but the HP printer is listed as a subdirectory under
> the
> > IEEE Device Manager. That may be sufficient, correct?
>
> Nope, that's a different port (maybe parallel port). You can pick up a
> 1394/Firewire card at most computer shops for under $20. Once you do that,
> and have a cable, it's dead easy - you plug in the camcorder and up comes
> Movie Maker (or a list of compatible programs).
>
> Dana Cline - MVP
>
>



Norm & Debbie

Thanks PapaJohn! I figured that was the firewire port on the side of the
camcorder.

Group I appreciate all your insights and assistance!

Norm

"PapaJohn (MVP)" wrote in message
news:10crhnr3tft48fb@corp.supernews.com...
> Norm,
>
> Sony uses the name iLink, which is the same as firewire. Look it up in
your
> camcorder manual under iLink.
> --
> PapaJohn
>
> Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
> Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
>
> .
> "Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
> news:1hhzc.33670$eu.30888@attbi_s02...
> > Thank you group! What is a firewire and where can I get one. What is a
> > fire wire computer port? Is it like a serial or parallel port?
> >
> > Norm
> >
> > "John Kelly" wrote in message
> > news:Cyfzc.4159$Lr5.34220102@news-text.cableinet.net...
> > > Hello there,
> > >
> > > The capture of digital video in Movie Maker is done via a firewire
> > > connection not USB. The USB option is for capturing still images (as
far
> > as
> > > Movie Maker is concerned thaw is) In the capture wizard you should
> select
> > > DV-AVI for the best quality capture. See the help file for further
> > > information.
> > > --
> > > Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> > > www.the-kellys.org
> > > www.the-kellys.co.uk
> > > ---
> > > All material gained from other sources is duly acknowledged. No Value
is
> > > obtained by publishing in any format other peoples work
> >
> >
>
>



Graham Hughes, MVP Digital Media
Make sure it is

OHCI compliant

and XP will recognise it and install the neccesary drivers

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.simplydv.co.uk
"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:dJjzc.40879$0y.7886@attbi_s03...
> Thanks Dana! Is the card recognized by the XP hardware wizard upon
> installation? Is there usually a driver CD that must be installed also?
>
> Norm
>
> "Dana Cline - MVP" wrote in message
> news:uPpKgViUEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > Thanks for the reply Graham! Under the device manager a IEEE 1284.4
> > Device
> > > Manager is listed, but the HP printer is listed as a subdirectory
under
> > the
> > > IEEE Device Manager. That may be sufficient, correct?
> >
> > Nope, that's a different port (maybe parallel port). You can pick up a
> > 1394/Firewire card at most computer shops for under $20. Once you do
that,
> > and have a cable, it's dead easy - you plug in the camcorder and up
comes
> > Movie Maker (or a list of compatible programs).
> >
> > Dana Cline - MVP
> >
> >
>
>



Dana Cline - MVP
Norm,

The firewire card I have for my 2000 system had drivers. The one in my new
system is on the motherboard, and (I think) came with drivers too.

Dana Cline - MVP

"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:dJjzc.40879$0y.7886@attbi_s03...
> Thanks Dana! Is the card recognized by the XP hardware wizard upon
> installation? Is there usually a driver CD that must be installed also?
>
> Norm
>
> "Dana Cline - MVP" wrote in message
> news:uPpKgViUEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > Thanks for the reply Graham! Under the device manager a IEEE 1284.4
> > Device
> > > Manager is listed, but the HP printer is listed as a subdirectory
under
> > the
> > > IEEE Device Manager. That may be sufficient, correct?
> >
> > Nope, that's a different port (maybe parallel port). You can pick up a
> > 1394/Firewire card at most computer shops for under $20. Once you do
that,
> > and have a cable, it's dead easy - you plug in the camcorder and up
comes
> > Movie Maker (or a list of compatible programs).
> >
> > Dana Cline - MVP
> >
> >
>
>



Norm & Debbie
Thank You Dana!

Norm

"Dana Cline - MVP" wrote in message
news:%23LAulUjUEHA.3336@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Norm,
>
> The firewire card I have for my 2000 system had drivers. The one in my new
> system is on the motherboard, and (I think) came with drivers too.
>
> Dana Cline - MVP
>
> "Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
> news:dJjzc.40879$0y.7886@attbi_s03...
> > Thanks Dana! Is the card recognized by the XP hardware wizard upon
> > installation? Is there usually a driver CD that must be installed also?
> >
> > Norm
> >
> > "Dana Cline - MVP" wrote in message
> > news:uPpKgViUEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > Thanks for the reply Graham! Under the device manager a IEEE 1284.4
> > > Device
> > > > Manager is listed, but the HP printer is listed as a subdirectory
> under
> > > the
> > > > IEEE Device Manager. That may be sufficient, correct?
> > >
> > > Nope, that's a different port (maybe parallel port). You can pick up a
> > > 1394/Firewire card at most computer shops for under $20. Once you do
> that,
> > > and have a cable, it's dead easy - you plug in the camcorder and up
> comes
> > > Movie Maker (or a list of compatible programs).
> > >
> > > Dana Cline - MVP
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>



Norm & Debbie
Group, I've done some further research on my computer I'm using for MM 2.
The USB is version 1.1. If I were to upgrade to USB Version 2, will that
allow the video to be clear/

Thanks Group!

Norm



PapaJohn \(MVP\)
I know that I can capture higher quality video from analog sources with my
computers that have USB2 ports than I can with those with USB1... using the
same Dazzle 80 device on them all.

So maybe yes, but there may be other parts of your system that limit the
data flow onto your hard drive.
--
PapaJohn

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

..
"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:PG0Ac.63930$Sw.20093@attbi_s51...
> Group, I've done some further research on my computer I'm using for MM 2.
> The USB is version 1.1. If I were to upgrade to USB Version 2, will that
> allow the video to be clear/
>
> Thanks Group!
>
> Norm
>
>



Norm & Debbie
Thanks John!

Norm

"PapaJohn (MVP)" wrote in message
news:10d16ttrptc6u2c@corp.supernews.com...
> I know that I can capture higher quality video from analog sources with my
> computers that have USB2 ports than I can with those with USB1... using
the
> same Dazzle 80 device on them all.
>
> So maybe yes, but there may be other parts of your system that limit the
> data flow onto your hard drive.
> --
> PapaJohn
>
> Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
> Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
>
> .
> "Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
> news:PG0Ac.63930$Sw.20093@attbi_s51...
> > Group, I've done some further research on my computer I'm using for MM
2.
> > The USB is version 1.1. If I were to upgrade to USB Version 2, will
that
> > allow the video to be clear/
> >
> > Thanks Group!
> >
> > Norm
> >
> >
>
>



Norm & Debbie
Ok Group, the last entry in this string. I reloaded the Sony Picture
Package Software that came with the camera (Sony DCR-HC40) and the video
downloaded through MM2 is very clear. I can't tell the group what the issue
is, but now MM2 works just fine with the Sony Picture Package loaded. Go
figure! Anyways, my many thanks to the group members that posted messages
to help with the problem!

Norm

"Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
news:k01Ac.44592$eu.18512@attbi_s02...
> Thanks John!
>
> Norm
>
> "PapaJohn (MVP)" wrote in message
> news:10d16ttrptc6u2c@corp.supernews.com...
> > I know that I can capture higher quality video from analog sources with
my
> > computers that have USB2 ports than I can with those with USB1... using
> the
> > same Dazzle 80 device on them all.
> >
> > So maybe yes, but there may be other parts of your system that limit the
> > data flow onto your hard drive.
> > --
> > PapaJohn
> >
> > Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
> > Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
> >
> > .
> > "Norm & Debbie" wrote in message
> > news:PG0Ac.63930$Sw.20093@attbi_s51...
> > > Group, I've done some further research on my computer I'm using for MM
> 2.
> > > The USB is version 1.1. If I were to upgrade to USB Version 2, will
> that
> > > allow the video to be clear/
> > >
> > > Thanks Group!
> > >
> > > Norm
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>