HDVSplit 0.75 - utility for capturing HDV with scene split by timestamp

[Dennis Vogel]

That thread reports (among other things) people having problems getting Vegas to capture but HDVSplit works for them. I have the opposite problem.

Most of those posts are old reporting problems with Vegas 6 and 7. It appears Vegas Pro 8 has been improved so the capture works fine with the HV20.

To some degree it's now moot since I no longer have the HV20. I'd still like to know if anyone else has HDVSplit working with the HV20 on a machine with Vegas installed just in case.

Good luck.

Dennis

[nhope]

HDVSplit is working fine on my Q6600/XP x64 desktop and I can preview at full frame with no problems.

I have no idea which MPEG2 codec it is using. I ran the Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DE1491AC-0AB6-4990-943D-627E6ADE9FCB&displaylang=en) and it reports installed MPEG-2 decoders to be MainConcept MPEG Video Decoder, Nero Video Decoder and Nero DVD Decoder:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v290/bubblevision/MPEG-2-codecs.png

Is there a way to find out which codec is being used by the HDVSplit preview?

However on my Dell Precision M6300/T7800 laptop HDVSplit was reporting no MPEG2 codec found so I ran the checkup utility and it shows the same codecs installed as my desktop plus the Cyberlink decoder that came with the bundled PowerDVD.

Why would preview work on the desktop but not on the laptop if it has the same codecs?

So I installed and set up ffdshow on the laptop exactly as Paviko recommends on his site (http://strony.aster.pl/paviko/hdvsplit.htm). It does now show a preview but now HDVSplit crashes regularly no matter how small the preview window size.

Paviko says on sonyhdvinfo.com (http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/showthread.php?t=3728&page=4&pp=10) ...

HDVSplit need decoder that is able to work in "push mode", which means the decoder wait for data from camcorder and decoder is not reading it when it wants but when camcorder says "read new data" Not all MPEG2 decoders include this mode. I've tried MainConcept and ffdshow - they work..

This raises the question why the MainConcept decoder (that presumably came with my Sony Vegas) is not being used. A different version of the MainConcept decoder perhaps?

In the next reply "Penguin" reports that the $20 nVidia PureVideo Decoder works. I'm happy to spend that if I know it will do the trick, but first I want to work out why I'm getting preview on the desktop but not the laptop.

I really need to try and get it working because my potential customers watch my rushes as they are captured to disk and the camera's flip out screen is just too small for this. Before I got this fast laptop I was capturing from my Z1 in DV so a nice large Sclive preview worked well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[nhope]

Well, it's been one of those days but I've finally cracked it.

I tried the trial version of Nvidia PureVideo and although it did get detected by HDVSplit and the preview did look very nice, I still got crashes like I got with ffdshow.

I finally noticed that the MainConcept MPEG Video Decoder version on my new (crashing) laptop was only at 1.0.0.38, with its mcdmpeg.ax sitting in C:\WINDOWS\system32\, whereas on my older (non-crashing) desktop it was at version 1.0.0.73 and sitting in C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\Shared Plug-Ins\File Formats\MCMPEG\ (note the (x86) partt is because I'm running XP x64).

The newer version of the MainConcept codec must have come with an older version of a Sony program such as Vegas 7 or DVDA 3 which are still installed on the desktop because I only have the latest Vegas Pro 8 and DVDA 4.5 both installed on the laptop and no mcdmpeg.ax codec in the Sony folders.

So I unregistered then renamed the older codec on the laptop, pinched the newer version from the desktop, copied it to and registered it on the laptop and hey presto I've got a stable full frame preview in HDVSplit :)

Whether the files are error-free in the long run when captured with a full frame preview remains to be seen however.

[bondaygee]

Hey I love HDV Split!! What great program!! And it's free!!
Not only that the video stays in synch when i render it!!
That's great!

I got a question though:

when I'm using AFX, sometimes the clips don't import properly. Sometimes i get the "media pending" dialogue screen and the video doesn't come out. This is like 50% of the time. Usually rebooting or something seems to fix it.

Any suggestions here!!

thanks

[peterp]

HDVSplit, Canon HV20 and Vegas 7/8

I have no problems using HDVSplit together with the Canon HV20, but Vegas 7 and 8 do crash when placing 40 to 50 clips on the timeline. There are no problems with M2T files that are captured using the Vegas Capture tool.

The problem seems to be related to the 'sync' feature in HDVSplit. Apparently, this produces somewhat differently formatted M2T files, which the decoder filter used by Vegas does not like. I have tested this by capturing a large file (no scene detection) with Vegas Capture, and then splitting the scenes with HDVSplit (file split feature on second tab) with the sync feature disabled. This works fine. This way, I still get my timestamp-named-files, which I like a lot.

Peter

[2Bdecided]

That's interesting. I left the sync feature on, because it was on by default, and I didn't know if there would be a time when I _needed_ the audio and video to be forced into synchronisation.

What happens if you capture in HDVsplit with splitting on but sync off? Or capture in HDVsplit with splitting and sync off, but then split in HDVsplit with sync off (or on?).

Just trying to understand - it sounds like maybe you have tried all the experiments that I'm about to!

Cheers,
David.

[peterp]

Hi David,

I'm not quite sure about the sync feature. I don't believe it is documented very extensively. I do see a difference in the resulting files. With sync-on, video and audio ends at the same time. With sync-off, audio is muted before the end of the clip. Often, the clip ends with the first frame of the following scene. This is all with the Canon HV20 and I believe that the missing audio is directly related to the camera hardware. (Easy to check by capturing with Vegas with no scene detection. That will probably result in the same amount of garbage frames in between scenes.)

Based on the resulting files, I think the sync feature makes sure that video and audio stop at the same time. Looks somewhat nicer on the timeline initially, but editing usually involves taking away frames on both the beginning and the end.

I assume that the fact that video is manipulated (frames removed, GOP is shortened) results in the crash in the Vegas MPEG-2 filter. Instead of crashing, it should gracefully reject the M2T files...

Peter

[colinb]

It might be interesting to look at a clip that was produced by Vegas scene detection. It would have to be a complete scene clip file (not trimmed afterward), and it would have to be a very short scene to give a reasonable file size for downloading. Anyone know if there are any such sample files downloadable from anywhere?

[Leek]

First, thanks to Paviko for providing such a useful program for free.

I'm having trouble capturing video with scene split. I can capture without scene split with no problems. But when I check scene split, my cam runs for a few frames or maybe a second or two then I get the message

Capture started.
INFO: No more data is received from camcorder. Capture stopped.

No video is captured. I tried stopping and restarting the capture from the same point on the tape and the sequence just repeats. One time the program crashed but I can't get that to happen again. It detects my cam just fine but it won't capture and split scenes when that option is selected.

I have a Canon HV20 and I'm running Windows XP SP2 on a Pentium 4 3.4 GHz with HT. I also have Sony Vegas installed and I can capture HDV with Vegas with no problems. I understand there might be some problem with Vegas accepting HDVsplit files but I'm wondering if there is some other conflict between the two that might be involved here.

I've also seen mention of a Canon slow startup issue that causes a timeout. Could that be the source of my problems?

Anyone have any suggestions on how to figure this out? I really like the simplicity of HDVsplit especially the option to name files with a time/date value.

Good luck.

Dennis
Hi Dennis
Same thing happened to me, also with HV20.....but when I unchecked the preview button, I had no further problems. One thing to qualify that - this solution worked only when HDVsplit was re-opened from a fresh boot up of PC. When HDVsplit failed to capture, no changes tried in same session seemed to work.
Leek

[Dennis Vogel]

Leek, unfortunately I no longer have my HV20 so I cannot try to uncheck the preview. I'm glad it worked for you. If I ever get another HV20 or 30, I'll be sure to try it.

Good luck.

Dennis

[Zap250]

Just tried the latest HDVSplit v0.7.7 with my new Canon HV30 and it does an excellent job of capturing the high definition stream. I haven't encountered problems with the preview or the splitting. Except sometimes when it just starts out it gives that error message, when that happens I just stop and start again and it captures with no problems from then on.

Great job on an excellent software - and it's free too! :thanks:

Hmm, I wonder why it's still in beta after all this time...

[alladinboy]

Do anybody have Paviko's Email? I am looking for HDVSplit source code. I use HDVSplit with HV30 - it is great! Even though I will make some improvements. My Email: Alladinboy2@azet.sk.

Many thanks!

Martin

[weaker]

I just want to say thanks to Paviko for providing HDVSplit for free! It's great.

[lionel.75]

Hi everybody,

I try from several days to use HDVSplit with my Canon XH-A1. But HDVSplit doen't want to recognise this camcorder. Do you know if there is a solution to numerise my HDV K7 on my computer ?

Thanks a lot for your help and have a nice evening.

Lionel.75

[SenorKaffee]

I remember faintly reading that HDV cams have an audio delay of one frame. That was some years ago, so I'm not sure if this is correct at all.

But maybe this option fixes that? :confused:

[Undead Sega]

Hi everyone, sorry if I am bringing up something old but I would like to say that I started using HDVSplit a few months ago and I think it is fantastic, really helps on those scenes splits and capturing HDV with minimal CPU usage. However I would like to ask something quite crucial, that is HDVSplit be able to capture footage and able to split them in accordance to its metadata, is it able to do it vice-versa? meaning can one record footage back into the tape but retaining its splitscene information and everything else i.e. the metadata itself?

[2Bdecided]

Does HDVsplit print to tape? I've never noticed that.

Several NLEs do. Edius preserves the time stamps - not sure if Vegas does.

Cheers,
David.

[Undead Sega]

You are right, HDVsplit doesnt print to tape however its function of capturing to tape in accordance to it timecode or metadata is importantant and I was wondering if there is any application that is able to capture each recorded shot accompanied with its metadata and put it back to tape with all its information intact?

[2Bdecided]

I've asked this question before...
http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?2996-Free-stand-alone-program-for-printing-HDV-back-to-tape
...but I didn't try GraphEdit or CapDVHS for this.

I realised that, while I originally thought I wanted to print back to tape, in fact, I didn't. What I really needed was to buy a few 1TB HDDs. So I did!

Cheers,
David.

[Undead Sega]

ohhh right, I am on the HV30 forums as well but under a different username :D After reading it, I am not sure if even I got an answer there, I might just bring it up ;) however i dont understand this:

Digital Video Dubbing through the Firewire (P70 User Manual)

any idea perhaps? Also, I am not entirely sure of CapDVHS, is it able to do exactly what you're asking for?

Either way, would you know how to output back to tape with the metadata? Btw, there is no problem is having the tapes being the main backup, sometimes they work better than just having them on a hard drive :D

[um3k]

I gave a brief walkthrough on how to use CapDVHS ages ago on the HV20 forums: http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?6108-FOUND-Free-software-to-output-video-back-to-tape&highlight=capdvhs

On a side note, I've never actually had the need to print back to tape. I just like finding solutions to imaginary problems, I guess.

[Undead Sega]

Ahhh yes um3k, I remember you too on HV20.com, so great to see familiar people around here :D

With the link you have provided, I believe I have came across it not too long ago myself, however even with some research done on the same topic alot of people do mention these two tools. I would like to ask, the HDV files are M2T files, in each of these individual files which are captured and seperated by HDVSplit, is the metadata embedded in the files themselves? or as a seperate and hidden file within the tape inwhich the application would read the timecode and know where each shot starts and ends?

By any chance if its the former, if one was use CapDVHS, would it retain the metadata exactly (more or less putting the file onto tape), therefore if one was to capture again it would know how to split the file?

[2Bdecided]

The m2t files are MPEG-2 transport streams. They contain all the data that was on the tape - audio, video, metadata.

HDVsplit uses the date metadata to generate the file names, but it's still there within the files themselves.

If I was you, I'd go and experiment myself!

This tool might help...
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/HDV_Data_Monitor

Cheers,
David.

[Undead Sega]

Indeed I will have a go :D

However now I would like to ask, by some serious mishap on some recordings the Timecode got broken. Is there by any chance or way to repair the broken Timecode or make it continous throughout the tape but keeping the rest of the metadata untouched?

[adrien23]

I have the Canon Vixia HV40 high definition tape-based camcorder and have no problem having HDVSplit recognize my camcorder. The capture also works without issue.

However, when I look at the timecode of the outputted files, the numbers do not make any sense.

I am using the "Date and time" option with the following format:

-%Y_%M_%D-%h_%m_%s


I am capturing a tape and the file name hour posiition starts at 16, rather than 0. The minutes and seconds don't seem to correspond at all to the actual time code (and the program itself was fine in terms of detecting my camera and being able to capture and rewind, etc.)

Did you have this problem?

DavidPsychiatristPilot-2011_05_14-16_16_33

The date is fine; but the hour is at 16 when it should be zero. The minutes is already up to 16 minutes when it's only a few minutes in.

Even if I ignore the 16 mark, the rest of the timecode doesn't make sense so there's no adjustment I can do (eg. set it back 6 minutes and then it's correct) for it to make sense.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you!

[um3k]

The time HDVSplit uses is the time of day the footage was shot, assuming the time is set correctly in-camera.

[adrien23]

@um3k

Oh I see. Okay, I was thinking it would use the timecode of the tape, which would be very convenient because then if you've logged footage on paper, you could refer to split clips depending on the timecode. I hope that's eventually an option!

Thanks for the clarification!

[2Bdecided]

@um3k

Oh I see. Okay, I was thinking it would use the timecode of the tape, which would be very convenient because then if you've logged footage on paper, you could refer to split clips depending on the timecode. I hope that's eventually an option!I wouldn't have thought so - HDVsplit hasn't been updated in years.

You could write down the time, rather than the timecode, on your piece of paper ;)

Cheers,
David.

[CAFxX]

I wouldn't have thought so - HDVsplit hasn't been updated in years.
It could be an option if the author released the sources... unfortunately he never replied to my mails.

[Yellow_]

Not an ideal solution for Windows users necessarily, but dvgrab (Open Source CLI) will write timecode and or time of day into the file name when it grabs, also autosplits, supports avi Type 1 and 2 and OpenDML. Captures DV and HDV.

It's Linux only BUT I wasted 2 hours trying to get HDVSplit to work on 64bit Windows 7 the other day and gave up, no problem detecting the camera in Windows itself just wouldn't detect and capture in HDVSplit.

So booted up a Ubuntu Natty Narwal Live CD, changed the Repositories to Multiverse in Synaptic, installed DV Grab through Synaptic, check commandline ops with dvgrab --help and I was away capturing within 15minutes, writing the files to the Windows formatted ntfs drive. Captured loads of tapes through the day, rebooted and played them all through in Windows Media Player after, no problem with compatibility.

Thought I'd just mention it in case any one has similar problems.

[caisersousa]

Paviko, any chance of HDVSplit being able to capture one frame at a time from cameras? For stop motion purposes. Such as, each time you click a button a frame will be recorded. Thanks.

I know that this project isn't updated for a long time but someone know how I can capture a single frame (in .tiff for example) every time I click a button?

Software like StopMotion Pro or Dragon Frame do this but too slowly (2 or 3 seconds pass between two consecutive acquires). I need to acquire still image at a frequency not below 5 fps.

:thanks:

[Gargamel]

Maybe CaptureFlux, by Paul Glagla ?
It has a image by image mode, when you click on a "Grab!" button, or through an intervalometer...
But in the DV world only.

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/captureflux_en.htm

[caisersousa]

Thanks Garagamel. Unfortunately captureFlux works only for DV :(