Capturing DV: lots of dropped frames!

[MrC]

Hi all,

I have a big problem in capturing DV via firewire from my Sony Handycam DCR-HC35E: frames drop like leaves in autumn.... :mad:

My PC configuration (rather old, do not laugh too much, plz) is:
- WinXP SP2
- Pentium 4 2.4 GHz
- 512 MB DDR PC333
- Mobo Abit BE7, chipset Intel 865PE (no firewire port)
- HD Maxtor 120 GB 7200 rpm for OS and programs
- HD Maxtor 200 GB 7200 rpm for data
- ATI Radeon FireGL 8800 64 MB AGP
- SoundBlaster Live! PCI (no firewire port)
- Combo USB(5) + Firewire(3) PCI with controller VIA OHCI

I have tried as follow, with no results:
- several capturing programs (WMM2, DVIO, WinDV, VirtualDub)
- change firewire port (all 3)
- change PCI slot
- remove from memory all resident programs
- defrag HD
- check bios for IRQ confilct: none
- install WinXP patch KB885222
- re-install DirectX 9.0c
- at last, sobstitute combo card (and firewire cable) with another one

You can imagine time waste..... However, the result is always the same: every 20 frames there is a little "freezing" of A/V stream from camera to PC and a loss of 5/10 frames. This "freezing" happens during preview (both in WMM2 and VirtualDub) and, of course, when playing the captured AVI.
The CPU load is around 10/20% and HD transfer rate should be much more than 3.6 MB/s needed for DV capturing (when copying from one HD to the other I reach 20 MB/s and more).

Do you have any idea? Can I try anything else than buy a new PC with a firewire port onboard?

:thanks: in advance

MrC
________
Honda CX500C (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_CX500C)

[FishTank]

first thing that comes to my mind is that the pci-usb/firewire controller isnt fast enough.

[scharfis_brain]

Use WinDV forcapturing DV. It comes with internal anti-framedropping buffers

[MrC]

first thing that comes to my mind is that the pci-usb/firewire controller isnt fast enough.
So your suggestion is to change firewire controller brand... I thought that VIA was a rock...

Use WinDV forcapturing DV. It comes with internal anti-framedropping buffers
As explained before, I tried several capture sw: WMM2, VirtualDub, DVIO and WinDV but without success.

Could be helpful to attach an output AVI sample (converted in XviD for byte-saving)?

:thanks: again
________
jailbroken (http://jailbroken.org)

[scharfis_brain]

are you using SATA or IDE HDDs?

[MrC]

are you using SATA or IDE HDDs?

Both of my HDDs are EIDE ATA133.
________
GS550E (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Suzuki_GS550E)

[MrC]

Here is a short sample (http://www.lucajacopini.it/AVStoDVD/Test.avi) clip (converted to xvid+mp3) of what I can capture

:(
________
Suzuki GSX1100F (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Suzuki_GSX1100F)

[MrC]

Another (unsuccesfull) try.

Using Nero Vision Express 4, when I press the "play" button to see a preview of DV tape, the system freezes and NVE takes 100% of CPU. Only shut down of camera let me to re-gain mouse control....

I have checked if there is a IRQ conflict: none....

Aaarghhhhh!

:confused:

Bye
________
SL90 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_SL90)

[scharfis_brain]

what happens if you disable the preview?

[GoldDragon]

A few thoughts:

Your system specs are more than enough to do the job. I've successfully captured hours of DV on an inferior system, so there is definitely a gremlin in the process somewhere.

Do you have a 2nd PC available (maybe friend's or family's) to test capturing from your camera? As much as I doubt the camera is the problem, I'm just wondering if you can eliminate it as a variable.

Do you always try capturing by using the capture button of the respective application? Have you tried hitting the playback button on the camera itself, then clicking the capture button in your app? In my experience DV Device Control can be a little unpredictable.

I noticed that your camera uses the PAL video format. Are you sure your capture applications are not expecting NTSC? That could easily cause frame drops/problems.

Considering the troubleshooting you've already done, at this point I would use tools like Process Explorer and Process Monitor (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx) to investigate exactly what the computer is doing when you execute a DV capture command. It may be tedious and time-consuming, but I've found numerous system resolutions with these tools.

Let us know how it goes.

GoldDragon

[MrC]

what happens if you disable the preview?
Misunderstanding: I do not enable the preview, NVE lets you choose to play (preview), fast-forward, fast-backward, pause, stop or capture your DV-tape.

A few thoughts:
Do you have a 2nd PC available (maybe friend's or family's) to test capturing from your camera? As much as I doubt the camera is the problem, I'm just wondering if you can eliminate it as a variable.
Good suggestion, on sunday night I will try with a friend of mine PC, with his and my firewire PCI card.


Do you always try capturing by using the capture button of the respective application? Have you tried hitting the playback button on the camera itself, then clicking the capture button in your app? In my experience DV Device Control can be a little unpredictable.
With WMM2 and VirtualDub I tried both of the ways... same result
With AVIO and WinDV I can only first hit the playback button on the camera and then the app capture button.

I noticed that your camera uses the PAL video format. Are you sure your capture applications are not expecting NTSC? That could easily cause frame drops/problems.
Mmmh, I don't know how to set PAL or NTSC with WMM2/AVIO/NTSC. Could you help me?


Let us know how it goes.
Many thanks for your interest and suggestions. Really appreciate! :cool:
________
Suzuki VX 800 (http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Suzuki_VX_800)

[scharfis_brain]

with disabling preview I meant that you could try to disable showing the captured video on the screen. just capture it blindly.

besides checking on antother PC you may try to install a new Windows an a second partition or HDD in minimal configuration.

[MrC]

with disabling preview I meant that you could try to disable showing the captured video on the screen. just capture it blindly.
Ok, got it! With NVE there is not the possibility. With VirtualDub I tried both with no appreciable difference. I think the problem is not CPU load (it stay at maximum 20% during DV capture), but maybe on the firewire card or on the way to reach the HDD.

besides checking on antother PC you may try to install a new Windows an a second partition or HDD in minimal configuration.
Other good point. I will try it!

:thanks: again :cool:
________
iolite portable vaporizer (http://iolitevaporizer.net/)

[MrC]

Solved! :cool:

No, wait, I only found the root cause! :mad:

The sound card (an old SoundBlaster Live!) is somehow in conflict with the firewire card. Just to try, I have removed the SoundBlaster from ist slot... and, voil?, no more frames drop! :rolleyes:

It seems that my PC components are telling me: we are old, please do retire us and buy some new workers!

:thanks: again for your assistance

Bye
________
free drupal themes (http://themesfree.org)

[Blue_MiSfit]

/me sharpens his vicious assortment of knives, especially the ones with Creative's name on it.

:)

I've had so many problems with SoundBlaster cards over the years... I'm never getting another one!! Auzentech here I come!

~MiSfit