DV Viewer

[coordz]

I've been happily capturing DV over firewire and all is good. What I can't quite find, though, is a piece of software to act as a video player GUI for the camera, i.e. I want to be able to scrub back and forth on the tape, play the video directly from the DV camera with sound, controlling the camera from my (windows) PC. I don't want to capture the video, just play it.

TIA

[JohnnyMalaria]

Our Enosoft DV Processor does all of those things. See signature for link.

[coordz]

I tried the Enosoft DV processor but I think it's too advanced for my computer because the playback stutters terribly, then the video freezes, then the direct show render window locks, then the sound stutters to a halt :( Any other alternatives or hints how to get DV Processor running smoother?

[JohnnyMalaria]

Are you using Vista by any chance? The way the Vista handles audio can cause the problems you describe. If you are using Vista, click the large Configure... button, check [x] Monitor output audio and (.) Use this audio device and choose anything without DirectSound in the name - e.g., Default WaveOut Device.

BTW, for what you are trying to do you don't need to worry about the more complex features. Just click the left drop-down list and choose your camcorder. From the right list choose Video Renderer. Press the Run button. If you want to switch between windowed and fullscreen display, double-click the window (on the video part, not the title bar). Once you've set everything up, you can save the configuration so you don't have to go through it every time.

[coordz]

I'm not using Vista, I'm using XP SP2 on a 1.66Ghz Dual Core with 4Gb ram. I've also made sure none of the other features (text overlay, etc.) are enabled. I just followed the basic quick start instructions. How much disk caching does the Enosoft DV processor do? I've not got a great deal of hd space floating around on C...... Thanks.

[JohnnyMalaria]

It doesn't use any caching so for viewing files doesn't use any drive space.

The software can generate a diagnostics report that can be emailed to me. If you set up the software in the way you are trying to use it (i.e., your camcorder as source and video renderer as output) and then click the large Configure... button, you'll see a button labeled Create Diagnostics Report. Just click on it and follow the instructions. Just the other day I received a message from someone who was having a problem with the software refusing to play files. It turned out to be another filter (AC3Filter) that was forcing its way into our software. The report shows what filters are being used etc.

Another couple of thoughts - do you have any Nero, Roxio or Pinnacle apps installed that can capture from DV camcorders? These are known to interfere with other capture software. Also, if you open My Computer you will see your camcorder listed. Double-click on its icon and you should see a video window with the live view of the camcorder's output. It doesn't play the audio though. It will be useful to know if the video looks choppy or not.

[Loomis]

I want to be able to scrub back and forth on the tape...Hi.

What exactly do you mean by ‘scrub’? Are you trying to do VJ stuff? If so, there is no way in hell you can scrub directly from the tape in the camera. Even if the hardware and software could take all the wear and tear the latency would still kill you, and if you played it backwards it would confuse the deinterlacer.

[Loomis]

Our Enosoft DV Processor does all of those things. See signature for link.Just curious: Why do you refer to yourself as 'we'? Is there actually more than one of you?

[Ghitulescu]

I'm not using Vista, I'm using XP SP2 on a 1.66Ghz Dual Core with 4Gb ram. I've also made sure none of the other features (text overlay, etc.) are enabled. I just followed the basic quick start instructions. How much disk caching does the Enosoft DV processor do? I've not got a great deal of hd space floating around on C...... Thanks.

If you use XP why don't you try clicking on the MiniDV device in Explorer?
Windows comes with many interesting things ...
For capturing I use WinDV, it's the most stable piece of software in this field (or you can afford Adobe Premiere), tiny and rapid...

[PatchWorKs]

For capture: http://www.exsate.com/download/dvcapture/

For play: http://www.videolan.org/

[Ghitulescu]

For capture: http://www.exsate.com/download/dvcapture/

For play: http://www.videolan.org/

WinDV is also free, but comes from a private person. It has no installer (why the need for one?) and has only a few kB.

I trust this small utility more than any other freewares, trialwares, free for non-commercial uses software etc. Because I'm careful what software I put in my computer. I'm not the developer's cousin or publicity agent, I simply like this software.