How do i capture with Sony DCR-TRV520 and play the avi on my WDTV?

[video_noob]

I'm getting frustrated.

I have a Sony DCR-TRV520 circa 2000. I have a bunch of digital8 tapes that I want to get onto my WD Elements 1.5TB drive that I'm connecting to my WD TV Plus.

I captured a tape with Roxio Easy whatever because it was the only program that recognized the camcorder; WinDV and DVIO would not. I suspect that is because I did not have a codec for it and read about the Canopus codec which I'm going to install momentarily. If that's not accurate please let me know.

The one video I have on the hdd connected to the WDTV is recognized by it but won't play. Roxio is set to record DV format, the resulting file is .avi, but the WDTV says it's an unsupported format.
I look at the formats it supports on the box and there's "AVI" but with alot of stuff in parenthesis (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, WMV9, VC-1). So from a file view it sees it but won't play.

I really only have one question (other than the codec one above): what do I do now?

My plan, so correct me where it's wrong please.

1) install Canopus codec
2) use WinDV to capture tape to external hdd
3) something here to make it actually play on my WDTV.

Ok, so it's not exactly a plan. All help appreciated.

Thanks.

Noob.

[hech54]

Firefire?

[video_noob]

Firefire?

Huh?

[ricardouk]

according to amazon your camera has firewire connection:

the Sony includes an industry standard IEEE 1394 port (also known as iLink and FireWire)

get a firewire board and....



connect your camera to your pc through firewire and use windv to capture, convert the dv file to your favourite format with your favourit application

PS: using firewire will create "big" files so you'll need lots of free space

[video_noob]

Sorry, I left some things out.

I know it's firewire and I have a board. The one video I mentioned that the WDTV won't play was captured from the Sony, just using Roxio because WinDV didn't see the camcorder.

The file size doesn't bother me; it is a 1.5TB drive after all. I am more worried about keeping the video/audio quality.

Thanks.

[video_noob]

"connect your camera to your pc through firewire and use windv to capture, convert the dv file to your favourite format with your favourit application"

Two things on this. 1) capturing with windv will the canopus codec allow it to see my camcorder? 2) I don't have a favorite converting program. I'm happy to take recommendations on any free converters that have no or minimal quality loss.

Thanks.

[ricardouk]

does your computer recognize the firewire board? look it up on the device maneger under SYSTEM in the CONTROL PANEL, it should "plug and play/record"

[ricardouk]

windv doesnt reconvert, it captures as "it is", you dont need to setup a codec...just press record and thats it.

[ricardouk]

all you have to do is connect the camera, open windv, press play on camera and record on windv

[video_noob]

Under Device Manager it's recognized as "IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers". No issues showing.

WinDV does not recognize it. It only lists the Microsoft whatever as an option, the only option actually.

[ricardouk]

cant figure what that microsoft thing is, how did you capture with roxio? through usb?

[ricardouk]

if you're using vista this post might help...
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/280456-Vista-Digital-Camcorder-capture-question

in the meantime try DVapp

[video_noob]

"Microsoft DV Camera and VCR" is what WinDV lists as the only option for capture device. When I first turn on the "Digital Video Device" icon on my taskbar (far right) and if I click it (left or right click gives same menu) I can select Record with MovieMaker, Create with Sonic Solutions, Transfer Video Direct-to-DVD with Sonic, or Capture with Roxio. As soon as I click the taskbar icon it disappears (when the action menu appears) and it disappears after about 15s if I don't click it. It shows on Windows Exlporer as Sony DV Camcorder, but windv sees it not at all.

[ricardouk]

try Exsate DV Capture Live (freeware)

http://www.exsate.com/download/

i wouldnt recommend converting to another format as you capture....capture to dv it and then convert.

what OS are you using?

[video_noob]

I'll give Exsate a try. I swear that WinDV in the past has recognized my camcorder and would control it from the gui. I am just now capturing, I think, by just having WinDV record while I play, but it used to control play/rewind/pause/etc and it (the camcorder) was on the drop down menu of video sources.

I'm using WinXPsp2. I'll capture and then convert, any recommendations on conversion software?

[pippas]

The one video I have on the hdd connected to the WDTV is recognized by it but won't play. Roxio is set to record DV format, the resulting file is .avi, but the WDTV says it's an unsupported format.

WDTV doesn't play DV files. Although it can play many AVI types, DV is not one of them.

For best results, you do need to capture as DV, and then use something like Mpegstreamclip to convert to mp4 or similar.

[ricardouk]

if you're converting to Mpeg4 AVC theres lots of tools available but since you're using windv i guess you like simple and objective software so i would recommend vidcoder as it focus just on h264, but like i said theres loads of tools and how to guides here on the guides sections.

also if you have a multi core processor try to look for apps that use them, if im not mistaken vidcoder makes use of it (faster conversions)


theres also ripbot264, staxrip, megui, xvid4psp, hdconvertx, microx264 etc

[ricardouk]

mpegstreamclip uses the quicktime h264 converter and x264 is a lot better than that, its also slow as hell and its gui could do with a makeover, theres much better apps outhere that convert with the superior x264.

[johns0]

video-noob-Next time you post please use a subject name that describes the problem you are having,for this time time i changed the thread subject.

[edDV]

I recommend you archive your DV (Digital8) footage as DV format. Future AVC re-encoders will be less lossy than today's. To do AVC properly without deinterlace, you would need to use equal to greater bitrate than DV. Your DV file is first generation camcorder original.

Once archived as DV, you can encode to what ever your player requires as a display format.

[ricardouk]

did you manage to get it working video_noob? it will help others....