Pinnacle/Dazzle Capture/Burning Problems

[kwood]

Hi,

I am having trouble with my Pinnacle InstantDVD Recorder capture/burning process. Whenever I capture (so far, have just tried using the VHS content to capture), the content skips on the burned DVD after about 15 minutes of playtime. Any help would be appreciated! Since it's "instant", the capture burns directly to DVD without editing (to save much time from 80+ tapes that need to be converted), I am not sure if it's a burn or capture problem. However, I am leaning towards a capture problem as when I have experimented with Pinnacle Studio, what I saw on the capture was what I got on the DVD - and the capture content would show up differently with each capture. But - not ruling out the burning process since this "15 minute trend" has happened mainly with the InstantDVD Recorder, regardless of a few capture attempts.

Right now I use the Dazzle Video Creator Platinum hardware with Pinnacle InstantDVD Recorder (also sometimes use Pinnacle Studio 15 HD that came with it) with my Windows 7 64-bit OS and my hp G60 notebook. I use costco blank dvd+r's. I use the stock DVD RW drive that came with the notebook. WHAT AM I DOING WRONG??

Thanks,
Kristen

[Nelson37]

Almost everything.

Dazzle/Pinnacle products not very well regarded.

Capturing direct to DVD is not something I have ever seen recommended here.

Capturing on a notebook not such a great idea.

Using cheap DVD disks is a very bad idea.

Capturing VHS, onto a notebook, with a Dazzle, for direct-to-DVD burn, on a cheap disk, and you have no idea what you are doing wrong?

Stop right now, start doing some serious reading, you will likely need some new equipment, you MIGHT be ready to attempt something useful in a week or two, depending on how fast you can read.

Good luck, it can be done, but not the way you're doing it.

[kwood]

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

If the direct to DVD is not recommended - I can live with that (however sad since capturing direct to DVD would be an amazing function for someone not wanting to waste time making chapters, titles, and major editing for family movies and just wanting to preserve their family moments before the material is unwatchable with its current technology).

I just want a simple way to preserve family movies that is as quick and easy as possible. Any user-friendly, time-effective setups that are recommended would be appreciated. Better DVDs/software/capturing hardware - no problem in spending some money on those things for a better result - however a notebook is my only choice.

Would you suggest getting a new DVD burner as well? I am hoping not - would be sad if the stock hardware isn't worth a damn.

Thanks.

[ranchhand]

It's been several years since I have used Pinnacle constantly, but I have always had problems with capturing, both on Vs10 andVs14. You will find that using a separate capture card that will convert analog to digital will help you a lot since Studio doesn't work with analog very well. I used a Hauppauge card and it worked great. Once you get Pinnacle to recognize the capture there is a lot you can do. I have no complaints, I have done a pile of old analog as well as digital captures. If you are running Windows 7 you should be able to import digital videos and save them. Then just drag & drop them into the Studio edit screen. Easier. I have no experience with the auto conversion to DVD features, but I would be a bit leery of it.

[Nelson37]

What you want, in terms of easy and simple, does not exist. Maybe a standalone DVD recorder.

If my only equipment was a notebook, I would abandon the project.

Investigate having a professional do it for you.

The DVD burner itself is nowhere near the top 10 in items you need to change. The simple fact that you are considering this illustrates the depth of understanding that you do not have.

If I have a car with four flat tires and no battery and I want to put gas in it to get it started, I should not be trying to fix the car.

You seriously need to do some reading on VHS capture. You have no idea of the complexity of the task.

Focus on losslessly compressed AVI captured to an external hard drive, with subsequent filtering and re-encode, followed by correct authoring and burn to quality DVD disks. You may need a TBC, different VCR, and different capture hardware. I will say again, I just would not attempt it on your current PC.

I would strongly advise you invest some time reading on the subject here. Many excellent guides, numerous discussion of hardware and methods. I would bet money you could not find one single person here who would recommend your current procedure in any way, shape, or form, or who would be satisfied with the results.

A long time ago I started out where you are now. Captured a few tapes and though they were OK. Then, I began to learn what could be done, and how much dramatically better it could be. Also what absolute worthless crap I had created on my first efforts. And, what a truly miserable source VHS is.

[kwood]

Nelson37 - thank you, I can understand analogies. What I hope to be wrongful inference on my part of your implication that I'm an idiot, I am in fact not a moron. The burner was more of an aside - wondering if it was contributing to the issue. I knew it wasn't the core problem or where I should start.

There are several people that are in the same market as me - apparently Diamond VC500, or Roxio's Easy Capture, or the Haauppage card ranchhand referenced earlier appear to be well reviewed for my purposes: http://vhs-to-dvd-converters-review.toptenreviews.com/. (Thank you, ranchhand!).

I understand my novice level of understanding (and for that matter - do not plan on becoming an expert) - and I my initial inquiry was related to seeing if I should basically throw out the Dazzle - which seems to be the consensus from multiple inputs.

Alas, I knew VHS quality is crap - and not expecting good quality. Just the possibility of actually seeing the footage (albeit dark and colorless now) - but without dropped frames was my goal (not time-consuming videography and restoration).

I'm sure someone who feels the need to hide behind a computer and make condescending remarks to someone looking for help (in the "Newbie" forum, mind you) to boost their own self-esteem must be feeling quite good about themselves. How are you feeling, Nelson37? If that was not your intention, you should pay attention to how things come off as you're typing. Because you sound abrasive, holier-than-thou, and that you have a major superiority complex - and nobody wants to take advice from that - regardless of how much you know on the subject matter.

[Nelson37]

i don't happen to know very much about growing soybeans. That doesn't make me an idiot, it just means I don't know very much about growing soybeans.

Now, if I really want to grow some good soybeans, and I found somebody that knew a fair amount about growing soybeans, I would ask polite questions and primarily shut up while I listened intently about what they had to say. If I didn't happen to like their attitude and I really wanted to let them know my feelings, I would wait until I had learned everything I could about growing soybeans from that particular individual first.

There are hundreds of pages on this website devoted to trying to do the same task as you. Every aspect of the task is explained in great detail. Charts, graphs, pictures, examples, everything. You don't want to invest any time at all with that, fine. I distilled it for you in a couple paragraphs. Frankly, I don't give a damn whether you like my attitude. I don't like your laziness.

If you had asked nicely for more detail on WHY what you are doing was wrong, I most likely would have provided it. Most of the explanations would require MORE explanations. Hence the suggestion to do some reading.

There is a very simple step you could take to very likely eliminate the problem you posted about. (Actually two). You may now invest your own time and effort to find out what it is.

[Bjs]

1: Don't use cosco media ... only the best media should be used ... that's verbatim, nothing else.

If capturing is working fine for you on what you have then be happy.

2: Next would be don't use direct to disc burn, that's one area which can cause issues ... capture and convert, output to hard drive ... use imgburn to burn the resulting output to disc ... verbatim ... should help narrow the issue if it still remains.

Personally I have no issues capturing and burning direct to disc thou my equipment being used is well above recommended hardware requirements ... not one coaster ... mind you Ive burn to a lot of cheap branded stuff here before in au and don't have problem's with those either ... maybe its luck ... and years later those same disc's still read fine.

[blademan37]

I am trying to export a camcorder video from Pinnacle studio for Dazzle and after 12 hours it was only 50% completed. Am I doing something wrong??