Pinnacle 510-USB freezing and inserting 24–30 frames/minute on Windows 11 P

[ChrisCoppolo]

Hi There,

I’m setting up two analog capture stations for our family transfer business using equipment we recently purchased to be our premium workflows. Both stations are experiencing repeated Pinnacle/VirtualDub failures.

Capture chain
JVC SR-VS30 > BVTBC10 > Pinnacle 510 > HP EliteDesk 800 G4 > Virtual Dub 1.10.4
JVC HR-DVS3U>BVTBC10>Pinnacle 510> HP EliteDesk 800 G4 > Virtual Dub 1.10.4

Computer specifications
• HP EliteDesk 800 G4 SFF
• Intel Core i5-8500
• 16 GB RAM
• Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
• Windows 11 Pro 25H2
• OS build 26200.9168
• 256 GB SanDisk SD8TN8U256G1001 system SSD
• 1 TB Seagate ST1000DM010 capture HDD

The Pinnacle appears in Device Manager without an error:
• Provider: Pinnacle Systems
• Driver date: May 9, 2007
• Driver version: 4.0.46.0
• Driver files include MarvinAVS64.sys and MarvinUsb.ax

Original problem
During capture, the video periodically freezes while the audio continues normally. The frozen/duplicated picture is present in the captured AVI, so this is not merely a Preview problem. VirtualDub reports approximately 24–30 inserted frames during a 60-second test.

VirtualDub also occasionally becomes completely unresponsive. Task Manager cannot close it. When this happens, physically unplugging the Pinnacle immediately releases VirtualDub and allows it to close. Does that suggest VirtualDub is blocked waiting for the Pinnacle driver/device?

One station successfully captured approximately 40 minutes with zero inserted frames. However, in using the same equipment and settings on the next transfer, VirtualDub locked up and then returned to inserting frames.

Tests already performed
• Tried the same VHS tape on the second capture station.
• Tried multiple Pinnacle 510 units.
• Replaced any S-Video cables.
• Swapped Pinnacles between stations.
• Tested capture to both the system SSD and the 1 TB capture HDD.
• Bypassed the BV10 completely.
• Tested stable BV10-generated color bars instead of a tape or VCR.
• Initially received 0 dropped and 0 inserted frames during one 60-second color-bar test.
• Later received approximately 24–26 inserted frames per minute from the same stable color bars.
• Disabled sleep and USB selective suspend.
• Installed all current Windows updates with the Pinnacle disconnected.
• Moved the keyboard and mouse to the front USB ports.
• Connected the Pinnacle by itself to a rear motherboard USB 2.0 port—the pair below the Ethernet connector—and left the neighboring USB 2.0 port empty.
• Restarted with the Pinnacle disconnected, supplied stable color bars first, connected the Pinnacle after Windows loaded, waited, selected S-Video using Crossbar Thing, and then opened VirtualDub.
• Disabled VirtualDub’s DirectX display options.
• Used Preview instead of Overlay and saved Preview as the default display mode.
• Tested with Preview completely disabled using Video → No Display. Frames were still inserted.
• Disabled audio capture entirely for a test. Frames were still inserted.
• Audio playback and the volume meter were disabled during capture.

VirtualDub and capture settings tested

I originally used VirtualDub 1.10.4 x86. I have now changed to the official VirtualDub 1.9.11 x86 build and installed Huffyuv 2.1.1 x86.
Current video settings:
• 720×480
• YUY2
• 29.9700 fps
• Huffyuv v2.1.1
• YUY2 compression method: Predict median
• RGB output option disabled

Current Timing settings:
• Drop frames when captured frames are too close together: enabled
• Insert null frames when captured frames are too far apart: enabled
• Null frame burst limit: 10
• Sync audio to video by resampling audio: selected
• Correct video timing for fewer frame drops/inserts: disabled
• Automatically disable resync when integrated audio/video capture is detected: enabled
• Automatic audio latency determination: enabled, 30 blocks
• Force audio clock when audio playback is enabled: disabled
• Other DirectShow timing options: disabled

After making those changes, a 60-second Huffyuv color-bar capture still produced 0 dropped frames and approximately 26 inserted frames. Disabling audio capture did not change the result. Disabling Preview did not change the result.

I would appreciate specific guidance on the following:

1. Have Pinnacle 510 units been known to have issues with Windows 11 25H2.
2. What exact Windows build, Pinnacle driver package, VirtualDub build, USB controller/port, and timing settings were used successfully?
3. Is Windows 11 actually recommended for these Pinnacles, or should these capture stations use Windows 10 or Windows 7?
4. If Windows 10 is recommended, what exact Windows 10 release/build has been verified?
5. Could the Intel USB controller in the EliteDesk 800 G4 be incompatible with the Pinnacle driver?
6. Is there a known PCIe USB-controller card that has been successfully tested with the Pinnacle 510?
7. Is there any additional diagnostic that would distinguish a Pinnacle hardware fault from a driver/USB-controller incompatibility?

Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated!

Chris

[Gary34]

Your timing settings aren’t correct for that card.

What should be selected is only
Drop frames when captured frames are too close together

Insert null frames when captured frames are too far apart
Null frame burst 10 is right
Do not resync between audio and video streams
Automatically disable resync when integrated audio/video capture is detected.

Under audio latency determination check automatic 30 is right

Under direct show options check force audio clock when audio playback is enabled.


Installing Windows updates can mess things up. I had done a reinstall of windows 10 and it made it to where I couldn’t use the card in Windows 7,10, or 11. Then I used Pinnacle’s software on a Windows 7 PC and after that everything worked again with the Pinnacle on Windows 7 and 10. I didn’t try 11 again.

I use the back USB port but I don’t think it matter either way. I did use it for the DV bridge with MiniDV also and for some reason it was more picky about what USB port I used. 1 USB port wouldn’t work for DV.

With capture you don’t really need a fast PC at all. My windows 7 PC is a dual core Inspiron 3847. It has a Startech HDD swap case that makes getting Huffy files from my capture PC to my editing PC really fast.

Are you going to give your clients a Huffy file or a finished H.264 file?