ADVC-1394 problem

[Robster]

Bit confused about this thing. I've got the card installed, it was detected and installed OK automatically.

I try and perform an capture from LD in Vegas Video (it's the 3.0 LE version). All seems ok until I stop the capture and try different settings or another titles, or whatever. Then I get a totally blank capture screen, as if the card itself has turned off. Nothing. Not even audio.

The system seems to think it's a digital camcorder, with play, pause, forward buttons etc - and the playing time clock in the software never stops advancing - as if it thinks a 'tape' is playing all the time. There are no settings I can see to get the think working again - I have to power off the PC and start up again (simply rebooting doesn't work).

I've gotta say, for a product at this price level I was expecting maybe just a bit of documentation but there's basically nothing other than an installation guide. The WinProducer software that came with it is total crap and while Vegas seems a bit friendlier there is still precious little information.

But that aside - why the blank screen?

[marylandmike]

I installed this card several weeks ago and have had the same problem. By going to the Canopus website and looking at the forums I found a few suggestions and tried a couple of patches. Apparently it is related to WinXP SP1 but there hasn't been a solution to fix it yet.

I bought this card so that I could do quality captures and have no audio/video synch problem. My other card was a ATI AIW 128 pro and even though I could fix the synch problem with software it still crept back. So I tried the 1394.

Actually for the price it is a decent card and my captures have been great. Only had one movie that had a little audio lag the rest have been excellent. I have done maybe 12 or more transfers. I am using winproducer. It took me sometime to figure out how to get it to work but once over that hurdle it has done the job. I plan on expermenting with Vegas a little when I get the time.

I really wish that Canopus would fix this problem of having to reboot just about everytime. In the forums they state that they are working with Microsoft to come up with a solution. But since I am getting great captures I could live with this for the time being. Canopus really makes some interesting stuff for video production and it would be nice to have the money to buy one of the professional systems.

Well good luck,

Michael

[Robster]

Thanks Michael, at least I know the card isn't faulty, as such.

I've been playing a bit today and it seems the 'lockup' issue happens when you click on the 'stop' button in whatever capture software you're using. I've been capturing with Vegas and if I just click on the close-window button when I want to stop capturing, everything works fine the next time. A bit awkward, but it works.

I've not given WinProducer much chance, but I dont like the way it looks, the layout of everything - and I also get a slow response when clicking around the GUI. It's as if it's deliberately trying to look and feel different just for the sake of it, but that's just me.

[Oliver]

I'm using the ADVC-50, which is basically the same hardware analog-to-DV converter, but w/o the built-in firewire interface the ADVC-1394 has. You might want to try WinDV to capture with, I find it much simpler to use for just storing the converted analog video. The problem you described I think has to do w/ the software wanting to automatically control the DV device, like a miniDV camcorder. Of course w/ the Canopus converters, you cannot control a regular VHS VCR throught the firewire link. I tried capturing with MGI Videowave that came w/ my Adaptec 4300, and it was too finicky about wanting to start and pause the "DV device". With WinDV, I ran into that problem too, but figured out that if you check the box next to the Config button, it'll recognize the signal from my ADVC-50. You can download WinDV for free at http://windv.mourek.cz/.

[Robster]

That's a great little utility. Thanks mate.

Rob