problems transferring video from camcorder

[cpeters]

Good morning all,
I am trying to transfer video I have shot using my canon zr65 camcorder to my hard drives. The problems are arising when I transfer. If I use WinDV I get no dropped frames but no audio as well. If I try to transfer using Stoik I am getting dropped frames everywhere annd the picture is incrediblly pixellated. Using premiere gives me a lot of dropped frames and choppy audio. I am transferring using a firewire so I am clueless as to what may be going on. Does anyone have any clues or advice that may help? Thanks in advance

[kurbads]

Did you try Windows XP built in program (double click on camera in Explorer)?
Are they the same frames which are dropped in different programs?
Does the video play well in camera?
Don't you have large magnets on desk?

[gadgetguy]

With WinDV have you tried capsferring to both Type1 and Type2. I have never had the problem of no audio but I have heard of others having the problem and switching to the other type seemed to make a difference.

[cpeters]

Good afternoon,
No large magnets on desk. When I capture using type 1 in WinDV it does capture the audio but seems very pixellated to me. Also when I play it back the first time using windows media player it seems choppy, then subsequent playbacks seem smooth (albeit pixellated) I have not used the XP built in program, as I try to avoid microsoft at all costs (but that is just me). I just really want to be able to get a clean transfer to be able to make dvd's from as well as edit it for both youtube and revver. Thank you for the suggestions so far. Anything else anyone can think of?

[123fish123]

Have you made sure all other programs are shut off? I'd run MSconfig and turn off any non-critical services and startup programs. Also, defrag your hard drive and make sure your virtual memory settings are set properly to ensure your hard drive is not handling too much of the work load.

[Steve Stepoway]

Are you using WinDV's device control? I've had audio problems transfering from a Canon ZR60 if I used d/c. Same symptom -- all seemed OK, but there was no audio. Problems went away if I manually hit "play" on the camera, then clicked the capture button in WinDV. Try turning device control off, if you are using it.

Steve

[cpeters]

using type 1 in WinDV I was able to get a reasonably good transfer. Problem is, WinDV seperated it into 3 files. Why? Also when trying to edit/render/convert using canopus, the video seems to lock up. Have no idea why. System is optimized for video and have nothing running background. Also have defragged harddrive. Sorry for what seems a lot od silly questions, I just want a clean crisp transfer to be able to make to dvd and put parts on youtube and revver for friends to watch. Thank you all for the help so far and I am sure we can figure this out.

[Jim44]

As Steve indicated, there's a problem with the device controls in WinDV - confirmed by the developer:
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=842293#842293
(FWIW, I've transferred both Type I and II with no audio issues since learning of this "work-around".)

As to the separation into 3 files, it's probably a function of the length of video you are transferring and the "Max AVI size (frames)" setting in the Config window. WinDV's main page shows this setting. Make it larger for fewer segments.

Hope that helps,
Jim

[gadgetguy]

Two settings will affect creating multiple files using WinDV. Max AVI size and Discontinuity Threshold. Set the Max AVI size to 2000000 and the Discontinuity Threshold to Zero to capture in one large file.

Edit: Also if you had no dropped frames capsferring, then the video on the HDD is the same as what's on the tape. You may have issues playing back DV-AVI. If you doubt it, an easy way to check is to transfer the file back to a fresh tape and play it back in the cam. It should be the same.