Frame drops & a-sync issues from MiniDV to HD60s

[Aerroblade]

I am new to this so please bear with me. I am transferring precious HD 1080i interviews with my belated grandparents from MiniDV (using an HDR-HC7) to MP4 using my Elgato HD60S and everything looks fine in preview but when the file is completed two things happen:

1) The frame rate is a pathetic 15 frames/sec!
2) Over the course of the 45 - 60 min the audio gradually goes out of sync.

I have a very robust computer and I got the newest Elgato to try to quell any concerns but this result is no good. Does anyone know what I might be missing here? Could the HDMI cable that came with the HD60S be causing the issue (I expect it is low quality)

Thanks so much in advance.

[jagabo]

You should be capturing the firewire output from the camcorder. That will give you an exact copy of what's on the tape.

[Aerroblade]

Thank you Jagabo, I realize that would be ideal but my computer won't support a firewire connection anymore... I've tried to find a card that fits and no luck.

[Aerroblade]

So, I think I have this figured out. I opted not to automatically have the Game Capture software "Always convert new videos to MP4 file". After I did that, I realized the original (raw) copy of the files are in .ts format and when I watched them they were in passable 29 fps AND the audio was still in sync!! This is great news for me, but not so good for the software. I am a bit shocked it's compressor does such a horrible job.

Anyway, the jury's out until I can test the appropriate compression using a different video editor.

I hope this helps someone else who encounters the same issue. Cheers!

[usually_quiet]

I've tried to find a card that fits and no luck.

I have to ask what problems are you encountering?

Your computer specs seem to indicate a desktop. If that is true, it seems odd that nothing fits. There are Firewire cards with PCI or PCI-e interfaces and cards with both standard and low profile brackets. Most Firewire 400 cards have a 6-pin interface, but it is possible to get a 4-pin to 6 pin adapter or cable.

[Edit] Your capture device hardware encodes. The uncompressed output from the card can be compressed again with other software, but cannot be improved by re-compressing.

[jagabo]

And maybe you're aware of this: don't get a firewire to USB adapter cable. Those usually only work for firewire hard drives.

[JVRaines]

I've tried to find a card that fits and no luck.

I have to ask what problems are you encountering?

Your computer specs seem to indicate indicate a desktop. If that is true, it seems odd that nothing fits. There are Firewire cards with PCI or PCI-e interfaces and cards with both standard and low profile brackets. Most Firewire 400 cards have a 6-pin interface, but it is possible to get a 4-pin to 6 pin adapter or cable.

Indeed. If the computer is new enough to have USB, then it is new enough to host an IEEE1394 card. For "precious" video I would remove installed cards if I had to and put a FireWire card in there for the transfers.

[Aerroblade]

Thanks all. I have a Dell Alienware Area-51 R2 and Dell has sent two cards that were supposed to fit - but they didn't.

Here is one picture showing me trying to put in the card they sent (the 2nd one they insisted would fit) and another without the card. I was incensed at this point.

I am just thrilled to have decent video now! It would have been wonderful to have better video but it seems these two remaining slots just don't work for what I need. The other two slots are taken up by dual NVIDIA 970 GTX cards in SLI.

[jagabo]

It looks to me like they sent you a PCI card, not a PCI Express card. Just go to newegg or amazon and order a PCI Express firewire adapter with a TI chipset.

https://www.amazon.com/Syba-Profile-PCI-Express-Chipset-SD-PEX30009/dp/B002S53IG8/

[Aerroblade]

If only it were so simple Notice how the board I have starts with the narrow connector and then goes to the wider one? Apparently that is a very Dell thing to do. These cards would end up facing backwards.

[Aerroblade]

I wonder if there is such a thing as a PCI Express 3.0 (the larger slot) firewire card? It doesn't seem so and when I looked up the slot above it, it seems it is meant for modems and communication devices (or the like).

[usually_quiet]

I downloaded the service manual for your Dell to look at the motherboard. The empty expansion slots in your picture are a perfectly normal PCI-e x4 and a regular PCI-e x16, with a normal orientation. Nobody would buy a Alienware PC if it were impossible to use the expansion slots for standard third-party add on cards.

A PCI-e x1 card like the one jagabo linked to will fit in either of those. The connector on the card doesn't need to fill the entire slot. I have installed maybe 10 add on cards over the years. Sometimes I have had a problem attaching the bracket in the back of a case.

The only questions are: Do you have to change any BIOS settings to use one of those slots and will populating either of them cause you to loose access to any other devices on the motherboard?

[Aerroblade]

Interesting. These are the ones that were sent and didn't fit. And I don't mean they didn't fill the slots, I mean they didn't fit at all; and as much as I sound like a noob I have installed a lot of cards myself. I may not know the specs well but I know when something doesn't fit.

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/productdetails/341-1097 which clearly said it was compatible with my system (sigh) and then they sent it again (the dullards) but under the guise of a different code.

Anyway, I am willing to give this a try, but judging by the photo, I think I will have the same problem getting the card in because the first connector looks too wide... I sure hope not though.

[Bernix]

Did you mean something like this ? https://m.alza.co.uk/kouwell-fw-101t-d509190.htm But it is for PCI 2.2
I am lucky. I can transfer video throught USB 2.0 without any data lost...

Bernix

[Aerroblade]

I downloaded the service manual for your Dell to look at the motherboard.

Would you mind sharing that link to the motherboard details? I had a rough time finding one that matched. Thank you kindly for your help!

[usually_quiet]

Here is the link to a pdf version of the manual: http://content.etilize.com/User-Manual/1029539300.pdf

Now I have to get to bed.

[jagabo]

Anyway, I am willing to give this a try, but judging by the photo, I think I will have the same problem getting the card in because the first connector looks too wide... I sure hope not though.

It's not too wide. The pins on a PCIE card are smaller than the pins on a PCI card.

[Aerroblade]

Thank you everyone. I ordered the card and now time will tell. Cheers