VLC does not capture video from firewire

[Rorox]

Hi all.

Hope that somebody will help me.
I'm trying to download MiniDV recorded videos and/or capture direct video from my Canon XH-A1 camera connected to a Windows 10 i7, 32GB RAM PC.
I had a good firewire embedded port in the previous PC running Windows 7.
Unfortunately this PC was not equipped with a Firewire port and I had to buy a separate card.
I bought a KALEA PCIe FireWire 800 e 400 IEEE1394a + IEE1394b Chipset Ti xi02213bzay, but since the first moment I had problems with that.
Using Pinnacle 14 it does not show the video image importing the video.
It works, importing video from MiniDV and capturing videolive from the camera, but nothing appears on the monitor during the import action and -overall- it's impossible to select AVI.
Pinnacle imports just MPEG2 videos of horrible quality, of course.

I installed VLC.
VLC works when it comes to select the camera and visualize live video, but it's impossible to save and obtain an AVI file.
I select the appropriate device (Canon XH-A1) that appears in Media->acquisition device, and the I press PLAY on the same window. The live video appears on the monitor, with a delay of 1 second, more or less, but it's impossible to capture and save any video file.

I selected "advanced control" and obtained all the buttons under the image. I press "Record" (the red spot) but nothing happens. I can push it 10 times, nothing happens, the program does not ask me to save any file and in my VIDEO directory does not appear any new file.

I tried with virtual dub too, but it does not work at all. It does not recognize the camera.

May anybody help me?

thx

[Skiller]

Both VLC and VirtualDub are not capable of transferring DV via 1394/Firewire. What they can do is capturing (not the same thing).

Use WinDV or ScenalyzerLive for transferring DV.

[Rorox]

Both VLC and VirtualDub are not capable of transferring DV via 1394/Firewire. What they can do is capturing (not the same thing).

Use WinDV or ScenalyzerLive for transferring DV.

Thank you Skiller.

Tried WinDV few seconds ago. It does not work, unfortunately


[Attachment 60175 - Click to enlarge]

[Alwyn]

WinDV stopped working for me on Win 10. Scenealyzer still works. Try my guide here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/158O_LS9Lb2vqEOtLeVyRF0V5_P84aXGH/view?usp=sharing

It's actually a nifty program; you can do all sorts of things with DV-AVI files. Split, join, trim, the works, all losslessly.

[Rorox]

Scenalyzer does not work too.
It seems that there is no connection between the camera and the PC but VLC is able to show the video live (without to record any file) and Pinnacle saves the imported video but does not show the video live from the camera.

This is Scenalyzer:

[Attachment 60177 - Click to enlarge]


and this is VLC, this screenshot was taken one second ago, from this page and the VLC windows opened on it.
The video il live, it is only delayed of about a second or so, and VLC does not save the file


[Attachment 60176 - Click to enlarge]

[TreeTops]

For those that can't get WinDV to work with later Windows OS's download the legacy driver.

[Rorox]

WinDV stopped working for me on Win 10. Scenealyzer still works. Try my guide here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/158O_LS9Lb2vqEOtLeVyRF0V5_P84aXGH/view?usp=sharing

It's actually a nifty program; you can do all sorts of things with DV-AVI files. Split, join, trim, the works, all losslessly.

thank you. I'm reading your guide, right now

[Rorox]

VLC works well capturing the video. If I only knew how to save it...


[Attachment 60178 - Click to enlarge]

[Rorox]

WinDV stopped working for me on Win 10. Scenealyzer still works. Try my guide here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/158O_LS9Lb2vqEOtLeVyRF0V5_P84aXGH/view?usp=sharing

It's actually a nifty program; you can do all sorts of things with DV-AVI files. Split, join, trim, the works, all losslessly.

Only now I've read that Scenealyzer works for SD video.

I've to manage 1080i video. Will it work with HD video?

[october262]

VLC works well capturing the video. If I only knew how to save it...


[Attachment 60178 - Click to enlarge]

go into advance controls to record video - https://superuser.com/questions/840098/how-can-i-save-the-currently-playing-video-in-v...c-media-player

[usually_quiet]

WinDV stopped working for me on Win 10. Scenealyzer still works. Try my guide here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/158O_LS9Lb2vqEOtLeVyRF0V5_P84aXGH/view?usp=sharing

It's actually a nifty program; you can do all sorts of things with DV-AVI files. Split, join, trim, the works, all losslessly.

Only now I've read that Scenealyzer works for SD video.

I've to manage 1080i video. Will it work with HD video?

You have an HDV recording. If the people replying had realized that from the start, you probably would have received a recommendation for HDVSplit.

I haven't used HDVSplit myself because I don't have an HDV camera so I can't tell you whether or not it works for all recent versions of Windows.

[nicholasserra]

Peek this site about switching to legacy drivers for that firewire card

https://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/Firewire-1.htm

[Rorox]

VLC works well capturing the video. If I only knew how to save it...


[Attachment 60178 - Click to enlarge]

go into advance controls to record video - https://superuser.com/questions/840098/how-can-i-save-the-currently-playing-video-in-v...c-media-player

FOUND!

I was trying since yesterday to find a single video created by VLC, I was looking in the VIDEO and PICTURES directory.

Of course I've chosen "advance controls" since yesterday, it was always active.
I kept pressing the REC button since yesterday like a crazy during all my tries.

...But now I found on that page that VLC saves videos in the DOCUMENTS directory!

So... since yesterday I recorded almost 40 videos all in the documents directory!

unfortunately there are still 2 problems: my camera automatically turns off after two minutes or so, if it is not switched in REC (recording on the MiniDV tape) and the videos are still compressed in MPEG2, while I was looking to save them in AVI or any other flat, uncompressed, high quality format.


[Attachment 60179 - Click to enlarge]

[Rorox]

Peek this site about switching to legacy drivers for that firewire card

https://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/Firewire-1.htm

Hi Nicholas, my system does recognize my camera without problems, the "only" problem is that Pinnacle does not acquire my HD videos in high quality mode, but just in MPEG2, very low quality, and VLC shows the live video but do not saves them.

Now I found that VLC saves video in the document directory!

[Rorox]

WinDV stopped working for me on Win 10. Scenealyzer still works. Try my guide here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/158O_LS9Lb2vqEOtLeVyRF0V5_P84aXGH/view?usp=sharing

It's actually a nifty program; you can do all sorts of things with DV-AVI files. Split, join, trim, the works, all losslessly.

Only now I've read that Scenealyzer works for SD video.

I've to manage 1080i video. Will it work with HD video?

You have an HDV recording. If the people replying had realized that from the start, you probably would have received a recommendation for HDVSplit.

I haven't used HDVSplit myself because I don't have an HDV camera so I can't tell you whether or not it works for all recent versions of Windows.

Thank you very much, I tried it after your suggestion, but it is an old software that was written for Windows XP, and does not recognize FDDSHOW, that I already have running in my computer.

[usually_quiet]

unfortunately there are still 2 problems: my camera automatically turns off after two minutes or so, if it is not switched in REC (recording on the MiniDV tape) and the videos are still compressed in MPEG2, while I was looking to save them in AVI or any other flat, uncompressed, high quality format.

Your videos are stored in compressed form on the tape, in MPEG2 to be exact. That is how HDV recording works for HD video. VLC records the very same compressed stream that is sent over firewire to your PC, which is exactly the same as what is stored on the tape. You can't achieve any higher quality than the original video stored on the tape.

[DB83]

Ok. I do not use HDVSplit but I also do not understand your comment about ffdshow. That should have no impact on your ability to transfer the video from the tape to your PC since it is a decoder. Mpeg2 (your correct transfers will be Mpeg2 - not avi as you infer) is usually turned off in ffdshow since more current OS's decode this 'out of the box'


Do a test capture - 20 secs will be enough - and upload it here as an attachment. We can then see if you have actually transferred correctly from the tape.


Failing this, the members who would have knowledge about using the program might not read this topic due to its title and you might be wiser to start a new topic specific to HDVSplit

[aedipuss]

you have to have firewire and capture the HDV over it using HDVsplit. that's the only way to get a copy of the tape onto the computer. it's 13GB/hr. 1440x1080i with mp2 audio. it's not square pixel that converts to 1920x1080i easily.

p.s. if you want to record without going to tape but directly over firewire using HDVsplit, leave the tape door of the cam open without a tape in it. you can record as long as you want.

[Alwyn]

Using HDVSplit to capture/transfer HDV video from MiniDV to computer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AcIVyuFkuvCI3jziFw0zyVEoeFHZdyn8/view?usp=sharing

[Rorox]

unfortunately there are still 2 problems: my camera automatically turns off after two minutes or so, if it is not switched in REC (recording on the MiniDV tape) and the videos are still compressed in MPEG2, while I was looking to save them in AVI or any other flat, uncompressed, high quality format.

Your videos are stored in compressed form on the tape, in MPEG2 to be exact. That is how HDV recording works for HD video. VLC records the very same compressed stream that is sent over firewire to your PC, which is exactly the same as what is stored on the tape. You can't achieve any higher quality than the original video stored on the tape.

you're right, indeed the MPEG2 file created by VLC is much more higher in quality than the file created by pinnacle, and it is exactly like presented in the monitor during the videolive.

I was just "scandalized" for the horrible result that gives Pinnacle 14, saving in MPEG2, but yesterday night, for the first time, I watched the files created by VLC and their quality seems very high, exciting.

When I wrote that yesterday I examinated the files in a small window, happy to have found the way to obtain files from VLC. Yesterday night I was amazed of the result.

[Rorox]

Using HDVSplit to capture/transfer HDV video from MiniDV to computer:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JqtTD8oPwvxiWB2vZ2n_itLf68WKwTNP/view?usp=sharing

I used that guide yesterday, suggested by its creator. it returns an error, looking for a MPEG decoder.

[Rorox]

you have to have firewire and capture the HDV over it using HDVsplit. that's the only way to get a copy of the tape onto the computer. it's 13GB/hr. 1440x1080i with mp2 audio. it's not square pixel that converts to 1920x1080i easily.

p.s. if you want to record without going to tape but directly over firewire using HDVsplit, leave the tape door of the cam open without a tape in it. you can record as long as you want.

Thank you very much, the second represents really a solution for me!

Concerning HDVSplit it does not work in my computer, it asks for a MPEG2 decoder, suggesting to install FDDSHOW, but I've already installed and kept running it.

[Rorox]

Ok. I do not use HDVSplit but I also do not understand your comment about ffdshow. That should have no impact on your ability to transfer the video from the tape to your PC since it is a decoder. Mpeg2 (your correct transfers will be Mpeg2 - not avi as you infer) is usually turned off in ffdshow since more current OS's decode this 'out of the box'


Do a test capture - 20 secs will be enough - and upload it here as an attachment. We can then see if you have actually transferred correctly from the tape.


Failing this, the members who would have knowledge about using the program might not read this topic due to its title and you might be wiser to start a new topic specific to HDVSplit

Quality of the video produced by VLC is more than acceptable, it's really exciting.
Yesterday I wrote that it was a problem to solve, because Pinnacle 14 produces horrendous files, downloading in MPEG from my camera.
And it's some 2 years that I hate that result (before to change everything I had the possibility to use a MAC from time to time, and it always downloaded my videos in the same quality VLC is downloading right now: at the maximum quality.

Yesterday I was thinking that it was a problem involved by the usage of the MPEG2 compression forced by Pinnacle, but -of course- I was wrong.
Video taken by my Camera are always compressed in MPEG2 format.
Recorded on a MiniDV tape or sent by a videolive stream via firewire.
It's exactly the same thing. Video via firewire are always sent in MPEG2 compressed format.

Yesterday night I watched the files produced by VLC and I'm enthusiast.
They are amazing!
Yes, I will try to make a 20 sec file, but it will be around 400 MB, I don't know if it will be possible to upload it to this forum.

Concerning FFDSHOW and HVDslipt, I'm not kidding and no telling lies.

And consider that I already had FFDSHOW installed. I runned it before to run HVDSplit, and I tried more than once.
I tried a minute ago too.
There is no possibility to download (and monitor anything with HVDSplit in my computer.

Look:


[Attachment 60183 - Click to enlarge]

[DB83]

Fair enough. But like I said Mpeg2 decoder is disabled in Ffdshow. Enable it and try again.


You can upload up to 500 mb as an attachment. Maybe one of your vlc clips is smaller ?


Alternatively install a small program called mediainfo. Load one of the clips and post a text-mode report of it.

[Rorox]

Fair enough. But like I said Mpeg2 decoder is disabled in Ffdshow. Enable it and try again.


You can upload up to 500 mb as an attachment. Maybe one of your vlc clips is smaller ?


Alternatively install a small program called mediainfo. Load one of the clips and post a text-mode report of it.

Concerning the video, I've taken a video longer than 20 seconds and its size is 213MB. I didn't know that it was possible to upload files so big on this forum.
All in all I subscribed this forum yesterday.
Tell me what do u think about it, considering that today is a cloudy day, and that the tree that appears in the end of the video is at some 15m. -> 50 feet of distance.

[Rorox]

This video was taken several years ago, in a sunny day and uploaded to a MAC computer.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2my0fsxokm52cxl/00000.m2ts?dl=0

[DB83]

re the vlc capture which is correctly reported as HDV


Two things that you can answer.


1. Was the original recording 16:9 ?
2. Was the original recording interlaced since it is now progressive.

[DB83]

With the mac transfer, we now have a 1080p video (1920*1080)

[Rorox]

re the vlc capture which is correctly reported as HDV


Two things that you can answer.


1. Was the original recording 16:9 ?
2. Was the original recording interlaced since it is now progressive.

Canon XH-A1 produces (and memorizes on MiniDV) a 1080"F" stream or 1080i, you can choose it in the general menu.

Canon calls it "1080F", that means that it's purely progressive (1080 progressive complete single Frames @24 or 30 Hertz) that are then converted into 1080i as well, in 48, 60 or 50 semiframes in different ways, interlacing lines and creating semiframes with different mix of alternate lines. The camera does it automatically.
Yes, if possible I always prefer to extract the original 1080F / 24 video stream. I've to see if it will be possible with VLC too.

Normally I always take 1080F videos, yes.

Yes, Canon XH-A1 takes video in 16/9 or in 4/3, another option that you've to set in the general menu

[DB83]

Like I said earlier, I am not familiar with the HDV format.


There just appears to be a little inconsistency here.


It was mentioned that HDV is 1440*1080 and that is what is reported for the vlc transfer with a 16:9 flag


The other one is reported natively at 1920*1080 making the flag irrelevant.


But if the vlc transfers look fine to you that is all that matters.