Frame Drops??? I can't figure out why...

[ChitownTaper]

Okay, I'm haveing some capturing problems!!!!! My computer specs are below, but here's the problem...
I try capturing from my digital cam to my firewire and into Premier 6.0 and I drop ALOT of frames. I tried the same thing but into Ulead DVD Movie Factory and had the same problems. And I did both captures to my main hard drive and to my second hard drive. I even moved the premier software to my second hard drive and I can't get a good capture no matter what I do. I've done captures before and dropped like 2 or 3 frames, but now i'm dropping like 100 in 2 minutes.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks
Cal
ChitownTaper@attbi.com

Comp Specs:
1.4ghz amd thunderbird
512mb ddr pc2100
40 gb 7200rpm WD
120 gb 7200rpm WD
Generic Firewire Controller Card

Cam Specs
Sony TRV-330 Digital 8

[kayfam]

Okay, I'm haveing some capturing problems!!!!! My computer specs are below, but here's the problem...
I try capturing from my digital cam to my firewire and into Premier 6.0 and I drop ALOT of frames. I tried the same thing but into Ulead DVD Movie Factory and had the same problems. And I did both captures to my main hard drive and to my second hard drive. I even moved the premier software to my second hard drive and I can't get a good capture no matter what I do. I've done captures before and dropped like 2 or 3 frames, but now i'm dropping like 100 in 2 minutes.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks
Cal
ChitownTaper@attbi.com

Comp Specs:
1.4ghz amd thunderbird
512mb ddr pc2100
40 gb 7200rpm WD
120 gb 7200rpm WD
Generic Firewire Controller Card

Cam Specs
Sony TRV-330 Digital 8

2 things you didn't include that might help out in identifying your problem:
Motherboard chipset (i.e. VIA, SIS ect.) and the type soundcard.

[Oldgamer]

Defragment the hard drive first. Dropping frames usually means your hard drive can't do the record fast enough. But with your specification it should not be the problem. Close all other applications, antivirus software... And, yeah, don't forget defragment the drive.
Good luck.

[ChitownTaper]

The motherboard chipset is a SIS735 and the soundcard is a DiO2448 Digital I/O Soundcard.

I'll try a defrag tonight. Any other thoughts?

thanx
cal
ChitownTaper@attbi.com

[ChitownTaper]

I defragged my hard drive and it sped things up a bit in general. I'm dropping fewer frames, but I captured 300 frames and dropped 40 frames. I can't figure out what's wrong!

help
cal

[medievil]

are you previewing??? IF so Try it without and see if you still drop frames.

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Delete all s/w installed off that second drive, you need to ensure your 2nd "capture drive" is completely blank & used solely for vid capturing.
Also you should check to see what background programs are running. There is A utility called "End it All 2", which can kill any unnecessary backround tasks. And of course make sure DMA is on etc.

[Oldgamer]

It does not matter, some software installed on that drive or not if you did defragmentation. I have just one harddrive, slower computer and still got dropped frames rarely. I assume you to check the transfer mode of the hard drive. If it not in UDMA mode, that can be a problem.
Good luck.

[gf]

I don't know if this will help you but it did improve my setup. Does your bios have a selection called "PCI Latency Timer". This item controls how long each PCI device can hold the bus before another takes over. In my case I made it smaller so the time the capture & harddrive holds the bus is shorter so it could switch tasks faster. And it worked in my case. But before you make a change, please note what it was so you can switch back.

Steve

[rhuala2]

1. Download Sandra Soft and run HD Benchmarks to see where you drive lies compared to similar drives. This will tell you right away whether your drive is operating properly or not. Are u using ata 33/66/100??

2. Exit all other programs running in the background/task bar. Virus scanner can kill you.

3. Make sure nothing else is loading in background. Use Startup Config.exe or msconfig.exe, this will tell you what is getting loading into the system registry and/or running in the background.

4. Go to your motherboard website and run the latest chipset drivers, can make big difference on efficieny of motherboard interfacing with hard drive.

5. Delete all non-essential files from startup folder (I have nothing in start-up folder, if u need something run it manually). Office sometimes puts a program called Find in your startup folder that can kill ur hd performance.

6. Of course defrag.

7. Re-run Sandra Soft HD benchmarks and see if u have improved.

I agree with Oldgamer in that you shouldn't have to delete all the software off your hd, I personally think thats quite a ridiculus suggestion, jmo though. This may minimally effect seek time but very insignificantly...

rhuala