Capturing Hi8 analog to vegas ?

J

Jeffrey Rice

Active member
I am trying to capture Hi8 to Vegas, using Diamond video capture device, to PC, to edit in Vegas. The software with the Diamond unit seems to be capturing through USB into computer, via software with capture device, but it won't come up into Vegas.

I suspect file format or some codec might be the problem--the Diamond dingus will "record" to PC in DVD, SVCD, Mpeg-4, AVI and audio formats. It defaults to VCD which I know Vegas doesn't like. Which of these should I use ? Or hunt up the captured file & convert it ??

I have seen suggested on various boards to use DVD recorder and capture off a DVD-R into Vegas. Pinnacle seems incompatible from what I've read elsewhere. might try but only a last resort.

My rig: Sony Hi-8 CCD-VX3, Vegas 9 PE Movie pack, Dell Vostro 1310 laptop with Core 2 Duo 2.0mhz, 2GB memory, 120 GB free on drive, DVD burner, Intel integrated graphics, 1394 firewire port.

The camcorder was a gift from a close friend. It has s-video & composite outs. I don't have the bucks to go DV right now, so passthru is out. Lucky to have this.:)

Any help appreciated....:beer:
Jeff
 
You won't want to go to DVD then capture from that, the loss would be pretty bad. When you capture the clip, try AVI. Vegas should accept that.
 
Well, 2 things

1. I would try to scare up a friend with a min-DV camera and try to pass through the hi-8 signal onto it's firewire and record into Vegas that way. In fact, that is EXACTLY how I got my hi8 footage into my PC.

2. Barring that, use the AVI option. Hopefully it gives you a decent codec to work with. If it gives you an option, report back here, and we'll help. Honestly, depending on the AVI option, it MAY be best to do mp4.

Is this what you bought?? http://www.diamondmm.com/VC500.php
 
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Yes, that is the one, Diamond VC500.

Also I have read that mpeg-4 is lossy, heavy compression.

I will try AVI and report back soon.
 
Though Mpeg4 CAN be lossy, and IS heavily compressed, it doesn't HAVE to be hugely lossy. Take a look at any Hollywood Blu-Ray. That is perfectly acceptable loss to me. And you aren't putting anywhere close to as much information through the unit as someone doing HD would be. All depends on the bitrates they allow.

Honestly, I wouldn't expect much from a $35 converter. Our converters costs hundreds of dollars to get good quality.
 
OK, here is what I tried and found out:

When capturing to AVI, I got file size 52 MB, as .mpg file. Clicked on it, Vegas wouldnt open it. File type Mpeg-2, which Vegas studio PE does not support. "violation of license" to use mpeg-2...Sony dirtbags.

Next tried capture to mpeg-4, got nothing in Vegas, opened new project & went to capture in mpeg-4. Nothing (but video did play on my screen) Diamond not Vegas window.

Verified pathnames & file types, Vegas is finding mpeg-2 files but won't open them. So something IS getting to Vegas.

At this point I'm not too worried about "loss" I just want to get the thing to work at all.

Found "super copy" freeware on google, at http://www.erightsoft.net/SUPER Says it will convert any known codec to any other, it's open-source freeware so I feel inclined to try it.

Any thoughts ? All help appreciated. :beer:
 
Super works just fine and I've used it. While you're at it, download a utility called "G-Spot". It can look at a file, tell which codec was used to create it, and that way you can download the codec you need so Vegas can understand it.

Mpeg2 decoders cost a BUNCH of money to license so that's why Vegas doesn't have one.

-P
 
Hi, all. I downloaded SUPER and G-Spot, and they identified the codec in question, and converted it. So far so good.

What I got in Vegas was a lot of "clipping" and drop-outs, and some of it was pretty garbled. Got it in there but was unusable....

Talked to my nephew last nite, he is web designer/A+ cert hardware tech, deals a lot with video, he said the problem is USB is just too slow, I need firewire.

Fortunately my computer has firewire/1394 port. I looked at the link on Pyro device, it outputs to computer in DV via firewire, sort of like a DV cam pass-thru. Will "fool" Vegas into getting the DV input it wants.

I have ordered it and expect it in a week or so. The other thing is going on ebay, for some amateur who wants to burn home movies to DVD.

I hope this thread has been helpful to others, as well as help I have gotten here. Capture to Vegas seems to be a pretty common problem.

Thanks to everyone for all your help !

Cheers :beer:
Jeff
 
We captured with Vegas using the ADS Pyro with no problems. The ADS works with FCP, Vegas, EDIUS etc. Yiou are right it is the same as looping through a IEEE camera but with more I/O options. It will work great for RT CC and simple edits to the NTSC monitor with Vegas.
 
I don't know about USB being a problem. I got a Hi8 for the wife, and ended up having to buy an analogue to digital converter that uses the USB. It worked fine, and even took the clips into Premiere 6.
 
Capt Quirk said:
I don't know about USB being a problem. I got a Hi8 for the wife, and ended up having to buy an analogue to digital converter that uses the USB. It worked fine, and even took the clips into Premiere 6.
Click to expand...

Fire Wire DV converters will let you see your PIPs and CC using an NTSC monitor. I doubt the USB device will out put in RT to an NTSC monitor. I don't doubt that it captures video OK.
 
USB converters work OK but Fire Wire is the better option. I think the original poster just wants to get analogue footage into the PC but I am not sure he wants to use USB exculsively.
 
Maybe not, but with the limited outputs of his Hi8, there aren't many choices. My DV Storm had 1394, S-Vid, and composite inputs, but it was a pricey add on card set. Either way he looks at it, it is going to be a pain.
 
Capt Quirk said:
Maybe not, but with the limited outputs of his Hi8, there aren't many choices. My DV Storm had 1394, S-Vid, and composite inputs, but it was a pricey add on card set. Either way he looks at it, it is going to be a pain.
Click to expand...

Why would it be a pain? I think you need to invest in a DV converter to find out exaclty how they work. As of now I don't think you have a clue. It is the exact same a looping through a DV camera but with more I/O options. It is just as easy a a DV Storm except the DV converter work with all NLE programs.

DV Storm? Once Edius worked with OHCI I used a cheap DV converter for true RT previews on the NTSC monitor. DV converrters made the DV Storm obsolete in my opinion. The ADS Pyro is cheap and works great with Edius, Premiere and Vegas.
 
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