Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

L

lucidz

Well-known member
Please advise... I am using vegas 5 to try and capture my video.
In preview, when I'm looking at my video, i can see frames dropping. Not even capturing!

For example, I have the camera in standby, and have it hooked up via DV, and am just watching in preview, I can see my picture, and i see frames dropping! Well I assume its frames dropping, the picture sort of flickers.

So I click on the capture tab and click properties, and it says "video capture card, frames captured 710 (or whatever) over 30 seconds, 24 frames per second, 10 frames dropped, throughput 2884858 bytes per second.

If I capture, its the same thing, dropped frames every few seconds... I have defragged and scandisked my machine, does anyone have any other suggestions? PS, it does the same thing if I go into windows media encoder and pull up preview. HOWEVER, if I load "VidCap" the utility that came with the capture card, it doesn't drop frames, but is obviously interlaced even though I'm in 24/p.

I feel like crap because I have this great camera and can't even get it on my computer.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

No, its a desktop. Its a pretty standard hard drive. 7200 rpms, 8mb cache 160 gig drive.

My machine is a Athalon 3200 w/barton core, 1 gig ram, and a radeon 9800 pro video card.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

You probably want to check all of your firewire connections to make sure they're snug. This could be an issue with either the firewire output on the camera or the input on the computer.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

Yeah I've tried that, I've unplugged and replugged the thing in a bunch of times. I guess I can try switching slots on the computer for the firewire card, or trying the card in another computer.

What is the preferred choice of firewire card? Always preferring inexpensive over pricey?
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

Any OHCI-compliant firewire card should do -- though it's better to use one hardwired to your motherboard.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

Do all mobos have DV on them? I thought I needed a cap card. I have no clue what mobo I have atm as i'm at work
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

DV? That’s a different question. Almost every NEW mobo on the market today has an OHCI-compliant IEEE-1394 port or several. I haven’t seen one that doesn’t for a LONG time. (Sony calls their version “i.Link,” if you’re using/looking at a VAIO.) So no, you don't need a capture card, only capture software.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but did you try restarting your system and capturing the footage again?
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

yes I sure did. The wierd thing is its not just capturing, just looking at PREVIEW does the same thing, I can see the flickers as it drops frames.

Very odd.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

I may be wrong, but it doesn't sound like the footage is being captured thru the firewire/i.link/1394 port. Are you just running video out the RCA jacks into a regular video capture card?

Dan
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

No sir. In fact coming in on SVid or composite is flawless. I think the dropped frames thing is throwing some people for a loop.

My problem is two fold.
a. it drops frames when It captures.
b. when I'm just looking at video in preview, not even capturing, it flickers and breaks, dropping frames
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

Preview is less of a concern, IMHO.

For capture, have you shut off every other program you can? EMail will seriously interfere with capture, as will any net communications. Antivirus scan could cause it, or starting another program while capturing. Even typing on the keyboard or moving the mouse is a no-no. Another network user accessing your machine or same disk drive could be an issue. Are you capturing to your system drive? That could be the issue also. If not on system drive, you could try to defrag your drive and capture again.

Real time devices like cameras and DVD burners can't stand ANY task interuptions in Windows, which is not a real-time o/s.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

Ok, I know this may sound nuts, but I switched the PCI slot my cap card was in, and I can capture FINE..

Thats very freaking wierd, I know, but what ever. MOVIES INC
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

It may very well have been something as simple as dust in the slot.
 
Re: Frames dropping like mad, even in preview

The problem was solved due to the way slots are prioritized. Check your motherboard documentation to find the slot with the highest priority (many times slot 0). For more info you can checkout http://www.windowsitlibrary.com/Content/435/03/1.html under the section "PLACEMENT OF PCI CARDS".
All the system specs you posted are a bit higher than mine and I have yet to see a single dropped frame.
 
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