Problem with Canon ZR70 ... kinda weird??

Q

QQworld

Member
Hey,

I'm a long time reader, 1st time poster here. Naturally, I own a DVX100.

However, to transfer the footage to a computer, I use a crappy consumer camera. Currently I've been forced to use a Canon ZR70(MC).

The long and short of it is that I can't seem to get this camera (the Canon) to work with Sony Vegas 6.0. I click on "Capture Video" and absolutely nothing happens. When I try using the internal Vegas capture software (by deselecting it's preselected "outside" .exe), the software doesn't detect the camera is there at all.

The camera does work with other capture applications (Like windows movie maker), however, I need the project to be in 24p and thus I need Vegas to capture it properly.

Furthermore, the program sees the camera as both a preview and print device. So the camera and firewire card themselves are working fine, I just don't understand why it doesn't see it as a capture device.

I'm a long way from home (shooting in the field) so buying something new isn't an option.

Anybody have some ideas as to how to fix this? Or ideas for some possible solutions?

Thanks in advance,
qqworld.
 
If you shot in 24p, then you MUST use a device that can pass the information to the system. In other words, if you shoot with a DVX 100, the Canon won't pass the flags because the Canon can't see them. It's a 60i device only.
Connect your DVX to the computer, Vegas will see the 24p flags in the stream.
 
Spot said:
If you shot in 24p, then you MUST use a device that can pass the information to the system. In other words, if you shoot with a DVX 100, the Canon won't pass the flags because the Canon can't see them. It's a 60i device only.
Connect your DVX to the computer, Vegas will see the 24p flags in the stream.
Click to expand...

Actually, that's not correct. In the field, I often capture from a JVC consumer cam, and Vegas has no problem recognizing and removing the pulldown. Same is true for a couple other non-24p cams as well. There are some really low-end mini-DV cams which might not be able to do it, but that set is small.
 
Hmmm....I can't get my Canon GL2 or my XL1 (not S model) to capture 24p media from my DVX 100....maybe I've got something wrong set up somewhere? I know it's in a 60i stream, but those units only give me blocky playback when I play the tape.
If it can be done from most cams, I'm glad to hear that.
 
David,

Where do you access those preferences?

If I use the internal program (in the main preferences menu, there is an option to not use an "external" program), then the preferences are limited to only selecting what hard drive you want to use, and choosing the device type. After choosing the device type under this internal capture, it doesn't see the camera.

Now, if I use the vidcap60.exe ("external") that comes w/ Vegas, nothing happens at all when I select "Capture Video" under File ---> Capture Video.

What I find odd is that it does see the camera as both a preview device and a print device.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Regards,
qqworld
 
You want to use the External Capture application.
Under Options/Preferences, you can turn off Scene Detection, and DV Control as well. They're both checkboxes under two different Options tabs in the CApture Prefs.
 
Spot,

Yeah, I've tried both. "External Capture Application" = vidcap60.exe which comes with the program.

When I have this check box selected, nothing at all happens when I click on "Capture Video."

When I'm home later tonight, I'll try to look under the normal Options/Preferences tab with the "External Capture Application" button and see if it has Scene Detection/DV Control like you mention.

Regards,
qq
 
Spot said:
Hmmm....I can't get my Canon GL2 or my XL1 (not S model) to capture 24p media from my DVX 100....maybe I've got something wrong set up somewhere? I know it's in a 60i stream, but those units only give me blocky playback when I play the tape.
If it can be done from most cams, I'm glad to hear that.
Click to expand...

That's odd -- if you're just looking for playback, ANY Mini-DV cam should do it with no problem.
 
:huh: How would you know? I mean I use my old JVC 500 to capture but really I never really thought about if it is really being captured in 24pa, I just assumed it was. So where do I check to see if my footage is being captured to 24p or not?:undecided
 
I tried last night using my DVX100, and the same thing happens.

When I use the "internal" program, it doesn't see the camera: "Device not connected."

When I use the "external" vidcap60.exe, after clicking "Capture Video" nothing happens.


:(?????

Any ideas? Seems very odd.

Thanks,
qq
 
Kinda out on a limb here, but is your Firewire port/card OHCI compliant? My friend had a similar problem on his computer. The camera was seen by the OS, but Vegas wouldn't capture anything, or see the camera.
 
Hmm, not sure.

I'll check the packaging when I'm at home tonight.

Windows Movie Maker is properly able to capture from the camera, however. As is some other freeware Sony program I happened to have on my computer (Movieshaker or something).

Could it be anything else?
 
Just to confirm:

Q1) Is your camera set to "VCR" mode?
A1) Turn on your camera to VCR mode

Q2) When you connect your camera to your computer via firewire, does it say "DV IN" on the camera's displays?
A2.1) Make sure Menu>VCR Setup>AV->DV is set to "OFF" on your camera
A2.2) Make sure your Firewire cable is good
A2.3) Make sure you computer's firewire card is good

Q3) Is the camera recognized by Windows?
A3) Refer to A2

Q4) Do you have "Enable DV Device Control" checked under Options>Preferences>General in Vegas' external capture application (vidcap60.exe)?
A4) Enable it

FYI, Vegas' internal capture application is for capturing SDI/HDV clips (so says Vegas Help), while the external capture application (vidcap60.exe) is for DV or VFW capturing, so you want to make sure you're using the external app.

Q5) If you press "Play" on your camera when it is connected to the computer, and vidcap60.exe is running, do you see video playing in the preview window?
A5) If so, you can just press the "Capture Video" button to begin capturing to the computer as the camera plays the tape.
 
Jive said:
Q1) Is your camera set to "VCR" mode?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it is.

Jive said:
Q2) When you connect your camera to your computer via firewire, does it say "DV IN" on the camera's displays?
Click to expand...

It doesn't say DV IN on the camera's displays.

The firewire cable and card should be good. I've successfully captured footage off this camera and this same tape with other freeware programs (Windows Movie Maker for example).

Jive said:
Q3) Is the camera recognized by Windows?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Jive said:
Q4) Do you have "Enable DV Device Control" checked under Options>Preferences>General in Vegas' external capture application (vidcap60.exe)?
Click to expand...

I've looked for this option, and cannot find it. Options -> Preferences -> General has a list of check boxes, most of which are checked. Is "Enable DV Device control" one of these checkboxes that I've missed?

Furthermore, double clicking vidcap60.exe does nothing. When I select "Use External Program" and vidcap60.exe is selected, after clicking on "Capture Video" nothing at all happens.

What is supposed to happen when you run vidcap60.exe? Is there supposed to be some kind of window that pops up?

For example, when you use the "internal" program, a window opens up down below with various options and a preview screen for what you're capturing.

Jive said:
Q5) If you press "Play" on your camera when it is connected to the computer, and vidcap60.exe is running, do you see video playing in the preview window?
Click to expand...

I've yet to try this, do you mean I should setup the camera as a preview device and then click on "Capture Video" as it plays?

The program DOES see the camera as a preview/print device.


Sorry for the length of the post... this problem is driving me crazy :).

Thanks in advance,
qq.
 
QQworld said:
It doesn't say DV IN on the camera's displays.
Click to expand...
It should say something to this effect, I've used several of the canon ZR series (currently using the ZR100) as a cheap capture device, and they all should indicate when they're connected via firewire. In fact, I don't know of any camera that doesn't display something to indicate that it's connected.

QQworld said:
The firewire cable and card should be good. I've successfully captured footage off this camera and this same tape with other freeware programs (Windows Movie Maker for example).
Click to expand...
Have you changed any settings on the camera/computer since? Can you currently capture with this camera using another program such as Windows Movie Maker?

QQworld said:
I've looked for this option, and cannot find it. Options -> Preferences -> General has a list of check boxes, most of which are checked. Is "Enable DV Device control" one of these checkboxes that I've missed?
Click to expand...
It is the first item in the list. But as I said, this option is in the preferences for vidcap60.exe. The option wouldn't be available in the internal capture app's preferences, because that app isn't used for DV capture.

QQworld said:
Furthermore, double clicking vidcap60.exe does nothing. When I select "Use External Program" and vidcap60.exe is selected, after clicking on "Capture Video" nothing at all happens.
Click to expand...
At this point, I'd suggest uninstalling Vegas and reinstalling it. If you go to your Vegas install directory in Windows Explorer and double-click on vidcap60.exe the capture window should open (even if Vegas isn't running). If you're not even seeing this, then something may be wrong with your installation.
 
safarijoe said:
:huh: How would you know? I mean I use my old JVC 500 to capture but really I never really thought about if it is really being captured in 24pa, I just assumed it was. So where do I check to see if my footage is being captured to 24p or not?:undecided
Click to expand...

Right-click it in the Media Pool and look at the Properties. Toward the bottom, it should give you the frame rate and say that the pulldown (listing type) is removed.

You might have to be in a 24p project to see that, but maybe not.
 
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