I am capturing my Hi8 tapes through my camcorder (analog to digital conversion) via firewire into Studio 10.7.

After playing the tape, there is about a 2 second delay before studio begins to capture the video.  I tried to start the capture process 5 seconds before playing the tape but the results were the same.  I even paused the video (hoping a still video image would trigger the software to capture the movie), started the capture process then unpaused the video and still have about a 2 second delay.

 Questions:

1. Is this normal?

2. Best quess, is this a software (Studio), tape or player (camcorder) issue?

3. If I am able to track down a Hi8 VCR deck, might this solve the issue?

On some tapes, they 2 seconds doesn't matter but one some it really does matter.  These tapes are from the early 90's when I was new to camcorders.  I have sinced learned to "burn" a couple of seconds at the beginning of the tape and haven't had a problem since.  Any suggestions?

In the end, I might be able to go to my local video transfer business and see how much they would charge me just to transfer the tapes to a portable HDD.  Maybe they will let me transfer the tapes myself and only charge me computer time.  I don't think they would but it is worth asking.  I am desparate and can't afford to spend $20 per tape 30-40 tapes that I need to transfer.

If that is an option, do professional software packages like Adobe Premeire, Final Cut Pro, etc capture in an .AVI format that I can use in Pinnacle?

If I capture using my DV camera as an analogue pass through source, there is about a 5 second delay! If I capture analogue with my 700PCI there is also about a 2 second delay. In both cases though, I can get round this by starting with a still frame, starting the capture and then pressing play. I'd guess that your DV camera doesn't see the still frame from your Hi8 as stable enough to allow passthrough - for tests I used the output of a DVD player as I don't have the adaptors to hand to plug up my VCR. For analogue capture from my VCR I almost always start from a paused frame, so I know that works.

Using DV passthorugh, I did a test with Windows Movie Maker, and the capture start delay for this is just a few frames. If you still have XP, use that for the first part of the tape

I then tried the Amcap tool that comes with S11. That seemed instant.....

So certainly partly to do with Studio, but maybe the still frame from you Hi8 isn't very stable, either?

I'd start by trying Amcap - it should be in Start/All Programs/Studio 11/tools
 

 

I have a different capture setup - 710 via USB, but have experienced the delay before capture commences. 

The workaround that I use is to play/forward the tape for a distance (based on the typical delay before capture), then as the capture button is pressed, I simultaneously start to rewind the tape.  Studio recognizes the rewinding input and eventually starts capturing after a delay.  I have a bit of rewinding video captured at the beginning of the captured video file (simple to remove if need be) but otherwise the capture works well.

There's also some delay in synchronising to the Mpeg transport stream. You will often see this on broadcast mpeg when there's a signal glitch. What does the camera do on its own preview? Does it start at the beginning or not?

I know there's an issue with newer Sony cams when you start with a blank tape. Now I put 30 seconds of colour bars on a blank tape.

But you have old tapes. If you can see the start from first recorded frame on the camera replay, then you can safely assume the delay is synchronising as it goes across the link. Have you tried turning off 'automatic scene detect' in Studio, starting the capture manually by pressing play and seeing what you get?

The other thing to try is not using firewire and feed the camera composite analogue output straight into the vid and sound input of your GFX card. I haven't checked to see if Studio will capture that way, but if it doesn't, a utility with GFX your card, your camera or others might.

Thank you all for the good information.

 jjn:  Unfortunately, I am still operating in S10.  I skipped S11 waiting for S12 to come out.  Right now, I am thinking that wasn't a good idea.

I am operating in Windows XP so I will have to try and capture part of the movie via Window's Movie Maker.

jjn:

If I capture using my DV camera as an analogue pass through source, there is about a 5 second delay! If I capture analogue with my 700PCI there is also about a 2 second delay. In both cases though, I can get round this by starting with a still frame, starting the capture and then pressing play. I'd guess that your DV camera doesn't see the still frame from your Hi8 as stable enough to allow passthrough - for tests I used the output of a DVD player as I don't have the adaptors to hand to plug up my VCR. For analogue capture from my VCR I almost always start from a paused frame, so I know that works.

Using DV passthorugh, I did a test with Windows Movie Maker, and the capture start delay for this is just a few frames. If you still have XP, use that for the first part of the tape

I then tried the Amcap tool that comes with S11. That seemed instant.....

So certainly partly to do with Studio, but maybe the still frame from you Hi8 isn't very stable, either?

I'd start by trying Amcap - it should be in Start/All Programs/Studio 11/tools

Thanks for the good info.  I will give this a shot.

pinshel:

I have a different capture setup - 710 via USB, but have experienced the delay before capture commences. 

The workaround that I use is to play/forward the tape for a distance (based on the typical delay before capture), then as the capture button is pressed, I simultaneously start to rewind the tape.  Studio recognizes the rewinding input and eventually starts capturing after a delay.  I have a bit of rewinding video captured at the beginning of the captured video file (simple to remove if need be) but otherwise the capture works well.

30 seconds..I have only been burning about 5 to 10 seconds at the beginning of my miniDV tapes.  I guess maybe I will burn a bit more before I start shooting important things.

I think you have hit on a potential problem.  I was capturing some miniDV tapes using the auto scene detect and I think that is still active.  I will give this a shot when I head home tonight.

 Is there a time delay using automatic scene detect when capturing miniDV tapes?

Voxmagna:

There's also some delay in synchronising to the Mpeg transport stream. You will often see this on broadcast mpeg when there's a signal glitch. What does the camera do on its own preview? Does it start at the beginning or not?

I know there's an issue with newer Sony cams when you start with a blank tape. Now I put 30 seconds of colour bars on a blank tape.

But you have old tapes. If you can see the start from first recorded frame on the camera replay, then you can safely assume the delay is synchronising as it goes across the link. Have you tried turning off 'automatic scene detect' in Studio, starting the capture manually by pressing play and seeing what you get?

The other thing to try is not using firewire and feed the camera composite analogue output straight into the vid and sound input of your GFX card. I haven't checked to see if Studio will capture that way, but if it doesn't, a utility with GFX your card, your camera or others might.

Nice topic discussed here. Pinning this in the Capture section. Good points there guys.