Hope one of you techno bods out there can help me on this one. For no apparent reason when I begin video capture from a DV camcorder via Firewire, the frame loss has become ridiculous. I have just captured 20 seconds of video, which I know is perfect, and there were 300 ish dropped frames. So play back was awful. No sound other than a hiss. I have not come across this problem before and my pc, albeit 3.5 years old has coped with editing without any previous problems. I have spoken to 3 different "experts" in pc repair shops, and all 3 have come up with different answers. One said it was dodgy software, and to re-load it (already done that). The second said I had a virus, without checking the system, and that I needed a complete system re-load - at a cost of #120!! (my anti virus shows no problems), and the 3rd said my graphics card was dead or dying and needs replacing (the test on the Nvidia site seem to show no problems). I am no expert, but I kind of guess that the last 2 were probably trying to make work for themselves, and the first couldn't be bothered. I don't mind spending the money if it really is a pc issue, but with 3 different views on the same subject from 3 experts, I am going to end up spending 3 or 4 times what the pc is worth on repairs. Any suggestions gratefully received. Many thanks.

Check the data rates on your HDD - I think there is still a tool for this in S10. It may have fallen into PIO mode.

Experts?

jjn:

Check the data rates on your HDD - I think there is still a tool for this in S10. It may have fallen into PIO mode.

Experts?

For reference
The test is under Setup - Capture Source.
On my S10+ PC it shows Read & Write around 45,000 Kb/s

 

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the bluffers guide on how to do the test. Having had Pinnacle check the data rates, the figures come out at read 2659 kb/s and write 2674 kb/s. That's about one fifteenth of yours, and does probably explain the capture problems. Any ideas on how to fix it? If not thanks for taking the time to reply. Not sure what's gone wrong as I have done various projects on P10 and no issues at all like this. Cheers.

Many thanks. Not sure what PIO mode is though. Low data rates (2659 read and 2674 write).

With speeds like that it looks like jjn picked your problem in one. I'm not surprised you are having problems. 

I'm not sure that I could explain PIO mode well enough, methinks this is where jjn should pop back in with a bit of expertise.
In the meantime it might be worth having a look at this link :- http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx

As to the cause and cure, well that might take a bit more research.
Perhaps it would be a good Idea if you were to post some details of your hardware (inc HDDs) and operating system.

 

Thanks Mick - stuffing the Sunday Chicken

I can't find the links on this forum.

The long description is HERE but in a nutshell, repeated errors can cause windows to default to Programmed Input Output mode, the very slowest of all. It then never resets itself. I'd recoment the Uninstalling the Port method describe some way down. Your hard disc should then get good rates. If it starts to slow down again, then it must be on the edge of a failure and I'd suggest a replacement before you lose all your data.

Guys, I followed the links which did everything for me. No techno babble to worry about, and now P10 is capturing just as it used to. I can't thank you both enough for taking the time to help me out.How did we all get by before the internet eh? Thanks again both of you.

Guys, I followed the links which did everything for me. No techno babble to worry about, and now P10 is capturing just as it used to. I can't thank you both enough for taking the time to help me out. Thanks again both of you.

How did we all get by before the internet eh?

I can think of a few answers, but most of them involve "having a life" or "buying it from the newsagents"

Glad you've got it sorted. Keep an eye on your HDD.....

Dazman1967:

.How did we all get by before the internet eh?

With great difficulty!

Good to hear it's working again

And thanks for that link Jeff, much easier to understand than mine, I've stuck it in My Favourites for future reference.
Hope you enjoyed your Sunday roast