I can't capture HDV with Vegas 8.0c on laptop?

Pullmanite wrote on 2/22/2010, 11:08 AM

I am trying to capture HDV from a Sony HVR-Z1U via FireWire into my laptop running Vegas 8.0c. I can downconvert in the camcorder to DV and capture that way, but when I switch the camcorder's output to HDV and try to capture with Vegas, I get a Device Not Available error.

Any ideas?

Comments

fordie wrote on 2/22/2010, 11:28 AM

go into options, click preferences then under the video tab make sure you tick capture using external program.
that should work.
cheers john

Marco. wrote on 2/22/2010, 11:28 AM

Did you ensure you used the correct capture tool? There are different ones for DV and HDV.

Marco

DavidMcKnight wrote on 2/22/2010, 11:32 AM

Is it an HP laptop? This is a known issue with some of them, unfortunately and has to do with the firewire interface in the laptop. They will capture DV but not HDV.

A real shame if you ask me. Search the forum for HP and firewire and you'll get some info on it.

Pullmanite wrote on 2/22/2010, 12:08 PM

I went into the options and turned on the external program (and VidCap60.EXE is selected) and no change. It is calling up the HD version of video capture, but I have no camera control within Vegas and the preview window says "Device Not Available." Device type in capture settings is "IEEE 1394/MPEG2-TS Device" but no device shows up under that.

My laptop is a Dell -- I'll see if anyone else experiences the same problem. Unfortunately, I'm running Vegas on a Mac Pro via VMWare, so the only way I can capture on my desktop is if I add a Boot Camp partition. Was hoping I wouldn't have to. I use the laptop all the time for capture and print to tape since VMWare can't use the FireWire port.

DavidMcKnight wrote on 2/22/2010, 12:31 PM

To help determine if it is a hardware problem, try capturing HDv using something - anything - else. Such as HDVSplit, Premiere, etc. You should be able to use trial downloads if needed. If they don't work either it's definitely the laptop.

Laurence wrote on 2/22/2010, 12:39 PM

If this is anything like my HP laptop problem, trying different capture utilities and programs will not work any better since it is a driver level problem. Chances are that Dell switched to whatever chip the HP uses. It works fine for hard drives and also seems to work for SD video. The port is absolutely useless for HDV video though.

Former user wrote on 2/22/2010, 12:47 PM

I've had this problem in the past (Toshiba/Vitsa). And while I don't have the problem currently with my new HP Satellite Laptop (which, for the record, I love - i5 rocks), what I did was use the Unibrain firewire drivers. It's something worth trying, and they're free, so the price is right.

http://www.unibrain.com/downloads/

johnmeyer wrote on 2/22/2010, 3:10 PM

What version of XP are you using? The problem you describe is often caused by using an older version of XP that doesn't have the drivers. Spot described the solution years ago. See my old post here:

Vegas does not see HDV device

Read that and the link it eventually takes you to. Also, read the rest of that thread. I think that will get you up and running.

Pullmanite wrote on 2/23/2010, 9:22 AM

It wound up being an elusive setting I.LINK setting in the camera settings (instead of in the VCR settings) that needed to be turned off. Thanks, everyone. Works great now on both computers.