Capture using MEP 15

1940 wrote on 6/3/2020, 11:20 PM

Hi,

Trying to capture Hi8 but don't have a good analog capture card except an Easycap which really is Easycrap. Colours are no good, manly grey with green and red tinges every so often.

I decided to hook the Hi 8 cam up to my Win10x64 1909 PC, using s-video and audio min jack to my Panasonic GS-400 DV camera. Then from the Dv cam via fire-wire to the PC.

I have been messing with virtuladub and sclive but can't get anything consistently okay so thought I'd try and see if my old MEP15 capture would do it okay.

Thing is, as soon as I hit Capture in MEP, it starts the DV cam in play mode and stops the throughput from the Hi8.

Anyway I can record the Hi8 through the DV using MEP15?

Thanks

EDIT: Well it looks like I've got it to not put it in, 'play tape' mode, because in MEP it continues to play when I hit the red Record button.

Unfortunately, it only 'records' for a few seconds (around 6:03) then stops as the red button comes back on, yet the actual vision keeps going from the Hi8. It does actually record the few seconds.

I can't seem to see anywhere that it tells it to stop after a few seconds in the Menu.

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 6/4/2020, 3:32 AM

@1940

Hi oz.

This is a screenshot from the latest version but I'm pretty certain older versions had a very similar Record screen. If it is at all "similar", try unticking the highlighted item:

HTH

Jeff

johnebaker wrote on 6/4/2020, 3:42 AM

@1940

. . . . Colours are no good, manly grey with green and red tinges every so often. . . . .

This usually occurs if you are capturing in the wrong TV standard ie NTSC captured as PAL or vice versa.

. . . . I decided to hook the Hi 8 cam up to my Win10x64 1909 PC, using s-video and audio min jack to my Panasonic GS-400 DV camera. Then from the Dv cam via fire-wire to the PC . . . .

What source are you setting in MEP - DV Camera or Analog?

DV Camera / Firewire would be the preferred method.

HTH

John EB

1940 wrote on 6/4/2020, 3:43 AM

Thank you , yes that did the controlling the DV tape starting, however it still stops recording.

It looks like at 20MB is the number it stops at.

BTW The panel is exactly the same.

Yes chose the DV camera capture and do use firewire to the PC.

emmrecs wrote on 6/4/2020, 4:55 AM

@1940

Hi again.

Using a firewire connection I have never experienced the problem of the recording stopping but I have seen this when digitising analogue video. In that case the problem was caused by discontinuity in the incoming signal, causing MEP/VPX to "assume" the input had stopped and so recording was stopped, despite the fact the source tape was actually still running. For analogue tape the problem was solved by inserting a TBC (Time Base Corrector) into the signal line but, unfortunately, I suspect this is not relevant to firewire input. But could your incoming signal be suffering from some sort of similar discontinuity?

As a matter of interest, do you know the manufacturer of the chipset for your firewire post on your computer? The advice in the past has always been to try and ensure you use a chipset from TI since these have proved most reliable.

Also, it might be worth checking whether there is anything set in those Batch Recording buttons, lower left, which is causing the recording to prematurely stop.

Jeff

1940 wrote on 6/5/2020, 2:32 AM

Thank you for the long reply. :-)

It wasn't a TI Fire wire however I found one in another old box and it was, so I replaced it. Unfortunately nothing has changed with the 20MB - 6 seconds stop.

I tried another tape and got the same result, but it does not stop when captured in another program, so it is definitely with MEP 15 and I found I had updated to Premium so installed that and it is the same.

I tried the Easycap dongle direct from the Hi8 to the PC USB (AV2 to USB) and whilst the vision was crappy (red, green) it did not stop at 2 MB 6 seconds so something to do with passing through the DV.

It does not do it in SClive, Virtualdub, Debut so it is only with MEP.

I have written to Support so hope they can shed some light on the subject :-)

BTW: My initial FW card was using the IEEE 1394 port Legacy driver but since the newer TI card, it is now the regular 10.0.18362.1 driver.

emmrecs wrote on 6/5/2020, 4:11 AM

@1940

I have written to Support so hope they can shed some light on the subject :-)

Given that you are using what is now an "old" version of the program, I rather think they will say you should update!

Jeff

CubeAce wrote on 6/5/2020, 4:26 AM

@emmrecs @1940 @johnebaker

This is just a thought and willing to be shot down for this but would running this version of MEP in Windows comparability mode help?

Ray.

johnebaker wrote on 6/5/2020, 4:55 AM

@1940

Looking at your profile, I see you also have MEP 2017 installed, have you tried this with this version which is compatible with Windows 10.

MEP 15 is not compatible with Windows 10 and has other issues, this may be another one, it must also use the legacy drivers - they are 32 bit as is MEP 15.

. . . . the newer TI card, it is now the regular 10.0.18362.1 driver. . . . .

That should be OK with MEP 2017 as it is a 64 bit program and Windows 10 should have installed 64 bit drivers for it.

HTH

John EB

1940 wrote on 6/5/2020, 5:15 AM

Thank you guys. I think you all may be onto something. I will do some experimenting so we'll see.

AAProds wrote on 6/5/2020, 7:20 AM

@1940 Try capturing your DV with WinDV. Works under Win 10. I never did like the way MEP captured DV.