Why am I still getting dropped frames and artifacts!??!?!

[iggy4mayor]

This is pissing me the hell off.

So I noticed I was getting quite a few dropped frames and artifacts within my shots a couple weeks ago. I stopped using the current tape, used a head cleaner on my hv20 (same brand as tapes, panasonic), and wala, it worked wonders again.

But now I'm getting mad. I just ran the head cleaner twice, as the first time it didn't seem to do anything. I just took 15 awesome minutes of footage in great light of my backyard with my new rig and new zoom lens, but it is CLUTTERED with artifacts and dropped frames. I tried head cleaning it again, doesn't work. I tried capturing with Sony Vegas and HDVSplit, artifacts in both. I tried putting a new tape in, recording with the lens cap on for 1 minute, importing that with both programs, and I was still getting a few small gray artifacts.

Also, when I hook the hv20 up to my tv via HDMI, there is no artifacting. I'm not sure this matters though, as I'm not sure how playback relates to capturing.

Does anyone have an answer for me? I just really want the footage I shot to look like it should.

[Khaver]

Since the tapes play back great through HDMI, I would say you have a bad firewire cable, Ricoh firewire chip in your computer, and\or corrupt firewire driver. What OS are you using? If Windows 7, change the firewire driver to the Legacy one. If possible, try capturing on a different computer using your cable to narrow down the problem, or buy/borrow a firewire card to put in your computer (make sure it uses a Texas Instruments chip).

[iggy4mayor]

Since the tapes play back great through HDMI, I would say you have a bad firewire cable, Ricoh firewire chip in your computer, and\or corrupt firewire driver. What OS are you using? If Windows 7, change the firewire driver to the Legacy one. If possible, try capturing on a different computer using your cable to narrow down the problem, or buy/borrow a firewire card to put in your computer (make sure it uses a Texas Instruments chip).

okay, so as long as it isn't my camcorder, that's good to know.

the firewire cable I have is one that I bought from ebay new. there doesn't appear to be any damage to it, and I don't have access to another 4pin -> 4pin firewire cable. I am using Windows 7, changed the firewire driver to the Legacy one. still artifacting with HDVSplit and Sony Vegas. I wish I could try the other solutions you posted, but cannot at the moment.

could anyone answer me why this would happen sporadically though? that's what kind of baffles me.

also, I suppose it's worth mentioning that with HDVSplit, sometimes it says WARNING: Some packets may have been lost (as it should), but sometimes it will not say that at all during a scene, but there will still be artifacts.

[Erik Bien]

Sounds as if your system might be struggling to keep up: try turning off as many background programs and processes as possible (anti-virus software is fairly notorious for stealing clock cycles and causing dropped frames during capture).

[iggy4mayor]

Sounds as if your system might be struggling to keep up: try turning off as many background programs and processes as possible (anti-virus software is fairly notorious for stealing clock cycles and causing dropped frames during capture).

I did try this. I rebooted my computer and turned off constant programs, like antivirus, steam, etc. should I try restarting with no processes running at start up? I guess it wouldn't hurt. I'll get back to this after I try. my computer is pretty fast otherwise (core 2 duo, 4gigs of ram, dedicated graphics card)

[KL1054]

a great solution: stop using minidv camcorders.

tapes or obselete. and very easily damagable.

[iggy4mayor]

a great solution: stop using minidv camcorders.

tapes or obselete. and very easily damagable.

not to be a jerk, but what a terrible response. you don't think I know about the format? wanna buy me a 5k camera for p2 card recording?? because hose NEVER mess up, right?:hv20-smilie77:

[2Bdecided]

So the guy's PC has some kind of problem which is corrupting his video data - and the way to solve this is to move to a format where all the data will be stored on the PC, can only be transferred via the PC, and there will be no PC-independent backup.

Very smart.


On a modern PC, HDVsplit should absolutely never report capturing problems - something is very wrong. And I sympathise - it can be painful to track these problems down!

In addition to cable, drivers, virus checker, also check your playback software, codecs etc - if HDVsplit doesn't report errors, but you see some, this could be the source.

Cheers,
David.

[KL1054]

not to be a jerk, but what a terrible response. you don't think I know about the format? wanna buy me a 5k camera for p2 card recording?? because hose NEVER mess up, right?:hv20-smilie77:

you're having problems with tape. so stop using it. flash memory camcorders won't screw up. if you feel so arrogant about tape wanna buy ME an hv40?

[Khaver]

Don't use preview while capturing. Decoding the m2t file to display it while capturing can eat up your CPU cycles causing dropped packets. Just use the cams LCD for preview.

While capturing with HDVSplit, move the firewire cable around to see if it's the cable causing the dropped packets. It could also be loose wires in the firewire ports on the camera or the computer. That's why you should try a new cable first to elliminate it as the cause.

[debuys]

a great solution: stop using minidv camcorders.

tapes or obselete. and very easily damagable.

Spelling and grammar are important. Mix in a bit of knowledge and grace and people might listen to what you have to say despite the tremors and helmet. Special Ed is underfunded, I know. Sorry.....

Tape is far from obsolete especially as an archival medium. I'm not sure why you think tapes are fragile. They aren't.


you're having problems with tape. so stop using it. flash memory camcorders won't screw up. if you feel so arrogant about tape wanna buy ME an hv40?

As you progress in school your reading comprehension should improve. Until then try re-reading the text before responding. Try to be polite and tactful when you do respond.

Regarding the OP topic:

Sounds like a computer issue to me too. Shutting down unnecessary programs and processes is a good start. If you are previewing footage as you capture keep the size minimal as that might also tax your system a bit.

Why are you using HDVSplit vs Sony's capture program?

[jet]

[QUOTE=KL1054;306080]a great solution: stop using minidv camcorders.

tapes or obselete. and very easily damagable.

when are you :tape haters going to give up, i quote have not had one fail yet and i have tapes back to 1980.

[iggy4mayor]

ugh this is getting frustrating now.

so I tried restarting my computer with no startup processes. still got artifacts. the only thing I can't do is try a new firewire cable for a few days. i have a 4pin to 6pin for my desktop computer up at school, but i'm home for spring break right now. i'll try that as soon as i can.

also, its not a matter of versus between the two softwares, its just trying out different ones just in case it's one or the other!

[Erik Bien]

you're having problems with tape. so stop using it.

Uhm, NO. The OP has already stated he is not seeing any problems when playing back from tape to an HDTV via HDMI cable, therefore the problem certainly does not lie with either the tape mechanism or tape. The issue must lie somewhere between the FireWire cable, the FireWire ports on either the camera or computer, or a hardware/software/driver issue on the computer. Process of elimination.