VideoWave, Dazzle issues

Service Tag: BVSYM11

Cannot capture video without it freezing my computer.

Have uninstalled/installed Videowave software
Have downloaded 30.82 nVidia drivers.

Still freezing up my computer

Service Tag no. provided in private message to ChrisM.

Movie Studio II Problems Encountered, and Resolutions After 200+ Hours of Experiments and Research:

1)Output of DV to Sony TRV30 Camcorder broke up every few seconds for a few seconds. Resolved after 80 hrs of experiments by replacing Movie Studio firewire card with a different card (ATI DV Wonder). This necessitates discarding the Dazzle Mojave unit.

2)Videowave program has severe audio/video sync problem which occurs under at least the following circumstances: Format of produced file is DV/AVI; production longer than about 15 minutes; storyboard includes transitions; NTSC (not PAL) video format. Only resolution is to use a different video editing program, which also necessitates discarding the Dazzle Mojave unit (see no. 3 below).

3)Dazzle Mojave unit only works with the version of Videowave 4 which is included in Movie Studio (it does not even work with the retail version of Videowave 4 or 5). This applies to analog capture only; it does work for DV (firewire) capture where it simply passes the digital data through to the PC.

4)Many other users report false copyguard detection when capturing analog video from old VCR tapes (I have not tried to do this). Approaches which sometimes work are to first copy the old tapes to new VCR tapes, or to use a $300+ time base corrector.

5)Consistent reports from many users of TOTALLY uninformed, worthless, and sometimes rude "support" of the Movie Studio package from Dell technical support personnel.

6)Even if everything worked as intended, Videowave is a poor program compared to competitively priced programs (EditStudio, Video Factory), due to lack of time-line mode, inferior video quality under some circumstances, etc.

Thank you for your interest. Regards,
-- Al

Dell Dimension 8100, Windows XP Home Edition (clean install), 1.7 GHz, 256 MB RAM
60 gB Internal Hard Drive (NTFS) (System Drive); 120 gB Internal Hard Drive (NTFS) (Backups & Video Files)
External Fantom 80 gB and 120 gB Firewire HD's (NTFS) (Backups & Video Files)
P991 Monitor
A9 BIOS
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX4X w/TV Out
Internal DVD ROM, CD R/W Drives
External 1GB Jaz Drive w/1394 Adapter
ATI DV Wonder 1394 Card
(Dell/Dazzle/Mojave 1394 PCI Card & A/V Connection Box relegated to scrap heap due to several problems)
EditStudio 3.0.15 video editing software
(MGI Videowave 4.0 and 5.0 relegated to scrap heap due to audio-video sync and other problems)
Lucent Winmodem
AOL 6.0.2, Netscape 4.79
HK-695 Speakers
HP Laserjet 5P and Epson StylusColor 800 Printers
HP Scanjet 7400c Scanner
Sony DCR-TRV30 Mini-DV Camcorder

I'm having pretty much the same problems as the others listed in this thread. The Mojave Dazel box will capture analog video (from my VCR) for as much as 4 minutes before it freezes. I've also downloaded the Nvidia 30.82 version and not seen any difference. When I run the Movie Studio II Hardware Diag, it fails tests H103, H104, H105, H108, and H109, which the Dell technician told me is normal. I don't understand how a brand new device that has the configuration that Dell provided can fail the Hardware Diag provided by Dell and it be called "normal". What is the email address for ChrisM - ChrisM@dell.com?

chris, any answers to our problems??????

I am very interested in seeing a response to this. I purchased my system in February and have been doing digital video exclusively, and, while sometimes I was unimpressed with the VideoWave product, I never had an issue to check this message board. I tried for the first time to do analog from my older Hi-8 camera and I received the "CopyGuard" error. After spending the past hour and a half reading through post after post after post, I'm shocked that Dell would do this.

It sounds like the only solution here is to go out, buy a new video capture system such as the Pinnacle.

George Karibjanian
Boca Raton, Florida

Of course, it always helps to respond to the original message in the thread (see below for my initial response)..... ;-)

I read further and was glad to see that others had a "synch" problem with video and sound when burning to a DVD. I thought it was just me.

Basically, for those who seem to post regularly on this issue or read all posts on this issue, what is the solution? By this, I mean, in junking the Movie Studio package, which seems to be the preferred? Pinnacle's?

Let's put it this way - sure the system cost $$$ when ordering my system. However, I place a dollar value on my time. So, if I spend 20 + hours trying to rectify a problem that the highest of the high techies can't reconcile, then aren't I spending even more $$$$? So, I'd rather cut my losses now, get something that works, and move on and put those analog videos of my daughter onto DVD.

Thanx,

George Karibjanian
Boca Raton, Florida
e-mail: gdk33486@bellsouth.net


DELL-ChrisM wrote:
- I need data. I know there is alot of existing data
- on the video board but I need it compressed,
- simplified. If you had or have issues with the above
- products, please list the following:
-- system service tag (through private message to me)
-- short problem description(s) i.e Cannot export to vcr
-- your possible solution(s)
-
-
- src="http://delltalk.us.dell.com/download/cmols.gi
- f">
-
-
- Message Edited on 08/22/02 10:47AM by
- DELL-ChrisM

This is exactly the problem that I'm having, only Tech support didn't tell me the errors were normal but have sent me 2 replacement firewire cards in an effort to resolve the problem (of course that didn't fix the problem), the last solution they gave me was to transfer me to Advance Windows XP support (go figure) and they immediately gave me MGI Support and told me it was their problem (their only open Mon-Fri and the call is on my dime). After reading all the post here I'm almost convinced that the problem is with the whole Movie Studio II package and, since my system is less the 2 weeks old, my best option is to begin the process of returning it to Dell and get my money back.

Service Tag no. provided in private message to ChrisM.

Bill


arkdm wrote:
- I'm having pretty much the same problems as the
- others listed in this thread. The Mojave Dazel box
- will capture analog video (from my VCR) for as much
- as 4 minutes before it freezes. I've also
- downloaded the Nvidia 30.82 version and not seen any
- difference. When I run the Movie Studio II Hardware
- Diag, it fails tests H103, H104, H105, H108, and
- H109, which the Dell technician told me is normal.
- I don't understand how a brand new device that has
- the configuration that Dell provided can fail the
- Hardware Diag provided by Dell and it be called
- "normal". What is the email address for ChrisM -
- ChrisM@dell.com?
-
-

BocaFerris,
It sounds like you have both a DV camcorder and an analog camcorder. I suspect that you could work around the false copyguard problem when capturing analog by using your DV camcorder to perform the analog-to-digital(firewire) conversion, instead of having it done by the Dazzle Mojave unit. Hook the analog camcorder's output to the analog a/v input of the DV camcorder (assuming it has one), and the DV camcorder's firewire port to a firewire port on either the PC or the Dazzle Mojave. Most but not all DV camcorders can (in VCR mode) then provide DV out corresponding to the analog in, on the fly and without even having a tape installed. If yours cannot do this on the fly, you could copy to DV tape, and then play back to firewire. Do the reverse to output to analog.
On the other problems, if you go to the Roxio/MGI Videowave user's forum, and use the search feature on appropriate keywords, you will see vast amounts of user discussion of all of these problems with the Movie Studio package (going back over a year), and of alternative better hardware and software. The Pinnacle stuff is generally well regarded, but at least a few people have had some problems with it. Video Factory and EditStudio seem to make everyone who uses them happy, although some people want more expensive programs which have additional features. There are many inexpensive firewire cards available -- you can see below what I settled on. If you need an external analog-to-digital breakout box (and you don't if you do only DV or if you can use your DV camcorder to convert A/D/A), the most highly regarded one is made by Canopus and costs around $300. It reputedly gives much better video quality than any of the Dazzle products.
Good luck,
-- Al


Dell Dimension 8100, Windows XP Home Edition (clean install), 1.7 GHz, 256 MB RAM
60 gB Internal Hard Drive (NTFS) (System Drive); 120 gB Internal Hard Drive (NTFS) (Backups & Video Files)
External Fantom 80 gB and 120 gB Firewire HD's (NTFS) (Backups & Video Files)
P991 Monitor
A9 BIOS
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX4X w/TV Out
Internal DVD ROM, CD R/W Drives
External 1GB Jaz Drive w/1394 Adapter
ATI DV Wonder 1394 Card
(Dell/Dazzle/Mojave 1394 PCI Card & A/V Connection Box relegated to scrap heap due to several problems)
EditStudio 3.0.15 video editing software
(MGI Videowave 4.0 and 5.0 relegated to scrap heap due to audio-video sync and other problems)
Lucent Winmodem
AOL 6.0.2, Netscape 4.79
HK-695 Speakers
HP Laserjet 5P and Epson StylusColor 800 Printers
HP Scanjet 7400c Scanner
Sony DCR-TRV30 Mini-DV Camcorder

Al,

Thanx alot for your insight. Yes, I have both types of camcorders - a Hitachi Hi-8 (model VM-H825LA) and a Sony Mini-DV (model DCR-PC110). Before I purchased this particular computer (8200, P4 1.9 GHz, 80mb HD, DVD+RW, regular CD drive) in February of this year, I had considered running the analog through the digital and then out via FireWire; the only problem is (and it really isn't a problem other than I tend to be a perfectionist) is that the RCA out plugs on the Hitachi have only one audio output; therefore, I don't believe that there wouldn't be true stereo through the Sony and out to the computer.

My ultimate goal was to burn home movies onto DVD, and considering that my former computer only had a 500 mhz CPU, I learned that I needed to upgrade speedwise. That, plus other matters, led me to the purchase of my 8200. I had researched the video capture issue back then and what I liked about Dell's package was that they used (what I thought was) the Dazzle break-out box, which, given my setup, was perfect - using this meant that I wouldn't have to go reaching around my computer all the time if I wanted to do analog capture. Little did I know until yesterday and today that the box isn't quite the Dazzle box that I previously read about :-(

The video issue is a hobby of mine and if I'm going to do it, I'd like to do it right. So that's why I'm kind of disappointed in the few DVD's that I've burned where my 4 1/2 year old daughter says something, then, as if we're waiting for the audio to bounce off of 3 satellites, the sound comes out 3 secs. later. Now, unless in the next week or so a miracle happens and Dell recitifies this problem (don't worry, I'm not holding my breath), as I said in my post, I'd rather purchase a new capture system than waste hours trying to get the current system adaptable.

Now, one related question for you and an off-topic question.

For the related question, I noticed in your signature that you have the external FireWire drives for video. I wanted to do this (every article I read about video capture recommends this) but I have no room for expansion - every expansion slot in the back of my 8200 is taken. Did you have this problem with your system and was it solved when you replaced the Dell video capture card with another card that perhaps had a duplicate FireWire port? Or is FireWire like USB whereby you can purchase a hub to increase the FireWire capabilities?

As for the off-topic question, along with video, do you do digital photography and, if so, do you use the ImageExpert or do you use other software? One thing that I find outstanding about the ImageExpert is that it will allow sizing in 4 x 6 and, since most frames and picture albums accomodate 4 x 6 and not 4.5 x 6, this is a big plus; the only drawback is that the software is limited in that you can't clear up scratches and stuff like that on scanned images. It appears to me that Adobe Photoshop Elements (? - I think this is the one that is Photoshop Light - digital photo editing without all the other bells and whistles) does all of this but I don't know if does the 4 x 6 cropping that I love about ImageExpert. (BTW, love the fact that Dell no longer supports ImageExpert.....)

Thanx again...your posts on this topic have been so very helpful.

George D. Karibjanian
Boca Raton, Florida

BocaFerris,
No problem at all hooking up firewire drive(s) into your existing system. Firewire is designed to be daisy-chained (i.e., computer to one device, that device to the next device, and so on). Firewire hard-drives and many other firewire devices have two firewire connectors -- one to go to the preceding device in the chain, and one to the next device. In theory, you can have a very large number (63?) of devices on one port. My firewire drives even worked ok with the Movie Studio firewire card, before I got rid of it because of the DV output problem. I think it had two firewire ports on it -- you could connect one to the Dazzle and/or your camera, and the other in a chain to everything else.
Depending on the design of the particular firewire devices, to use one device in a chain you may or may not have to also have power applied to the other devices which are between it and the PC. It's not necessary with well designed devices.
I'm not particularly knowledgeable about digital photography. I use Image Expert for basic things, and have no particular knowledge of alternatives.
Best of luck,
-- Al

Dell Dimension 8100, Windows XP Home Edition (clean install), 1.7 GHz, 256 MB RAM
60 gB Internal Hard Drive (NTFS) (System Drive); 120 gB Internal Hard Drive (NTFS) (Backups & Video Files)
External Fantom 80 gB and 120 gB Firewire HD's (NTFS) (Backups & Video Files)
P991 Monitor
A9 BIOS
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX4X w/TV Out
Internal DVD ROM, CD R/W Drives
External 1GB Jaz Drive w/1394 Adapter
ATI DV Wonder 1394 Card
(Dell/Dazzle/Mojave 1394 PCI Card & A/V Connection Box relegated to scrap heap due to several problems)
EditStudio 3.0.15 video editing software
(MGI Videowave 4.0 and 5.0 relegated to scrap heap due to audio-video sync and other problems)
Lucent Winmodem
AOL 6.0.2, Netscape 4.79
HK-695 Speakers
HP Laserjet 5P and Epson StylusColor 800 Printers
HP Scanjet 7400c Scanner
Sony DCR-TRV30 Mini-DV Camcorder

Definite problems with Video4 and Dazzle Mojave. My problem is going from my digital camcorder through Dazzle and onto DVD disc. Also problem from VCR analog to DVD and putting on an audio track. I am using simple illustrations. Just read the Dell Talk comments. I should have before 2/21/02 when I purchased my Dell at a price of $3500. Not an easy price when you are retired; but wanted to get the best product and program for trasfering analog and digital tapes to DVD. I am suprised that Dell has not done something to reply to the many bad comments about Dell Corp as a result of the VidoeWave and Dazzle product, for which Dazzle wants nothing to do with since the product was made to Dell's specs. I bought a Dell because four members of my family own Dell computers. They did not add the Premium Dell Movie Studio bundle. I have friends that are using Pinnacle 7 and one using ULead program on other make computers with excellent results. Since the Dell Talk comments have been going on for many months it appears that Dell is not listening; doesn't care. It's a shame because I cannot recommend Dell to friends who are in the market for a computer.

I have been trying to resolve Dazzle - Movie Studio II - MyDVD issues since June. This is a reply I received from Sonic on Friday:

This is mainly due to Dell not purchasing the direct to DVD/disk capture
option in our software as well as packaging an incompatible capture card
with their bundle. The only two cards that you can capture directly into
MYDVD is the Dazzle DVCII and the Hollywood Bridge. We have never supported
the Mojave card for any of our software. Finally, Dell's firewire card (a
Texas Instrument Card) has been so far incompatible with our software as
well. We have had some customers that have been able to get new hardware or
refunds for their troubles.
I suggest contacting Dell Customer Support (not Technical Support) who are
aware of this issue, as we have been sending many customers, and tell them
you recived the wrong hardware, as the Mojave is not compatible with MyDVD
that was bundled , which also does not support analogue capture.
I am not passing the buck here, and please feel free to keep me posted if
you need additional assistnace getting the correct equipment.

If this is true and Dell has known about it, why has Dell been wasting my and others time for so long?

I presume that most everyone has seen this particular thread on this same topic, but if you haven't, I highly recommend it:

http://delltalk.us.dell.com/messages/message_view.asp?name=dim_dim_video&id=zxquk

George D. Karibjanian
Boca Raton, Florida

I have been having problems with the Dazzle. I have a Dimension 8200 series with a Dazzle box and its accompanying Movie Star 4.24 software. My operating system is Windows XP. When I try to capture video, the error message I get is "no video source detected." It also won't output video. I hear the sound from my computer's speakers but there is nothing going to my TV. I did post to the forum earlier. I had also mentioined the hardware diagnostics and the errors. I was told that if I have the Nvidia video card to use that driver. I checked my configuration and found that I have that video card. I downloaded the latest driver. It still isn't working. How do I know if I am using the Nvidia drivers? What else could I be doing wrong? Is there anothe driver that I need?

Thank you for your help.

A user sent this info to me from http://www.circuitcity.com/

Pinnacle Studio DV Version 7 ($69.99 BEFORE the $50 rebate)
Brand/Model: PNN 210100110
includes:
1394/FireWire DV capture card
TitleDeko software
SmartSound soundtrack generator