Capture source settings
Remember that any changes you make on this panel affect all future captures. If you want to configure only one capture session, make sure you restore the old values before the next session.
The settings are grouped into three areas: Capture devices, Scene detection during video capture and Data rate.
Capture devices
Studio senses which capture hardware you have installed on your system for both video and audio. If you have more than one available capture device in either category, choose the one you want to use for the current capture session.
Video: The devices listed here may include both digital equipment connected via an IEEE-1394 cable and various types of analog video source (Studio DC10plus, TV tuner card, USB-connected camera, etc). Your selection determines the availability of some other Capture source settings, and of many settings on the Capture format panel.
Audio: Your choice of audio devices is constrained by which video device is selected. With most analog devices, for instance, you can choose any of your sound card inputs; your equipment configuration determines which one you should use.
TV standard: Choose the standard that is compatible with your capture device and your TV or video monitor (NTSC or PAL). NTSC is the standard used in North America and Japan. PAL is the standard used in most other places. With some capture devices you may have an additional choice: the SECAM standard used in Russia, France and some other countries. If you purchased your Studio product in North America, the option is permanently set to NTSC.
Use overlay: If you are performing an analog capture with Studio AV/DV, you will have the option of using the “overlay” capability of your graphics hardware when previewing the capture. This may make the preview smoother, but is not supported by all graphics cards. Turn off this option only if it causes problems.
VCR input: This option, which is available with some analog capture devices, should be checked if your source device is a VCR. When the option activated, capture will be more tolerant of A/V synchronization problems in the incoming signal.
Capture preview: This option controls whether the incoming video will be previewed in the Player during capture. Because generating the preview uses a significant amount of processor time, previewing may cause dropped frames during capture on some systems. Only turn off the option if you are having a problem with dropped frames.
Aspect ratio: This dropdown list specifies whether the video source for future analog captures should be interpreted as having normal (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) format.
Scene detection during video capture
The effect of these scene detection options is described here. The options that are actually available depend on the capture device being used: not all devices support all modes.
The first option, “Automatic scene detection based on shooting time and date”, is available only if you are capturing from a DV source.
Your DV camcorder records not only images and sound, but also the time, date, and various camera exposure settings (see your camcorder manual for more detail). This information is termed data code, and is transferred through the IEEE-1394 link along with the video and audio.
Under the default setting, Studio uses the data code information to determine when each new scene begins. It grabs the first frame of each new scene to use as an icon for display in the Album.
Data code does not work if the tape:
· includes one or more blank (unrecorded) sections
· is unreadable due to tape damage or electronic noise
· was recorded without the camcorder time or date set
· is a copy of another tape
· was shot on an 8mm or Hi8 camcorder, and is now being played back on a Digital8 camcorder.
Under the final option – “No auto scene detection” – a new scene is created each time you press the [Space] key.
Data rate
The DV format uses a fixed 5:1 compression ratio, which implies a data transfer rate for real-time capture of approximately 3.6 megabytes per second (MB/sec). The transfer rate of your capture drive must be at least 4 MB/sec to allow for any variations across the drive.
Test data rate: Click this button to test the data rate of your current capture drive. Studio writes and reads a file of known length, and gives you a read-out of the results in KB/sec (4000 KB/sec equals 4 MB/sec).
If you have attempted to capture DV scenes and your capture drive can’t accept the DV data rate, a dialog box will inform you of the problem. You have the options of choosing another drive or adding one that meets the data rate requirement.
Folder browser: This button sets the disk directory (and thus the drive) in which your captures will be saved, and lets you specify a default file name for captures. The Test Data Rate button will perform its test on the drive where this capture directory is located.
