It took me a while to figure out the first Roxio product I used, but eventually I got the hang of it and it worked ok. Over the years, it gradually got corrupt, though, and one feature after another fell away, so I decided to uninstall it, buy the newest Roxio product, hoping for all kinds of improvements.

So far, my experience with the new package, including EMC9, has been pretty bad.

First, I can't get it to capture. Obviously, a major problem. I found this forum and posted a message about this, only to see that there are messages up and down the board about capturing problems. Why don't they fix this? It's obviously not just an occasional problem. I posted a message on the capture area of this forum, but after being requested to post my system info (which I did) the responses stopped coming.

Another problem -- when I take clips I've captured using WMM and edit them using Roxio, the clips wind up looking terrible. All washed out and fuzzy, many steps down from the raw capture. I have a 3CCD camcorder and the video looks great until Roxio gets its hands on it.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I had none of these problems using the earlier Roxio product. At this point, I'm feeling that I flushed my $70 down the toilet. Any thoughts?

As you only posted your specs inside the past three days, it can be a bit soon for a response. None of us live, eat and sleep beside the computer so sometimes it does take a bit of time.

However - have you updated your video drivers from the nVidia website and also installed the latest DirectX 9.0c from Microsoft?

Hey, sorry, don't mean to sound ungrateful -- I'm just upset that this program is not working the way I'd hoped it would.



I had updated the video driver, but hadn't installed the latest DirectX. I'll do that now. Thanks.


Update -- just installed the latest DirectX and capture button is still greyed.

What are you capturing from and how are you trying to do the capture? You have to give us a bit more of a hint. Are you capturing from a DVD, a VHS, a Video Camera? Are you using an internal or external A/D converter? If from a camera - analog or digital? Are you using firewire.?

Not all A/D cards/devices are supported by Roxio. If you are using an A/D converter, you may have to capture using the program that came with your device and then edit that AVI file (preferred) or mpg2 file in Video Wave.

Again, more information needed.

I just read your other post an according to that, you are using firewire to capture from a DV camera. Sometimes it matters what sequence the camera is plugged in vs when the program is started. Try both having the camera plugged in and running on pause before you open the program. If that doesn't work, try it another way. You can even try opening the program and then plugging in the firewire with the camera on or off. Sorry, I can't be of more help. Sometimes the camera manufacturer's web site lists the best sequence to get a program to identify your camera.

Often the firewire itself may be defective. Some people have problems with even the Sony cable. It seems that a lot of people have good luck with the cheapest cable possible.

BTW, if you add your computer specs to your signature, it will show up in all your posts so people won't ask again. Look at the top of this page and click on My Controls, on the left about half way down is edit signature. Use that to post your computer specs.

I would think that if you slowly lost all functionality from the version that you were using before, it may be time for a Format C:/.

I'll try, Sknis. Thing is, I capture fine with WMM using the same firewire.

Bruce, bite your tongue! Too many of my vital programs are laying around all over the place on disks, and I've got tons of stuff laying around on my PC.

I tried capturing using WMM and then editing the vid file in Roxio, but the quality of the output is really terrible -- it looks washed out, even though I haven't played with the default settings in Roxio's editor. The vids that are edited look a great deal worse than the raw dubs, which never happened in my earlier version of Roxio. Possible reasons?

What other programs are out there besides Roxio and Nero? I found Nero's editing function to be very crude.

Yeah, I know the format C:/ can be a royal pain. I've been down that road before, and I did bite my tongue.

Try this, too:

1)Execute the following command on Start > Run dialog:

regsvr32 %windir%\system32\qdv.dll

It should result in a "DllRegisterServer in qdv.dll succeeded" message.

Many people have seen some directx DLLs like qdv.dll (used in DV AVI
capture/playback) to get unregistered for some reason after installing SP2.
It may be related to them having installed some rogue program prior to SP2.
Anyway the above should fix the dv avi capture issue.
-----------
Also:
Update for Windows XP (KB885222)

After you install Windows XP Service Pack 2, some 1394 devices (such as digital cameras that use S400 speed) may not perform as expected.

Firewire SP2 Fix
----
Last - sounds like you are saving teh files from WMM as WMV which would import into Videowave at a lower resolution depending on the settings.
To export at BEST quality, capture your video in WMM.
Add to the storyboard.
Under FINISH MOVIE, Click on 'Save to my Computer'
Enter name and choose a folder. NEXT
If you only see one item, click on SHOW MORE CHOICES. Otherwise, click on OTHER SETTINGS and select DV-AVI (NTSC or PAL) from the list
Click NEXT to output the file.

Use that DV AVI in Videowave.

Bruce, I know, I'm just hoping that the problem will go away, the dumbest possible course.

Wow, ggrussell, that's a ton of good advice. I'll start working on it now, and check back with progress reports. Thanks.

Update: I tried everything, running the command, updating windows, rebooted, then tried all the sequence variations I could think of (turn camcorder on and have video paused when I start EMC9, vice versa, various other iterations, etc.). The capture button is still greyed. And the firewire is not defective because it works with WMM.

At this point, I'm giving up on EMC9. I have to admit that I'm bitter about this. I've spent $70 for a program that does not work. I can't even use it to edit -- the quality of the edits is basically crap. (The files I create using WMM actually are AVIs, but thanks for the suggestions.)

And all this after lots of what I consider to be needless work to get the program to work the way it should out of the box.

Can someone recommend a capture and editing program that actually works (not Nero, please, as the editing function isn't as precise as I need)? Again, I thank you all for the wonderful recommendations and attempts to help, but I just want a functional program. I actually need it. Thanks again.

I just finished downloading Cyberlink Power Director 5 and it works like a charm. Captures fine, editing is precise and easy, and it creates HQ output. For me, EMC9 is a bad experience I'm putting behind me. I hope you all get great use out of it, though, and I thank you all very, very much for your help and suggestions.

Well, sorry it didn't work out for you, Larry.