Toast "dv Converter?" Stops Importing

[noodlehead]

I was very surprised when I saw a camera image and an option to import show up in my Toast open window. I was expecting to have to use iMovie.

It seemed great...except it keeps stopping the import after 6 minutes or so.

I cannot find any help files on this DV Converter. (The Toast Guide is horrible in that it only shows a "sample" of the content of a topic area, and alsways in the middle so I cannot read the beginning of a paragraph. I have to guess at what it's content is about. And, yes, I used the sliders to widen the space but to no avail. But I digress.)

 

Here is what I am trying to do: I have a DVR that records shows off my cable TV. Unfortuunately, the only way to copy things off that DVR is to record to VHS. Or, use RCA cables and connect those to this DV Box converter that I have (Miglia Director's Cut.) From there I connect a firewire cable into my Mac. Like I mentioned, I have used iMovie to recognize and record what is playing on the DVR. It's all in real time. But that's ok, if it worked.

 

My big surprise was seeing a DV Camera show up in my open Toast window. (I had it open for another reason). But like I said, I cannot figure out a way to have it record what is playing - until I stop it. I tried setting it at "entire tape;" also tried "60 minutes." Doesn't seem to matter. It just appears to make up it own mind and decide to stop importing, giving me a window to add or continue or stop. Continue does not simply continue the play/import. It just seems to set me up to start another recording.

 

I'd love to use this feature but I cannot find anything on it in the guide. And I can't figure how to keep it importing - not direct to a disc but to the converted items folder.

 

Help?

Thanks,

[noodlehead]

Toast doesn't actually support importing from the DV capture devices. It expects a DV camcorder that has playback controls. So I don't think you can reliably depend on Toast to complete the captures.

 

I suggest using the freeware application Vidi to capture from your Miglia unit. You can also capture using QuickTime Pro.

 

Thank you very much for your suggestions. Ididn't know QT Pro had that functionality. And I never heard of Vidi.

However...

 

I tried using QT Pro. (*to my surprise, it works!). However. it stopped recording at approx. 5 min. and a dialog box came up saying: "recording stopped because the maximum duration for the file has been reached." "Try continuing recording in a new file."

I've tried every thing I can think of to somehow change the so called "maximum duration." No dice.

 

I also downloaded Vidi and am trying to use it. But, it opens (I only know that since the Vidi icon appears in my Mac Dock. (I’m in OS 10.5, using a Mac Pro). I read the documentation; I tried changing the preferences; I selected “float Vidi window” and “Show status in menu bar.” Still, there is no window showing any activity.

I don’t get it.

Any ideas?

Thanks again.

[tsantee]

Is there any chance you are short on hard drive space. DV video requires about 1 GB for every 5 minutes of video. It's interesting that QuickTime Pro and Toast 6 both stopped at the same point. One possibility is there is a break in the source video at the point that is causing QuickTime to see it as the end of a file. This could happen when the VHS tape is at a point where a new recording began or if there is a distortion in the video which the Miglia cannot handle.

 

Vidi needs to have your DV device connected and active at the time it is launched.

 

 

 

[tsantee]

Toast doesn't actually support importing from the DV capture devices. It expects a DV camcorder that has playback controls. So I don't think you can reliably depend on Toast to complete the captures.

 

I suggest using the freeware application Vidi to capture from your Miglia unit. You can also capture using QuickTime Pro.