When you try to capture DV or HDV video in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 on Windows, the Record button in the Capture panel is dimmed, preventing you from starting capture. The Capture panel also displays one of these errors:
Do the following steps in order. Try to start capture in Premiere Pro after you complete each step.
Steps 1 through 3 are about hardware setup. Steps 4 through 6 are about software configuration. If you still cannot start capture after you have completed Steps 1 through 6, then go to the advanced troubleshooting in Steps 7 through 12.
If you are capturing from a camcorder or VTR, then verify that the device is turned on and in playback mode (which on a camcorder may be called VCR or VTR mode). Verify that the videotape has not been advanced to its end.
If you are capturing from an analog-to-digital converter, then verify that both it and its analog input source are turned on, connected correctly, and are in the correct input/output mode. See the converter's documentation for instructions.
Connect the device directly to an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port on your computer. Do not connect the device to a multi-port hub or to another IEEE 1394 device.
If the device can output video over either USB or IEEE 1394, then configure it to output over IEEE 1394. See the device's documentation for instructions.
Note: Premiere Pro CS4 does not natively support capture of video over USB or USB 2.0 connections. To capture video from USB-only devices, use Adobe Premiere Elements or a third-party application, or install a third-party capture card.
Note: If you are capturing from a DV-only camcorder, then skip this step and go to Step 4.
Some video devices can output more than one digital video format. Determine whether your device has a button, a switch, or a menu setting that changes its output format. See the device's documentation for instructions.
Important: If you change your device's output format, then close the Capture panel, disconnect the device from the computer, reconnect the device, and reopen the Capture panel.
Some HDV camcorders and VTRs have a setting that can cause HDV source material to be downsampled to DV resolution during output. If you are capturing HDV video, then you should disable any device setting that downsamples HDV video.
If you are capturing from an analog-to-digital converter that can output video in more than one digital format (MPEG-2, H.264, and so forth), then select DV as the output format. If your converter cannot output in DV format, then use the converter's bundled software to capture video and then import the captured clips into a Premiere Pro project.
If your device is compatible with both the NTSC and PAL standards, then select the correct standard on the device.
Note: Not all devices can process both NTSC and PAL videotapes. For example, if you have a PAL videotape, then do not play it in an NTSC-only device.
The capture format that you choose in Premiere Pro must match the format that the device is outputting to the computer. For example, if the capture format is set to DV but the device is outputting HDV video, then you will not be able to start capture.
When you create a project, the New Project dialog includes a Capture Format pop-up menu, which has two options: DV and HDV. The format that you choose from this menu will be the project's initial capture format, but you can change this setting.
To identify a project's current capture format and change it if necessary:
Note: Alternatively, you can change the capture format in the Settings tab of the Capture panel. Click Edit in the Capture Settings section, choose a capture format from the pop-up menu, and then click OK.
Playback quality may be poor if you add DV clips to an HDV sequence, or if you add HDV clips to a DV sequence. To preserve playback quality, add captured clips to a sequence whose format matches the format of the video you captured. For details, see Create A Sequence in Premiere Pro CS4 Help.
You may not be able to start capture if the device control settings are incorrect.
To verify or change the device control settings:
If you cannot start capture after you have verified or changed the device control settings, then disable device control.
Note: When device control is disabled, you must start playback on the device manually.
To disable device control:
Damaged or incorrect permissions in your user account may prevent Premiere Pro from writing required registry keys upon the first successful capture. Create a new local administrator account and then try to start capture in the new account.
To create a new local administrator account:
When you have created a new local administrator account, do the following tasks:
If you cannot start capture in the new account, then go to Advanced Troubleshooting.
If you can start capture in the new account, then stop the capture after a few seconds, log off, and log on to your original account. Then open Premiere Pro and try again to start capture. If you still cannnot capture in the original account, then migrate to a new account.
If you cannot start capture after you have completed all of the steps above, then do the following advanced troubleshooting steps in order. Try to start capture in Premiere Pro after you complete each step.
Disconnect all other IEEE 1394 devices from your computer, and then do one or both of the following tasks:
Startup items (programs that start automatically with Windows) and services (specialized programs that perform functions to support other programs) that run in the background may interfere with video capture. Disable startup items and non-essential services, and close all other open applications, before you open Premiere Pro.
To disable startup items and non-essential services, see one of these TechNotes:
DirectShow video capture filters from manufacturers other than Microsoft can interfere with the ability of Premiere Pro to capture from DV and HDV video devices.
To identify and disable third-party capture filters:
Try to capture video with one of these third-party applications, which use the same capture protocols as Premiere Pro:
If you cannot capture in DVIO or HDVSplit, then go to Step 11 and Step 12.
If you can capture in DVIO or HDVSplit, and you have completed all of the steps above, then your installation of Premiere Pro may be damaged. Use the Add Or Remove Programs Control Panel (Windows XP) or the Programs And Features Control Panel (Windows Vista) to uninstall Premiere Pro. Then reinstall Premiere Pro and all available updates, and review or repeat Steps 1 through 6 of this document.
Disclaimer: This procedure involves editing the Windows registry. Adobe doesn't provide support for editing the registry, which contains critical system and application information. Make sure to back up the registry before editing it. For more information about the registry, see the Windows documentation or contact Microsoft.
To refresh the IEEE 1394 device listings in the Windows XP registry:
If you have completed all of the steps above and you still cannot start capture in Premiere Pro CS4 on your computer, then try to capture on a different computer.
If you cannot start capture on a different computer, then your video device may be malfunctioning. Contact the device's manufacturer for support.
If you can start capture on another computer, then your computer's IEEE 1394 interface may be malfunctioning. Contact the manufacturer of your computer or the manufacturer of your IEEE 1394 card for support.
Video capture stops unexpectedly (Premiere Pro CS4) (TechNote kb406964)
Cannot start DV or HDV video capture (Premiere Pro CS4 on Mac OS) (TechNote kb407601)
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