User Manual

54 | CHAPTER 2

Capturing video

You can use the Video Capture application installed with Vegas Pro software to capture video clips from your DV or HDV video

camera or via your SDI card and add them to the Project Media window. You can also specify a different third-party capture

application for video capture.

From the File menu, choose Capture Video or click the Capture Video button ( ) in the Project Media window. The Capture

Video window appears.

Choose the option you want to use for capturing video:

• Select the DV radio button if you want to capture DV or Video for Windows clips using the video capture application

specified on the Video tab of the Preferences window.

• Select the HDV or SDI radio button if you want to capture SDI/HDV clips using the internal Vegas Pro video capture

application.

Click OK. The specified video capture application starts.

Capture your video.

• For more information on capturing DV clips with the Video Capture application, see the Vegas Pro online help.

• For more information on capturing HDV clips, see Capturing HDV clips on page 281.

• For more information on capturing clips from a tape deck via an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) card, see Capturing from an SDI

card on page 55.

After you have captured your video, Video Capture adds the files to the Project Media window. If any captured clips go offline,

you can recapture the clips using your video capture application. Right-click an offline file in the Project Media window and

choose Recapture from the shortcut menu.

Tip:

Capturing video can be demanding on your computer’s resources. To avoid potential problems, we offer the following

suggestions:

• Defragment your hard drive. Click the Start button in the task bar and choose Programs. From the Programs submenu, choose

Accessories, followed by System Tools and then Disk Defragmenter.

• Don’t use other software applications or screen savers while capturing video.

Notes:

• If you are using a DVD-based video camera, you can use the Import DVD Camcorder Disc dialog to import your video into your

Vegas Pro project. For more information, see Importing video from a DVD camcorder on page 49.

• If you are using an XDCAM camera, you can use the XDCAM Explorer window to import XDCAM clips from a camera or deck. For

more information, see Working with XDCAM Video on page 135.

Tip:

If you always capture from the same device, select the Always use the selected method check box, and you won’t be

prompted to choose a capture method again. You can change the method later using the Video tab of the Preferences window.