Member Avatar for dlh6213

I had a Dazzle 150 that I used with MovieStar5, but the unit stopped working. Since Dazzle was taken over by Pinnacle, they no longer support units that were shipped with MovieStar, even though the problem is with the hardware.

So I bought a new Dazzle 150 (that came with the Pinnacle software). But this new software uses way too much RAM for me (about 245MB and I only have 384MB), and the new unit won't work with MovieStar.

So now I'm looking for either alternatives to Dazzle -- a totally different capture device; some software that will work with Dazzle (without using up all my system resources); or suggestions on how I can get MovieStar to work with the new unit.

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Practical add-on for , and : before replacing the box, isolate drivers, software and settings. The Dazzle DVC‑150 shipped with official driver/patch packages that should be installed (and older Dazzle drivers removed) so Windows and other capture apps can see the device correctly. (resources.avid.com)

A short troubleshooting checklist to follow in order:

  1. Uninstall any existing Dazzle/Pinnacle drivers and software, then reboot.
  2. Install the official DVC‑150 driver package (run the vendor installer first, then connect the hardware). Some Dazzle installs expect the software-first sequence. (forum.videohelp.com)
  3. Open Device Manager and confirm the device appears as separate Video and Audio entries with no warnings; update drivers if there’s a yellow mark.
  4. Test with a lightweight capture tool (VirtualDub, AMCap or OBS) to separate hardware/driver problems from Pinnacle’s software. In VirtualDub use Capture -> Devices to see the installed driver; disable live preview while capturing to reduce RAM/CPU load. VirtualDub’s capture docs explain driver types and preview impact. (virtualdub.org)
  5. Check inputs and crossbar selection (composite vs S‑Video), PAL/NTSC setting and try different leads. Capture short test clips to a lossless/visually‑lossless codec (HuffYUV/Lagarith) or a realtime MPEG if disk/RAM are tight, then edit/export later.

If a hardware change is preferred: simple USB dongles (Elgato Video Capture) give very easy, plug‑and‑play analog captures; dedicated cards from Hauppauge or pro converters from Blackmagic give better signal handling and more control if quality is important. (help.elgato.com)

If, after a clean driver install and testing with other capture apps, the Dazzle still “records” but produces no usable file, the hardware is likely defective and replacement or RMA is the practical next step.

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Member Avatar for Cain

Nvidia had a nice all-in-wonder setup (like three years ago) that could take inputs
from svideo and standard vid imputs.. why not grab some ram from newegg.com
while youre at it.. ..some of the cheapest prices on the net.. ..good service too. :mrgreen:
(sorry about the plug dani, been a while since i've posted a bunch, dont know if this is cool to do anymore..) :-|


happy hunting,
Cain

Member Avatar for Trevor Kuck

Need info on Dazzle's DVC 150 Video Capture equipment.
Unit plays video but does not capture even though it shows that it is recording

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