[Cin] Record camcorder video stream via v4l2 and hdmi-usb3 capture as input device

[Andrew Randrianasulu]

On Tue, May 27, 2025 at 10:47 PM Terje J. Hanssen
<terjejhanssen at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Den 27.05.2025 16:28, skrev Andrew Randrianasulu:
>
> On Tue, May 27, 2025 at 7:02 PM Terje J. Hanssen via Cin
> <cin at lists.cinelerra-gg.org> wrote:
>
>
> Den 27.05.2025 12:54, skrev Terje J. Hanssen:
>
> I tried to Record camcorder video stream via v4l2 and hdmi-usb3 capture as input device.
>
> ms2130 is more powerful but else similar to the usb2 EasyCap device example described in the CinGG manual
> https://cinelerra-gg.org/download/CinelerraGG_Manual/Use_Case_1_a_EasyCap.html
>
> My Sony FX7-E 1080i50 HDV camcorder was connected via HDMI to a ms2130 usb3 capture card.
>
> My procedure description here on openSUSE Tumbleweed-Slowroll, kernel  6.12.30-1.0.4.sr20250501-longterm
>
> ~/Applications> ./CinGG-20250430-x86_64.AppImage
> Cinelerra Infinity - built: Apr 30 2025 07:18:32
>
> 1) Settings > Preferences > Record
>
> File format: FFMPEG     mp4
>
> Video In:
>
> Record driver: Video4Linux2 /dev(video0
>
> The first thing I noticed was that default Record video setting was SD NTSC, not PAL as else according to my time zone.
> Could this possibly be changed as else?
>
> Frames to record on disk: 30 (default)?
>
> Changed frame to a camcorder resolution and fps supported by v4l2 and ms2130:
>
> Frame: 1920 x 1080 (was default NTSC SD)
> fps: 50 (progressive)
>
>
> File > Record r
>
> Two windows opened, one showing the running record time etc. and the other the camera window image.
>
>
> Unhappily, when I reconnected the camcorder to re-test today, the second window with the camera image did not longer open!!
> I've tried to reset the machine and camcorder, but no. Did also a test with system ffplay (when the v4l2 was free again) and it worked.
>
> Obviously here is something that causes this confusing issue, but what?  load straty, a changed setting or something else?
> Happily the window opened yesterday, so I know the should work.
> I understand this can be difficult to troubleshoot without a similar setup.
>
> There is checkbox named Monitor Video. Be sure you have it  set.
>
>
> Yes, thanks it works again.
>
> I usually set all parameters (like frame size, framerate, type of
> Video Input device) in Recording tab.
>
>
> Yes, but I wonder what these default box values mean?
>
> Frames to record to disk at a time: 30
> Frames to buffer in device: 2
> Positioning: Software timing

I left first two as defaults, and sometimes for screenrecording set
Samples instead of Software timing (so it will write stream relative
to audio samples, adding or dropping frames as needed - makes audio
and video track match)

There should be std. for cingg wrench icon where you select type of
encoding (FFMPEG ..).
If you click it you get window with compression parameters.
I set Pixels there.
>
> I have yet to find where to set color subsampling yuv422p, bitrate, quality profile etc
>
> I recorded three test file types with their defaults, and all got yuv420p
>
> CinGG_Record1.mp4
> Duration: 00:00:09.05, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 5044 kb/s
> Stream #0:0[0x1](und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709/unknown/unknown, progressive), 1920x1080, 4952 kb/s, 50 fps, 50 tbr, 12800 tbn (default)
>
> CinGG_Record2.mkv
> Duration: 00:00:13.66, start: -0.007000, bitrate: 890 kb/s
> Stream #0:0: Video: vp9 (Profile 0), yuv420p(tv, bt709/unknown/unknown), 1920x1080, 50 fps, 50 tbr, 1k tbn
>
> CinGG_Record3.mpeg
> Duration: 00:00:22.26, start: 0.520000, bitrate: 2321 kb/s
>   Stream #0:0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video (Main), yuv420p(tv, bt709/unknown/unknown, progressive), 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 50 fps, 50 tbr, 90k tbn
>
>
>
> Note that in your case while you record SD it gets upscaled by your
> svideo -> hdmi and  hdmi to usb converters to 1080p50
>
> There is red button and above it filename input field. Put
> path/filename there, hit Record, and it should start recording to that
> file.
>
> In case  you played with contrast/brightness settings (cingg uses its
> own set for v4l devices) you can run guvcview and restore them to
> their default values
>
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