Compleat Video blocking?

[falling_james]

Hi all,
Not sure if anyone here is also using the Neuros Mpeg 2 Plus? It is small mpeg4 recorder, writes directly to CF, SD, (etc) cards, kind of redundant for PMA fans. However, for my application I had hoped to capture the (daily ride) video with the Neuros (well over 8hrs record time) and then use an anolog (RCA) connection from it to the PMA to edit out choice bits of video that I could then use for a vblog... using the PMA to also edit (text) and post the short video clips to said blog.

However, recording on the PMA from the Neuros is proving to be quite the challenge! I can play the video from the Neuros to an external monitor.... this verifies that I have video on the CF card and that the cable from Neuros to monitor is working.

I can use a card reader to copy video files from the CF card to PC and view the files with QuickTime. This verifies that files are not some weird proprietary thing. (I did this silliness just to be exacting... given that I wish to transfer the video between the two devises via RCA cable/connectors it should not matter... but I needed the peace of mind)

I can view the video using the same cable from the Neuros to the PMA while using the VideoCorder application. I tried recording this video "feed" directly from the Neuros... kind of like using the PMA as just a monitor and also tried recording from files that were recorded to MPEG4 on the Neuros. Both of these tests failed. This is the problem that I am asking the forum for help on.

More tests
I have several video input sources: Bullet cam, board cam, wireless video feed and handheld camera (sony cybershot). All of these video sources can be recorded by the PMA using either the docking station or the small (travel?) adaptor. The "adaptor" that I am talking about is the small, simple one (av in/out... no power).

So what is the problem?
When trying to record from the Neuros, either "live" (using the PMA as a monitor) or trying to record from the Neuros from a video file recorder to it...using the PMA as a video dub//edit tool I get a video file of NO Duration. The file data/information looks odd, correct pixel resolution, correct record start time, however, no information for "duration" (record time) as on other good files. Also, incorrect information regarding data transfer rate. The file can be selected by the Video player (PMA) application, however, when it comes up only a blank screen is displayed and the time/length is shown as 0.00. The file size regardless of time recording is always 1kb.

I have tried every option of recording on the Neuros: 640X480, 320X240, various frame rates and data rates, all to no use. Have tried recording in ntsc and pal. Have tried all options on the PMA.... yea...several days of frustration.

I do not understand! One possibility that I considered was that the Neuros was sending some kind of blocking data with the analog video.... however, the only reference I have is a bit of text from the Archos folks about not being able to PLAY BACK at 640x480 resolution files that are protected... my impression is that these files should still record and playback at PMA LCD settings. (YES?) So, could the Neuros (funny name - as it is now driving me neurotic!) could this be sending something even different via analog connections that is more disruptive that the MPA content protection crap?

Please, any info or ideas?

falling_james