While moving photos taken by my Virb Elite from their folders on the device [DCIM/100_VIRB etc.) I noticed that there are several .MP4 files in these folders, with size of zero (0) bytes. Is this normal, programmed behaviour?
Generally it happens only when something goes wrong (freeze/crash during recording). The VIRB only finishes a clip when it reaches the ~ 4 Gb file size limit. If something goes wrong before then, you'll lose all of the video in that clip, and you see the zero file size .mp4's. It's not the way it's supposed to work.
I noticed it a while ago (a month?) for the first time. I only check these folders when I remember to move the photos they contain.... The photos were not taken all on the same day, but over a period of time. For this reason, I cannot remember clearly for each photo the method used - but certainly for at least some of them, I used my Edge 810 to trigger the Virb.
I also cannot recollect the Virb freezing / crashing recently, nor the disappearance of sections of video. But it is quite possible that I am just not paying enough attention to this - I don't scrutinize the footage extensively. I will get around to it, but it will take some time.
With the current firmware (3.8)? I've had very little trouble with 3.8, aside from the ANT+ drop outs that occur too often. I can't remember having a crash or freeze, and so a zero size mp4, since installing it. Of course, I follow a set of "rituals" that avoid actions that caused problems in the past. Since it's always mounted within reach, I always start recording manually rather than using my Edge 800 or Fenix to start it. I never take stills while recording video. When I stop recording video, I always power down the camera, even if I'm going to start recording again soon.
Yes, with the current firmware. And I've also experienced the sensor (and even GPS) dropouts for no apparent reason. Mine is mounted on my cycling helmet. I had it set to record automatically when moving, but 2 days ago I set this to off (always record). I also make sure I turn the unit on at least 30 seconds - 1 minute before I start riding, to allow it to connect to the sensors and find my GPS position.
I also get 0 byte clips but this usually always happens when I start or shut off my car and the Virb gets a "jolt" of voltage. For clarification: I have my Virb Elite mounted on my dash and it runs pretty much all day 8-9 hrs. recording. I do not use a battery and instead have it plugged into a hotpoint to keep it cooler and sometimes I run a 12vdc fan blowing on the camera and that keeps it quite cool. Every time I start my Jeep the hotpoint goes off momentarily and that is when I see the 0 byte clip and sometimes I forget to stop the recording before I shut off the Jeep and again I get a 0 byte clip at that point. My only problem to date (after all the preliminary glitches) is my time zone like to change from Tokyo time to PDT so I have to reset the time zone manually.
