Connecting my videocamera to port 1394

Hello,

I have a Dell Studio XPS 8000 with Windows 7, 64 bits.

I am trying to connect a video camera (MiniDV) to my PC through IEEE1394 (FireWire) in order to get the recorded videos I have.

However, although having tryied some programs (Windows media, Corel Video, Nero...) I can only command de camera (play, fast forward...) but I see no image nor get any sound.

The IEEE1394 driver says "no issues" in the control panel respective window.

Also, the cammera appears in "devices and printers" as "AV/C subunit".

On the other hand, I have recorded the errors I get from the different programs:

- Windows Life: "video device already in use". The program does not start.

- Roxio Media Import: recognizes the camera, controls it (reads de tape counter), and starts/stops capture, but no image nor sound is provided and captured file has no size.

- Nero Vision 10 video capture: recognizes the camera but does not enable the option to capture.

- Corel Video Studio Pro: "Not possible to get into capture mode. Check if capture controller is working properly" [15023:4:2] Does not enable any capture

- Windows media encoder 9: "not enough resources in the system to perform this task" (0X800705AA)

I would appreciate very much any hints or ideas on how to continue.

What is the make and model of your camcorder?

Is this just a regular camcorder or does it record HD videos?

Have you checked the manufacturer's website for information about Windows 7 compatibility?

Hello IEEE488,

Mine is a Panasonic NV-DS77 MiniDV camera. It is a pretty old one, and Windows 7 did not exist by then, but yes, it can output HD video throung an "i-link" output, with IEEE1394 connector.

In fact I have been using this output to transfer my recordings to the DVD/Hard-Disk unit I have with my TV (it also has a FireWire connector). It works perfectly and I can have an HD copy of my recordings (I pass them to DVD in this way).

But it is a slow method with very few options or flexibility, and this is why I am trying now to pass my recordings directly to my PC.

On the other hand, I do not follow why the camera should be compatible with Windows 7. The information comes through IEEE1394 bus and, if both ends comply with the respective rules, the information should pass from one end to the other wihout major issue, no matter with OS is using the PC in one end.

Regards,

Gayopapa

Hello IEEE488,

Mine is a Panasonic NV-DS77 MiniDV camera. It is a pretty old one, and Windows 7 did not exist by then, but yes, it can output HD video throung an "i-link" output, with IEEE1394 connector.

In fact I have been using this output to transfer my recordings to the DVD/Hard-Disk unit I have with my TV (it also has a FireWire connector). It works perfectly and I can have an HD copy of my recordings (I pass them to DVD in this way).

But it is a slow method with very few options or flexibility, and this is why I am trying now to pass my recordings directly to my PC.

On the other hand, I do not follow why the camera should be compatible with Windows 7. The information comes through IEEE1394 bus and, if both ends comply with the respective rules, the information should pass from one end to the other wihout major issue, no matter with OS is using the PC in one end.

Regards,

Your camcorder isn't HD. It is SD as in standard-definition.

I don't know what Microsoft did with Windows 7 with regards to Firewire. I suggest you read up on it, before assuming anything.

Thank you for the correction. I understand your "HD" classification is something more than what I was assuming. My DVD/Hard-Disc unit referred to "HD" when the recording was done through Firewire, leaving SD, LD... to the other analogue connections.

Regarding Windows 7, this is why I am here asking for help. I have searched but without success, I believe due to my lack of experience in technical searchs.

Regards,

see if this helps http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprohardware/thread/65cb7a25-2a84-4875-aa27-b084537e8da1

Perfect!

Another thing to learn today! I have tried the Windows 7 "alternative" driver (the one from Legacy), as explained in said post, and I can see and hear from the camera.

Many, many thanks, of course. I am sure I would have never found such post. As always the difficult here is to find the right key-word or the right search places...

Well, now I have to learn how to process the captured video in my PC.

Just one more question, which would be the right video parameters for the capture? You mentioned my camera records in SD, but I believe its digital output (direct through IEEE1394) brings some more quality than the analogue output (RCA-type one). I understand the picture ratio is 3:4 but the pixels... 720x576? higher, lower?

I would like to capture the recorded video in as high quality as possible but, of course, without passing the camera possiblities. Of course afterwards I would record a DVD, but I would like to keep the captured file, if it has better resolution.

Regards,

Excellent!  I am glad that you have it working.

For tutorials on capturing using Windows Movie Maker try the website http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net

Has tons of tutorials.

For maximum flexibility at the expense of huge file sizes, you'll want to capture at 720 x 480