12 replies to this topic

[jotijoel]

I have a Sony Handycam DCR-HC21 camcorder.  Videowave is driving me nuts as I have worked weeks on trying to capture video from about 20 miniDV tapes.  Here is what I've been doing....

1.  Turn on my computer with my camcorder on in play mode and plugged into the firewire port.
2.  I open roxio Easy Media Creator Home, then VideoWave, then click on the Capture button from there.
3.  It always recognizes the Sony camcorder, which I choose, then goes to the capture window.
4.  Sometimes the Capture Preview window is black, sometimes the image that appears on the camcorder is visible in the Capture Preview window.  However, everytime the program accesses the camcorder putting into a paused play mode so I know it is controlling the camera.  You can even use Manual capture to play, stop, rewind, etc.  but you will see no video on the Capture Preview screen.


Unless the video picture from the camcorder appears in this window, it will NOT capture my video even though it appears to do Smart Scan.  Neither Smart Scan nor Manual Scan will work.

For a while I got around this by (believe it or not) removing the 1394 network adapter driver then shutting down and restarting the computer.  Then, the computer would recognize the firewire card again reinstalling and amazingly I could capture video again.

Now, however, sometimes the Capture Preview windows will show the initial video image on the camcorder, but when it goes to scan either smart Scan or Manual Scan, it loses the image even though it still controls the camcorder and "tries" to do its job.

This is driving me crazy!!!!  I even downloaded Update Fix KB885222 today, but that still didn't fix it.

Oh, btw, Windows Movie Maker gives the message also that video was not captured correctly because I tried that too!!  I've also tried my son's computer which has Roxio with the same results.

Suggestions appreciated!!

Tina

[ml]

This is probably a dumb question, but what kind of IEEE 1394 cable are you using?   Most of us have found that you need a Sony cable to capture properly.    I had another brand and it just didn't work properly.

The fact that neither Movie Maker or Roxio will capture the video probably means that there is something wrong with the setup to your computer.    Since it happens on both your computer and your son's computer (unless the computers are identical), that would indicate that you've got a hardware problem.

When you open the Windows\ Start\ Control\..... Scanners and Camcorders, does your camcorder show up in the list of devices?   If Windows doesn't recognize the device, the programs won't be able to capture the video.

Edited by mlpasley, 02 August 2006 - 07:53 PM.

[REDWAGON]

Your last paragraph is right on ml. However, just remember that you have to have your camcorder hooked up to the computer using a firewire cable and the camcorder turned on to VCR mode or play as it's sometimes referred to before it will be shown there. If it is listed, right click and on properties and there will be a diagnostics button you can click on to check to see if your camcorder is working properly.

I have several different brands of firewire (IEEE1394) cables and so far they all seem to work O.K. Lucky I guess

Frank....

[vid2man97]

I have to agree with ML...from personal experience I had the exact same problems that you describe with a Sony cam.  The program would see the camera; I could play the video; but the capture process would stutter and hang.   I had to use the Sony firewire.  Maybe it has something to do with the combination of firewire and brand of firewire card.

Not that I have a problem with any other brand of camera or digcam.....hmmmm

[jotijoel]

joitjoel, on Aug 2 2006, 01:07 PM, said:

I have a Sony Handycam DCR-HC21 camcorder.  Videowave is driving me nuts as I have worked weeks on trying to capture video from about 20 miniDV tapes.  Here is what I've been doing....

1.  Turn on my computer with my camcorder on in play mode and plugged into the firewire port.
2.  I open roxio Easy Media Creator Home, then VideoWave, then click on the Capture button from there.
3.  It always recognizes the Sony camcorder, which I choose, then goes to the capture window.
4.  Sometimes the Capture Preview window is black, sometimes the image that appears on the camcorder is visible in the Capture Preview window.  However, everytime the program accesses the camcorder putting into a paused play mode so I know it is controlling the camera.  You can even use Manual capture to play, stop, rewind, etc.  but you will see no video on the Capture Preview screen.
Unless the video picture from the camcorder appears in this window, it will NOT capture my video even though it appears to do Smart Scan.  Neither Smart Scan nor Manual Scan will work.

For a while I got around this by (believe it or not) removing the 1394 network adapter driver then shutting down and restarting the computer.  Then, the computer would recognize the firewire card again reinstalling and amazingly I could capture video again.

Now, however, sometimes the Capture Preview windows will show the initial video image on the camcorder, but when it goes to scan either smart Scan or Manual Scan, it loses the image even though it still controls the camcorder and "tries" to do its job.

This is driving me crazy!!!!  I even downloaded Update Fix KB885222 today, but that still didn't fix it.

Oh, btw, Windows Movie Maker gives the message also that video was not captured correctly because I tried that too!!  I've also tried my son's computer which has Roxio with the same results.

Suggestions appreciated!!

Tina

mlpasley, on Aug 2 2006, 07:52 PM, said:

This is probably a dumb question, but what kind of IEEE 1394 cable are you using?   Most of us have found that you need a Sony cable to capture properly.    I had another brand and it just didn't work properly.

The fact that neither Movie Maker or Roxio will capture the video probably means that there is something wrong with the setup to your computer.    Since it happens on both your computer and your son's computer (unless the computers are identical), that would indicate that you've got a hardware problem.

When you open the Windows\ Start\ Control\..... Scanners and Camcorders, does your camcorder show up in the list of devices?   If Windows doesn't recognize the device, the programs won't be able to capture the video.

I'm using a "no name" firewire cable.  The card itself is a belkin.  Yes, Windows recognizes the camera in control/scanners....

I guess I'll go buy a Sony cable and see what happens next!

Sorry for the above post...I'm new to using forums and messed up by reposting my original post.

Tina

REDWAGON, on Aug 2 2006, 08:09 PM, said:

Your last paragraph is right on ml. However, just remember that you have to have your camcorder hooked up to the computer using a firewire cable and the camcorder turned on to VCR mode or play as it's sometimes referred to before it will be shown there. If it is listed, right click and on properties and there will be a diagnostics button you can click on to check to see if your camcorder is working properly.

I have several different brands of firewire (IEEE1394) cables and so far they all seem to work O.K. Lucky I guess

Frank....

I did the diagnostics and it passed.  Maybe as several have mentioned its the cable not being a Sony brand.

Tina

[REDWAGON]

Let us know if the Sony cable was any help Tina. That has been suggested several times on the forum.

Frank....

[ml]

Keep the receipt in case the cable isn't the problem.

One more thing.... don't move that camcorder or cable while you're capturing.   Sometimes a slight movement will cause the computer to lose the connection.

Make the camcorder and cable connection secure, then control the capture from the computer.

And you might have to disconnect from the internet and turn off virus programs and firewalls.   Also, check for spyware.   It's not a normal problem, but sometimes if another program tries to use computer resources at the same time you're trying to capture it can cause problems.    Spyware is a more likely source of this type of problem because some of it will try to access the internet every few minutes from your computer.    I had one try to 'dial out' every five minutes and it caused all types of strange problems.

Edited by mlpasley, 06 August 2006 - 08:39 PM.

[jotijoel]

Well, I bought a GENUINE Sony brand firewire cable.  Sorry to say, but it did not solve the problem.  Same issues as before.  I had already done a spyware check and nothing.  Guess I'll try the firewall/virus idea and not be connected to the internet.

Now I've noticed, even if the initial picture is in the Capture Preview window when Capture first loads.....as soon as you try either manual scan and/or smart scan it loses the picture/audio even though you can control the camera from the computer.

Any other ideas??

Tina

[jotijoel]

Well, now I tried turning off my internet connection, my virus protection, and my firewall.  Still no image in the Capture Preview window, yet Windows recognizes and can control the video camera...ARGH!

Tina

[bobstripower]

jotijoel, on Aug 9 2006, 10:17 PM, said:

Well, now I tried turning off my internet connection, my virus protection, and my firewall.  Still no image in the Capture Preview window, yet Windows recognizes and can control the video camera...ARGH!

Tina

Tina from a pure engineering viewpoint ,you've eliminated the computer,cable,probaly Roxio,and windows.It wont work on 2 different computers. Seems to me it has to be your camera,probably one of the legs of the firewire connection in the camera.What i would do is borrow another camcorder and,using their cable etc see if Roxio will capture.If it does, then try your cable and see if it works.If it doesnt then its the cable.You could do the same with your cassette and see if soemhow the cassette is damaged,though you could test that by trying to play on the cam's screen. Does the camers have a USB connection as well as a firewire.If it does, try that out. I just had my Sony camera repaired (different problem) and they turned it around in less than a week.A final thought, if you bought the camera at a camera shop,ask them to try to capture with your camera on their computer.Good luck--bob

[bobstripower]

bobstripower, on Aug 14 2006, 04:57 PM, said:

Tina from a pure engineering viewpoint ,you've eliminated the computer,cable,probaly Roxio,and windows.It wont work on 2 different computers. Seems to me it has to be your camera,probably one of the legs of the firewire connection in the camera.What i would do is borrow another camcorder and,using their cable etc see if Roxio will capture.If it does, then try your cable and see if it works.If it doesnt then its the cable.You could do the same with your cassette and see if soemhow the cassette is damaged,though you could test that by trying to play on the cam's screen. Does the camers have a USB connection as well as a firewire.If it does, try that out. I just had my Sony camera repaired (different problem) and they turned it around in less than a week.A final thought, if you bought the camera at a camera shop,ask them to try to capture with your camera on their computer.Good luck--bob

PS  Try resetting the camera by pushing the tiny reset button with a paper clip.Maybe some settings have gotten out of whack-bob

[jotijoel]

bobstripower, on Aug 14 2006, 04:57 PM, said:

Tina from a pure engineering viewpoint ,you've eliminated the computer,cable,probaly Roxio,and windows.It wont work on 2 different computers. Seems to me it has to be your camera,probably one of the legs of the firewire connection in the camera.What i would do is borrow another camcorder and,using their cable etc see if Roxio will capture.If it does, then try your cable and see if it works.If it doesnt then its the cable.You could do the same with your cassette and see if soemhow the cassette is damaged,though you could test that by trying to play on the cam's screen. Does the camers have a USB connection as well as a firewire.If it does, try that out. I just had my Sony camera repaired (different problem) and they turned it around in less than a week.A final thought, if you bought the camera at a camera shop,ask them to try to capture with your camera on their computer.Good luck--bob

I tried another model Sony camcorder that my son has access to.  Same issues!!  Also, I had to import over 15 different cassettes all of which had the same issue.  Seems to me this has to be a software conflict issue or perhaps registry or driver issue.  I had to go through the process of removing the driver and rebooting as mentioned in my original post.  The only problem is there is absolutely no consistency of success!!
Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but I had to wait for access to another camcorder.
Tina

[ml]

jotijoel, on Sep 18 2006, 11:39 PM, said:

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, but I had to wait for access to another camcorder.
Tina

No problem.  

Are you still having trouble capturing the video with Windows Movie Maker?  

If you cannot capture with either program using different camcorders, then I'd suspect a hardware issue in your computer.   Perhaps there is something wrong with the firewire card or the cable.