Connecting with firewire

[chanq51]

Hi all,

I am finding it impossible for my iMac to recognise my mini-dv camcorder. I believe I've been doing all the right things.

Specifically: Mac is an iMac intel 2.8 ghz core i7 with 16 gb RAM. Camera is a Sony DCR-PC 120E. I have connected with firewire to the above iMac (and also to my Macbook pro), but neither computer can "see" this camcorder. I also have the camera in playback mode and have tried both settings on the camera's menu A/V to DV OUT (OFF/ON). Neither Apple support nor Sony support have been able to help, basically blaming each other!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

[Mick2011]

Hi, welcome to the Sony Forums

Can I just check: you are using iMovie to import your footage?

Have you tried a new firewire cable?

There are a couple of other possibilities but let me know if you've tried these first.

Cheers

Mick

[chanq51]

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the reply. I've tried 2 different firewire cables, both brand new and I have been able to connect an older Sony camera (TRV 340E) with them. I've tried iMovie and Adobe Premiere, but the camera is just not recognised. There was one occasion, briefly, when  the camera was recognised on the firewire port, (I looked at it under system preferences). However, that was briefly; I have since plugged in the camera and now the firewire port doesn't "see" it at all.

I can confirm that the camera is in playback mode, is powered by mains power and is working. I fear that I might have to resort to buying a different, used mini DV camera just to import my footage. Obviously I want to avoid that if at all possible.

Thanks once again for your help.

Best regards,

Dick

[Mick2011]

Thanks for that description Dick, you do seem to have covered all bases there.

It could be that the DV jack on the camera has shorted out. I've done this myself with a firewire connection; there are relatively high voltages involved and both careless hookups and debris in the jack itself can short things out. If that's the case (you could test it with a multimeter if you have one) it's not a cheap repair and a replacement cam would be the better option.

Sorry, that's about all that remains as far as possible explanations go

Cheers

Mick

[chanq51]

Hi Mick,

Thanks for getting back to me.

I've discovered on another website that others have had a similar problem and solved it by chance when they hooked up the camera to an external hard drive with both a firewire 400 and 800 port and then hooked up the drive to the Mac with the 800 port. They suggested that it might, therefore, be possible to do this via a firewire hub with both ports. I've been investigating this and have been looking at the Sonnet Yin Yang hub. I don't know if you're familiar with this product, but would be interested in your opinion as to whether or not this might work.

Many thanks again,

Regards,

Dick

[Mick2011]

Yes, it could well be that the FW800 controller in newer Macs is expecting too much of older FW400 DV-outs.

That would explain the success with an intermediate 400-800 drive and wouldn't surprise me at all, as there have been some issues with FW800 backward-compatibility. I have my FW daisy chain set up this way (old 400 drives > new 800 drive > Mac) and it works well; some years ago a colleague warned me not to attempt a 400-800 cable direct from drive to Mac, for this reason.

Sonnet cards are good quality; I think there's a cheaper one by Moshi that might work too. I'm not sure if the circuitry involved in either of those will perform the same connection 'upgrade' as the controller in an external drive, but it has to be worth a try. Or, if you're going with the Sonnet, it might be worth investing a little more in a FW800 drive and get some storage into the bargain...

Mick

[chanq51]

Thanks for that Mick.

I've been quoted £180 by Sony Central for a repair, if that's what's needed. I shall get hold of a multimeter to try to check on the port. Used cameras on Ebay are going for not much less than that.

In any event, it looks like I'm going to have to splash the cash with no guarantees!

Thanks for all your help.

Regards,

Dick