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General discussion

Audio permanentely disappeared in Sony HC48 after firewire

Dec 23, 2007 8:59AM PST

Hi,

I have a Sony mini-DV DSC-HC48 with less then 3 tapes recorded with my daugther's birth. Few weeks ago I connected it to a Sansung DVD recorder via a 4 x 4 ILink (firewire) cable to copy the video to DVD. During the recording I set camcorder's playing volume to zero to avoid hearing duplicated and delayed audio. After that I never had an audio in playing nor in recording mode, only beeps and menus chimes which means the internal speaker and analog circuit is working.

I tryied setting volumes back to max in all menus, even a pinhole reset several times with no success. Now I have a complete useless camcorder. The previous recorded mini-DV are OK when played in other camcorder, but have no sound when played in mine. New recordings have only video and are completelly muted even when reproduced in other equipment.

I refuse to think in a severe damage and I imagine a power-up solution with some keypressing to put it in its original factory state or something similar. Any ideas, suggestions and tips would be very appreciated.

Paulo

Discussion is locked

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I went to Sony.com...
Dec 23, 2007 9:58AM PST

There is no DSC-HC48.

I did find a DCR-HC48...

On page 20 of the manual: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=DCRHC48

it instructs you on using the "Easy" button. Have you tried using it to see if you can get any audio in?

What audio mode are you in? It is a selection in the "Standard Set" menu. You should be in 16 bit (see page 50.

Which audio mix are you using? Check page 49 and adjust to ST1 as needed.

Since this camcorder does not have manual audio control, you can't set the mic input volume to 0. There is something else going on...

I have heard that not being careful when plugging in and unplugging firewire cables can cause problems when plugging in/unplugging with the camcorder or other components are powered up, but my understanding is the shorts causing the camcorder DV port to fry are not very common - and NOTHING would transfer - and you say you are getting video...

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Re: Audio permanentely disappeared in Sony HC48 after firewi
Dec 23, 2007 1:48PM PST

Hi boya84,

Thanks for your reply. I mispelled the model name, it's DCR-HC48. I tried all the buttons and menus settings I found in the manual. None of them worked. I also tryed "Easy setup" and 12-bit/16-bit audio, audio mixing with no results.

I spent the whole day reviewing manual and tried every item in menu related to audio unsuccessfully. I also searched the net for any information or hint related to HC48 "audio muted", "no audio", "no recording audio", etc, but I got nothing.

Posting in camcorders foruns is my last option before thinking in send the camera to Sony USA for servicing. This model is not sold here in Brazil, I imagine I'll have difficulties here to repair it. I'm putting all my efforts in foruns posts hoping for a good soul with any information related to my problem.

Regards, Paulo.

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keep this link.
Dec 23, 2007 10:12AM PST
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Re:
Dec 23, 2007 1:55PM PST

Hi, R. Proffit.

As I wrote to boya84, yes, I tried the reset button several times but the problem still continues.

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Sometimes its a simple thing.
Dec 23, 2007 9:40PM PST

Did you follow the directions to the letter? That is, remove the battery, etc.

Did you record to DVD again and push those volumes up there?

And finally, did you try another PC via firewire?

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Re: Sometimes its a simple thing.
Dec 23, 2007 10:03PM PST

Hi, R. Proffitt.

I want to beleive it's a simple thing. I tried it again leaving battery disconnected for 1 hour (instead of 1 min), pressed reset button again but the problem persists.

But a new unexpected "Dirt heads" message was shown in display when I put a write-protected tape in compartment. After this, the message didn't show anymore, just one time.

The camera was used for about 20 hours since I bought it and I used brand new Sony DVC Premium cassettes. I'm surprised with this warning (shown too early in my oppinion). I don't have a head-cleaner cassette to try, do you know if a cloth stick embedded in alchool could be used?

Regards, Paulo

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At this point, drink the alcohol.
Dec 23, 2007 10:17PM PST

I'm almost kidding. Yes that's the standard way to clean heads. But if it's not showing it could be a software glitch in the code that runs the camcorder. I'd not clean it too much, maybe a two wipes and stop.

-> The only remaining idea is to hook up the DVD recorder one more time and push up the settings there.

Bob

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did you ever resolve this?
Jul 19, 2009 9:37AM PDT

I am having same problem now with SONY DCR HC48. Audio totally disappeared after I connect to TV.
Please let me know.

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Any solutions?
Jan 26, 2012 2:32AM PST

The post is old, but I have this problem too, I took the camcorder to a Sony Service Shop and they said me the problem it's the motherboard and they have to replace it (i don't know if there's a motherboard in a camcorder) with a ridiculous cost for repair (400 dollars) and the problem seems a simple thing, in my case one day the camcorder was just fine, the next day doesn't work? DCR-HC48 don't play audio, i don't know if the camcorder records audio, i don't have another equipment to do tests... Video it's OK! I wanna know if did you resolve this cleaning heads, I attempt the reset button several times with no solution. Help!!!

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Let's say they are right.
Jan 26, 2012 3:10AM PST

Shop the Craigslist and Ebay for a replacement unit. No average person can swap that board so we swap the entire thing.
Bob