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General discussion

Sony DCR-HC32E not detected - DV / Firewire / IEEE 1394

Jan 14, 2006 9:46PM PST

Hi

I purchased this handycam a couple of days ago but so far have been unable to connect it through my firewire.

Seems I'm not the only one having problems. I started with WinXP SP2 - rolled back the drivers to SP1
Installed WinXP without any Service Packs, Tried it on a WinME machine and a Win2000 Pro machine. All have PCI 2.2 slots with non-shared IRQs

My firewire card shows up as working in the Device Manager - Also makes a 1394 Net Adapter entry.

DVin appears on the Camera LCD when the firewire cable is connected.

Anyone found a solution... Other than buying a Mac?

Discussion is locked

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help sony HC42E-convert mini DVs into DVD
Jan 15, 2006 2:54PM PST

hi
i am searching for the way how to convert my MINI DVs into DVDs using win XP pro.
i am holding HC42E

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What software are you using?????
Jan 19, 2006 12:19AM PST

Hook up the camera to the firewire cabel, turn it on to VCR mode. Now start you video editting software program.
and select capture video select the camera and capture.
The camera will not show up any where in Windows, Windows does not have the drivers, the video editting program has the drivers. John
http://www.timwerx.net/odds/pcfile.htm

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Same problem with DCR PC 55
Jan 22, 2006 10:25PM PST

I'm getting really annoyed with my sony camcorder. It briefly worked (and I don't know what I did) over firewire on my Dell laptop. However, since plugging in a different camcorder it will not be recognised. I took it to a Sony centre and they were baffled, espeically when they plugged their own, brand new dcr pc55 into a demo Sony Vaio laptop and couldn't get it to be recognised whatever they did. They tried a different camcorder (not HC32, sorry) and this was recognised straight away in the system tray. But none of the handycams worked (mine or a pc55 and pc53 of theirs). Very worrying Sony! Currently I am waiting to hear back from Sony technical on this. If I get anything back on this that works, I shall test it a few times and let you know. For info I am now running (after a rebuild) XP SP1 with critical patches installed only. I should be able to try whatever info I get on SP2 also though.

As far as I know that driver problem with Xp sp2 was partly solved by a patch. The firwire bandwidth dropped to 100MB/s, and it requires 400MB/s for video capture. However if you have a camera that requires 800MB/s microsoft still have not sorted it (unless thats changed this month?)

Anyone else have this issue and resolve it?

Cheers

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and again with DCR-HC90E
Feb 12, 2006 1:31PM PST

except I'm using a mac. Have we got some kind of hardward affliction?

My friends older model sony's firewire wasn't working so he asked me to borrow my camera. It wouldn't work on his Windows XP system, and when I got it home, it wasn't working for me anymore. Final Cut Pro can't find it. Sigh.

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Sony HC32 firewire connection
Feb 13, 2006 4:37AM PST

I have this camera and it connects to firewire just fine. There is a small switch on your docking station (all the way on the left side) marked USB on/off. If this is in the on position, your firewire connection will not be functional. Turn the USB switch to off, and your firewire conncection should recognize your camera in the playback mode. Let us know if this works. There are a lot of Sony HC32, HC42 owners out there complaining they do not have firewire connectivity who have inadvertently left the USB switch in the on position.

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DCR firewire prob
Feb 13, 2006 7:46AM PST

without the housing for the camera can the USB still be an issue?

Thanks

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usb/firewire interaction
Feb 13, 2006 8:49AM PST

I am only familiar with the docking platform provided with the HC32 and HC42 series camcorders. They definitely have a USB switch which can turn off firewire connectivity. Other Sony camcorders may have a way of defining whether USB or firewire is enabled (possibly in the menu system). You would have to examine your documentation to find out, or heaven forbid, get someone knowledgeable at Sony to tell you. I find that the documentation that comes with the camcorder leaves out direct instructions on acheiving firewire connections in a computer. They don't even supply a firewire cable, and dont mention the software necessary to establish the link (digital video editing software). But the presence of a switch on the HC32 indicates that both USB and firewire can not be active at the same time.

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thanks glenn
Feb 13, 2006 1:52PM PST

thanks glenn for the good information..I m using sony HC42E and my OS is win xp pro--ca u suggest me what exactly i need to create DVDs from mini DVs---i have only a fireport installed in CPU rest i have no knowledge--which capture card which fire wire i need???
regards
keri

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One software package that works
Feb 13, 2006 3:54PM PST

If you have a firewire card, and a Sony HC42 camera, you are almost there: converting footage you have taken with your camera to excellent dvd quality video on a dvd that plays in most free standing dvd players. You do not need a video capture card but you do need a dvd writer. Your camcorder has pass through which allows you to convert any AV material (VHS player, older analog 8mm, hi8 analog tape) to digital in your camcorder for input to computer via your firewire connection. Your HC42 is minDV, with your footage already in digital format on DV tape. You will need a 4-6 pin fireware cable to connect your firewire connection on your computer, but this is easy at any electronics dealer (cheaper at Newegg or Amazon online). You will also need a video editor package to handle capturing the video, editing it to keep the parts you want, adding titles and chapters as you wish. There are many capable packages out there for less than $100, but I can only vouch for the one I use and like. I use Arcsoft Showbiz DVD 2 because my MCE HP computer came with this software installed.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001YM044/sr=8-2/qid=1139903138/ref=sr_1_2/102-2030995-5636927?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Capturing video with the capture module is quite straight forward, as long as the camcorder is in the player mode, firewire cable is connected via docking station and the USB switch is in the off position. Importing consists on using the tape player controls that the firewire driver automatically brings up that controls the miniDV tape from the computer. You are given the option to name your video and capture it to a file in the folder of your choice. Editing the file and preparing it for writing to dvd is going to be your most difficult learning process. You have a story board view with the many clips you want to string together. You also have a timeline view for making titles, adding separate sound tracks. I found the easiest way to edit was to copy and paste the entire video footage to each of multilpe clip positions on the storyboard. Then you set the start and end markers on each clip to separate out each clip (scene) in sequence for the finished video. Set the transitions between the clips, and you are ready to write the video to dvd disc. You will need a dvd writer...best an internal writer connected to ide cable. They are not expensive but let a technician install it if you are not comfortable with opening your computer. I like the NEC ND 3550A which comes in black, beige, and white as an internal dvd writer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000100005+50001326&Subcategory=5&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice=

Depending on the speed of your processor, it may take anywhere from one hr to several hrs to write one hour of video. Just start it before you go to bed if your processor is less than a p4. Most newer set top dvd players will handle both dvd +R,-R, +RW. -RW. Good luck.

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great
Feb 13, 2006 4:22PM PST

thanks a lot for the info.
i will try all and will let u know d results soon
i have LG double layer DVD writer a;ready installed
just need a fire wire

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the problem continues
Apr 8, 2008 8:44AM PDT

hi , hello my name is charles and i still have the same problem . i dont know how i can resolve the isue please can yo helpme thanks
anatycharly@hotmail.com

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Similar issues resolved
Sep 3, 2010 7:26AM PDT

This may be a little late.

I have a Sony digital8 and a JVC Mini DV camcorder which are not recognised by my PC
via the IEEE1394 ports ..... until I also connect the USB to the cameras or in the case of the sony touch the usb port with USB connector either way works. Now, whether this is a problem with my firewire card or is an issue with the cameras I don't know for sure. I suspect it could be the card because for two camcorders from different makers to exhibit the same issue is unlikley unless there is some issue with IEEE1394 and windows. But the upshot is that it works, for me at least.

Incidentaly JVC do not recommend this but it worked for me. I have no idea what SONY think of it.