ulead 10 won't begin to initialize camcorder

cocori1 · Post by **cocori1** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:25 pm

Hi everyone I'm new to this so bear with me.
By reading other forums I'll try to supply the info needed for you to help.
I'm running Windows XP home.
Graphic card NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE.
Compaq Presario SR2002X.
Service Pack 2.
AMD Sempron Processor 3200+
991 MHz, 448 MB of RAM.
My problem is that I have my Samsung MiniDV Digital Camcorder. I open up ULEAD 10 and connect my usb cable to the camcorder then plug the usb into the PC and nothing ever happens. I can't capture or watch it on the screen or anything. None of the buttons are highlighted. Any ideas on where to start? Thanks

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:42 pm

This has been covered many times before but people still fall for it. With MiniDV cameras you have what is called an iLink or IEEE1394 or Firewire conection. That needs to be connected to an identical port on your PC in order to "capture" DV-AVI format for editing. Camera manufacturers, in their unlimited wisdom. have opted world wide not to include the necessary firewire cable. Instead they all supply a cheaper USB cable which, unless you have one of these DVD or Hard disk cameras, is only suitable to transfer the still images you can also take with your camcorder.

On some cameras, the USB port can be used to capture a quality reduced (smaller frame size) version of the tape content but that is only suitable for maybe web streaming or portable devices.

For full quality DV capture you will need a firewire port on your PC (PCI add on card if not fitted already) and a firewire cable.

Once you connect your camcorder that way, you will also be able to control the camera from the PC screen in the capture module.

cocori1 · Post by **cocori1** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:54 am

Cool. I have 2 ports in back of the PC and 2 on the front. If any of them are for firewire, should it say so next to the ports? So I know if I need to get a card as well as a wire. I don't see anything in the Compaq manual so I assume not.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:58 am

Usually these ports are marked iLink or IEEE1394 or firewire. All camera ports should have a description next to them, could you please list yours.

You do have a MiniDV camera (MiniDV tape) or is it a DVD camera?

cocori1 · Post by **cocori1** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:52 am

I actually have 3 ports on the front and 2 on the back. None of the 5 say Ilink or IEEE just a little picture of a devil's prong.
Yes it's a Samsung MiniDV (tape) camcorder. Digital 1200X is the model. Also on it is SC-D363 NTSC.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:02 am

The little devil's prong would be the USB port. does any of them state DV or DV-Out?

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:00 am

I googled for your camera and found this

Hope this helps. When you get a cable make sure it is the 4 pin (camera side) to 4 or 6 pin depending on the firewire cards ports.

cocori1 · Post by **cocori1** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:35 am

No, they don't say dv out or anything. But I'll just go to our electronics store, get a card and a firewire cable and see what happens. Thanks a bunch for the help heinz-oz!

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:38 am

You are welcome.