MovieFactory6 won't connect to Sony DV thru firewire - HELP!

[Bob Rasmussen]

Receive "fails to connect to driver" error message when attempting to import video through firewire. Firewire connection works fine, able to import using other applications (ie.. Windows Movie Maker, WinDV, etc..). Used to work fine with VideoStudio4. Installed MovieFactory6, no longer connects. I've tried downloading all latest updates from Sony. Also downloaded all latest patches and updates from Ulead. Any suggestions?

- Windows XP Pro, 2002 SP2
- 120 gb hard drive
- 2.26ghz Pentium processor
- Sony Handycam DCR-TRV120
- MovieFactory6

[sjj1805]

Do you mean that since installing MF6 it no longer connects to any of these programs?

Otherwise the easy option is to capture with one of those programs and then import it into MovieFactory.

[Bob Rasmussen]

After installing MovieFactory6 all other applications (WinDV, Windows MovieMaker, etc...) continue see and connect successfully with the SonyDV Handycam through the firewire connection. Only MovieFactory6 can't seem to make a connection. I've verified the device manager status, downloaded all patches/upgrades from both Ulead and Sony, changed my screen resolution, read all 83 pages of the MovieFactory "DV connect" forum topics, etc... I'm running out of ideas. I did notice in one of the forum topics you posted a reply that you use the Sony Handcam DCR-TRV120 camcorder successfully with MovieFactory so I'm still hopeful that we'll figure this issue out. With regards to using the other applications, my preference is to import DV to MPEG. WinDV and Windows MovieMaker won't do that. I was previously using VideoSuite4 and had no issues making the SonyDV connection. Unfortunately I discarded that CD when I purchased MovieFactory6. Turned out to have been a bad idea. Anyways....thanks for your quick response for this request for assistance. Any further ideas and/or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

[Bob Rasmussen]

Well, I've made some significant progress since my last reply. I increased the hardware accelerator in the display area of the control panel in Windows. Magically MovieFactory6 now connects with my Sony DV Camcorder. However.... now none of my other applications will neither connect to my Sony DV nor will they display any playback of a video file (Windows Media Player, Windows MovieMaker, etc...). Although inconvenient, at least I can use this software now (and by switching the hardware accelerator back and forth I can use all other applications). Anyways, not desirable but at least it works. If you've got any other suggestions of ideas on how to get everything to function on one hardware accelerator setting, that would be great.

[sjj1805]

.....With regards to using the other applications, my preference is to import DV to MPEG. .....

I would advise against doing that for the following reasons.
1. Your DV camcorder records in DV.
2. You use an IEEE1394 firewire / iLink cable to transfer that DV from the camcorder to the computer. What is now on your computer is exactly the same as what is in your camcorder.
3. Once inside the computer you can now convert that DV into MPEG2 for burning onto a DVD Video disc. This takes time to do and dependant upon the pwer of the computer could be between 1.5 and 3 times the duration of the recording.

Attempting to convert the DV into MPEG2 as you transfer it from the camcorder to the computer means the computer is trying to do so in real time (1:1) This will inevitably result in dropped frames because the computer will now be struggling to keep up with the massive flow of data from one device (camcorder) to the other (computer).

should you also decide to edit that video now in your computer, even if it is only the removal of a few unwanted bits, you risk further degrading the quality because much of the original information in the DV file has already been discarded when you converted it to MPEG2.

For further reading please view:
Suggested work flow by SJJ1805 for Video Creation