Software does not detect my Sony DCR-PC100 camcorder

[maillemaker]

Hi.

I inherited an old DCR-PC100 Sony digital camcorder. It supports firewire (Sony calls it i-link).

I purchased an Adesso 2-port PCI 1394b Firewire Card. It came with Corel VideoStudio Essentials x4.

The card has installed and I can see it in my list of hardware under System.

I have attached my Firewire cable from the card to the camcorder, and the camcorder is on and running on DC power through the power brick.

When I run the Corel VideoStudio Essentials x4 software, and go to the Capture step, it detects my 2 webcams but does not show my camcorder. There is also a choice for "Digital TV Source" or "HDV Source" but if I choose those there is a pause and it switches back to my webcam.

Here is a screenshot of my choices:
http://i.imgur.com/L70164n.jpg

Any ideas?

[BrianCee]

hello,

just checking the basics before we get in to deep - have you switched the camcorder to 'VTR' mode

[Ken Berry]

And with some Firewire camcorders, the order in which things on can sometimes be important. If you have tried turning on the camera with VS Essentials already open, then try turning on the camera *before* you open VS Essentials.

You might also want to try a small freeware program called WinDV for capturing: www.windv.mourek.cz If that does not work, then there is something physically wrong with either the iLink connection in the camcorder, the cable or the Firewire card/computer interface.

One of the advantages of WinDV, by the way, is that you can assign your own name to the captured files rather than using the rather arcane Video Studio naming system... But once captured, you can then simply open the captured DV/AVI files in Essentials for editing.

[maillemaker]

Thank you for your replies.

Yes, the camcorder is on and is in VTR mode.

I tried turn it on and then the software, and vice versa. I also tried booting the computer with it on and plugged in.

The cable I bought from Best Buy. It appears to have 9 contacts on the IEEE1394b side, and 4 contacts on the side that plugs into the camcorder. The Mac representative at the store said that this would be the correct cable?

The IEEE1934 card is an Adesso 2-port PCI card. I bought it new for this project. It shows up under devices.

Pictures of the cable, camera, and firewire card box here:
http://imgur.com/a/cVtSs

[maillemaker]

I tried the WinDV program, but the only camera it sees is my Microsoft VX-3000 webcam. Interestingly it only lists one of them (I have 2 installed).

Steve

[lata]

Hi Steve

After connecting the camcorder via firewire the PC Device Manager should recognise the connection and display details of the camera in Imaging Devices, view the image below
You must see your camera details before you can capture with any program.

click image for larger view

If you do not see these details, there have been some issues for some users which requires updating the driver, view this information.

Hope this Helps

[maillemaker]

My camcorder does not show up under imaging devices:




I will try the driver update.

Steve

[maillemaker]

No dice on going back to the legacy driver:



Interestingly in the camera viewfinder it says DV IN when plugged into the firewire cable. So the camera seems to know it's plugged int.

Steve

[lata]

Hi Steve

When I connect and turn on my camera, whatever settings the camera has the pc refreshes the device manager to show the camera. In addition the computer AutoPlay window is activated.
If you do not see this then the problem is with either the camera, connections or drivers.
Do you have another camera you can try?

Re-install the card.
Remove the firewire card re-boot the pc. Then shut down.
Install the card again, if available use another slot.