I have used a Firewire card in one of my computers and I believe there are some drivers that have to be downloaded for Windows 10 to get it to function.I still use Windows 7.

JJK

@AVK ... You mention that you have a new PC with W10. Did you keep your older computer which presumably worked well with Firewire? If you did, it would then seem possible to transfer the MiniDVs to the old computer and then transfer the files to your new computer via an ext HD or whatever else works. On occasion, I've pulled out my old but still working XP computer to transfer video/audio (inc VHS) via my old MiniDV camera to the XP computer just to enable the xfer to digital.

Those adapters are a scam. The reviews bear that out. I don't believe a FW adapter to USB is technically feasible.

I'm using a Syba SY-PEX30016 PCIe card with success on Windows 10 on a new PC connected to a noriously fussy firewire audio interface, though I have not tried it yet with a DV camera.

What was the experience you had?

On my HP Windows 10 machine, that is about 4 years old, with a store bought (Fry's Electronics) FireWire card, Vegas Pro doesn't recognize any attached devices. I would have to stop/start the Capture Video a few times and maybe turn the camcorder on/off a few times, and once in a while it work. The other thing that seem to have helped was starting the capture using HDV or SDI selection. That of course didn't actually read/transfer the tape, but seemed to recognize the camcorder. I would then stop the HDV recording after a few seconds, then start it again but using DV option, and it would work. Super random.

@AVK ... You mention that you have a new PC with W10. Did you keep your older computer which presumably worked well with Firewire? If you did, it would then seem possible to transfer the MiniDVs to the old computer and then transfer the files to your new computer via an ext HD or whatever else works. On occasion, I've pulled out my old but still working XP computer to transfer video/audio (inc VHS) via my old MiniDV camera to the XP computer just to enable the xfer to digital.

@Dexcon see one of my replies to your question of "what old machine I have". I could potentially continue to employ the old machine to do the super inconsistent way of connecting to the camcorder. It's just a royal pain the in rear. I was hoping to find another way that works, without me having to install legacy hardware and drivers into my new and shiny video editing machine. 😀

I used this card on Win 10 PC aok to connect DV camcorder. It’s currently available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VA84E6/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_1

On my HP Windows 10 machine, that is about 4 years old, with a store bought (Fry's Electronics) FireWire card, Vegas Pro doesn't recognize any attached devices.

I looked at that card, that costs a lot more than the very old card I'm able to use since many years also with Windows 10 latest updates. I build that card over and over from my computers since I bought that card in 1999.
It maybe important to use the latest Texas Instruments device drivers of Windows from 2006 , because I saw your fire wire card use also the chip of Texas Instruments. You can controle that in your Device manager and specify there the driverversion of the IEEE 1394 Host Controler's "Texas Instruments 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller"

That it still works in Vegas 16 on Windows 10 I show your here and I'm lucky to have captured those tapes of 2007 very long ago, because its quality is or played on my old device now is very bad with missing sound.

I just now was able to recognize and capture from my old Sony DCR-PC7 using the Vegas Video Capture app through the Syba card in my first post.

The driver looks like this:

I also tried an adapter that let me use the 2nd and 3rd ports using my old 6-to-4 pin cable.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010AEU5PK/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The old legacy driver for W7 needs to located and installed.  I have a copy of the driver & installation info.  Am I permitted to link files to this site?

The old legacy driver for W7 needs to located and installed.  I have a copy of the driver & installation info.  Am I permitted to link files to this site?

Can't answer if you're permitted to link, but I would love to get a copy of the driver with detailed installation instructions. Can you DM them to me? Thanks!

Need to hook up an older W10 machine to get at my downloads cache.  Job for tomorrow.

Found these two sites that may get you on your way.   The driver is quite a small file.

Driver:

Link: https://www.helpjet.net/Fs-26575161-75843699-39973536.html

Instruction's:
Link: https://www.videoproductions.com.au/html/legacy-firewire-driver.html 

Edit: This is the correct msi file. Have just downloaded & it seems clean. 204Kb so OK for email.

Link:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=44219

Would suggest you take a system image before making changes just in case things go wrong.

Best of luck G

Need to hook up an older W10 machine to get at my downloads cache.  Job for tomorrow.

Found these two sites that may get you on your way.   The driver is quite a small file.

Driver:

Link: https://www.helpjet.net/Fs-26575161-75843699-39973536.html

Instruction's:
Link: https://www.videoproductions.com.au/html/legacy-firewire-driver.html 

Edit: This is the correct msi file. Have just downloaded & it seems clean. 204Kb so OK for email.

Link:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=44219

Would suggest you take a system image before making changes just in case things go wrong.

Best of luck G

 

 

 

Thank you. And sounds like I have to find a card with Texas Instruments chip set. Seems like what people are having most luck with.

If you have trouble with VP 'capture' you can always use 'scenalyzer' for DV or 'HDVSplit' for HDV.

Both free downloads and still available.

If you have trouble with VP 'capture' you can always use 'scenalyzer' for DV or 'HDVSplit' for HDV.

Both free downloads and still available.

I've tried other apps. Same problem - they do not find a device that is attached using FireWire.

When the camera is connected.  Can you see it in the device manager?  If not you have no chance. 

If camera recognised you need to set the camera to HDV (assuming you intend capturing HDV). Manually set to either DV or HDV. Best not to leave the camera on auto.

I am having the same problem try to get my minidv Panasonic NV GS 25 to download video to Movie Studio 15. The device is recognized in Device manager, however in the Properties / Events / information I get the message "Device AVC\Panasonic&NV-GS25&CAMCORDER&DV\24C454B180458000 requires further installation"

I have tried to update the driver but am told I have the best driver for this device

To capture MiniDV over FireWire, you use VidCap utility in Vegas, Not Device Explorer.

Hint: Turn Device Control Off.

Maybe more info. than required, but this is what worked for me with my Jvc device ...

Capturing vhs ...

I captured my vhs tapes using the Vegas capture software.

I had an old JVC mini DV recorder that takes line input.

I purchased a PCI-E firewire card for my PC.

I used this card on Win 10 PC aok to connect DV camcorder. It’s currently available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VA84E6/ref=pe_3187911_189395841_TE_dp_1

I connected the vhs player OUT to the JVC DV line IN and the JVC Firewire OUT to the Firewire card IN on the PC. 

To use JVC DV camcorder as pass through... leave mini DV without tape, put in play mode, enable line-in in DV menu and in the Vegas capture software, under options/preferences disable/un-check “Enable DV device control “.

The files saved are a fixed standard DV25 .avi.  Because of going through the electronics of the Mini DV camcorder the result is superior than the poorer digital capture devices.  I’ve done both and used several digital capture devices.

Hey JN_ I have a couple of different JVC Mini DV/VHS/DVD/HDD player/recorders, what model number is yours? I would like to try what you have done.

I have successfully done the above with a JVC SR-DVM700. http://pro.jvc.com/prof/attributes/features.jsp?model_id=MDL101650

Hey JN_ I have a couple of different JVC Mini DV/VHS/DVD/HDD player/recorders, what model number is yours? I would like to try what you have done.

 

My DV camcorder is the JVC-GR-DVP9.

Hey there ryclark

I too have a JVC SR-DVM700 and I am yet to workout how to transfer video and audio files straight from this units DVD and HDD to my PC and or Vegas. Have you been able to do this and if so how as my PC does not recognise its DVD or HDD..

JN_

Thanks for the reply. When you said you had an "old JVC mini DV recorder" I thought you meant a desktop unit not a camera.

@AmazingM Does your PC recognise the DVM 700 at all over Firewire? If not and you are on Win 10 you may have to try and find the old legacy Firewire drivers and install those instead of what Windows offers you.