FireWire compatability

AVK wrote on 11/20/2018, 10:56 PM

I added a FireWire card to my Dell so that I can connect my old camcorders and encode hundreds of MiniDV tapes. Vegas Pro 15 and 16 have trouble connecting to the camcorders. Doing some digging around I see that it might be a Windows 10 issue.

Whatever the case is, I still have hundreds of MiniDV tapes that I need to digitize. Can anyone suggest a solution for this? I would even be willing to invest in an inexpensive device (non-camcorder) that accepts MiniDV tapes for the purpose of digitizing them? Maybe HDMI or USB connection? Bonus if it can digitize VHS tapes.

Comments

klt wrote on 11/20/2018, 11:53 PM

I guess you need the legacy driver, but before going for it, try disable transport controls.

Does it help?

Of course you will have to press play button on the device before start capturing, and there will be no auto rewind at the end of tape, but still you'll able to capture.

There's a way to install the legacy drivers in case you really need it:

https://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/Firewire-1.htm

Last time I had firewire it was with Windows 7, so the methods for the newer versions did not test personally. The Windows 7 method worked...

Peter_P wrote on 11/21/2018, 3:32 AM

Doing some digging around I see that it might be a Windows 10 issue.

@AVK

I recently had to read some DV-tapes and used the old ScenalyzerLive as years ago, now running Windows 10. It is now free of charge.

I did not install any special drivers.

Richard Jones wrote on 11/21/2018, 3:43 AM

Do you have a Firewire Plug on the camera? If so it might be a connection problem as the Firewire cables themselves as well as the two connections and that in the camera can be very sensitive and vulnerable to damage. Can you see if pt helps to useanother cable and/or another camera with a suitable connection?

Richard

walter-i. wrote on 11/21/2018, 3:49 AM

Do you have a Firewire Plug on the camera? If so it might be a connection problem as the Firewire cables themselves as well as the two connections and that in the camera can be very sensitive and vulnerable to damage. Can you see if pt helps to useanother cable and/or another camera with a suitable connection?

Richard

Yes, I totally agree - "cable connections" - that was the never ending story in my - and my friends - Firewire-times.
And don't forget - to try newstart the PC after connecting - that often helped too.