New Sony HDR-HC1 Not Connecting

Jim H wrote on 2/21/2006, 7:42 PM
Hello,
Well I've got a new toy and had it out to an indoor track meet tonight for the first time. Must say that it's smaller than I expected. Also note that it's a bit nose heavy and gave my arm a cramp. Not enough time to really judge it and I have not looked at the footage.

Problem I'm having now is that when I connect via firewire, the device is detected but when I go to capture in Vegas 6d I get this message:
"The device 'Microsoft AV/C Tape Subunit Device' could not be opened.
Please make sure that it is turned on and is not being used by another application or user."

I followed the manual's instructions and set [VCR HDV/DV] to HDV and [iLINK CONV] to OFF

Anyone have any experience with this problem?
I hope I don't wear out my welcome, but I'm thinking I'll have more questions once I get past this!

Thanks all.

Comments

jrazz wrote on 2/21/2006, 8:07 PM
I sometimes get a similar message or the capture option that should show my HVR-A1U is not showing up or greyed out. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't (that was in Vegas 6c and I have not tried 6d). Make sure you are using the internal capture application and not the external capture app.

What I do is use HDV Split- it is a free download and recognizes scene splits. Give it a try. Just do a search for it. Make sure it supports your camera (even if it doesn't, you can try and it just might).

j razz
Jim H wrote on 2/21/2006, 9:07 PM
I tried converting to SD in camera by selecting HDV as the format on the tape, and SD as the output format and it worked fine. This leaves me to believe that Vegas is seeing the camera fine, just not seeing the HDV format. Do I have to have the Project set up for HDV first? Can't think of anything.... :(

Looks great in SD though.
jrazz wrote on 2/21/2006, 9:28 PM
Make sure you are using the internal capture and not the seperate capture application that is with Sony Vegas. (Hint: it will show up as a tab on the bottom of the User Interface when you select capture from the file menu and select the second option for HDV).

j razz
navydoc wrote on 2/22/2006, 3:51 AM
This may be stating the obvious but to switch from external to internal capture the path is (v6c):

From the toolbar>Options>Preferences>video tab>uncheck the box that says "Use external video capture application"

Use external capture for SD and internal capture for HDV.

Doc
ForumAdmin wrote on 2/22/2006, 6:43 AM
When the camera is set to HDV mode, and plugged into your computer using a 1394 cable, is Windows detecting it?

easy way to check: Open control panel/device manager, turn camera power off/off. Does the driver show up in device manager?
Jim H wrote on 2/22/2006, 6:00 PM
Hi Guys, thanks for the tips. I switched to the internal capture program and the HDV signal was received fine. For some reason the play controls were not working at first. Not sure what I changed that fixed that. Captured the same race I edited in SD last night and inserted it into the project. Realized I needed to change the project size to HD. Tried full 1440x1080 and WOW... I was reminded that my flat panels are maxed out at 1280x1024 (now I understand why you guys all have external preview monitors).

I'm rendering the clip now at a project size of HD 1280x720. This isn't the same aspect ratio as the origial footage...why is that? It looks OK in the preview as it's rendering. I unchecked letterbox...maybe I shouldn't have?

I also now understand the comments about how unforgiving HD is. This shot was indoors in poor light and obsticals inside the track kept messing with the autofucus...looks like doo doo.... but in HD!

I'm happy so far considering this was the first time out with the camera and I did not read anything...just point and shoot with full auto.

What project settings are best suited to showing off HD when the primary output will be distributed via computer or shown on computer projectors?

JH
Jim H wrote on 2/22/2006, 7:02 PM
Here's a sample clip from my first outing with the new Sony HD-HC1 high def video camera. No reading, just auto everything point and shoot under low light. This file is rendered at 1280x720 60i (square pixel). The original footage is 1440x1080 60i so I guess it's a tad squished in the horizontal.
Problem is the full 1440x1080 won't fit on most people's monitors. Mine top out at 1280x1024 so to get the full HD I'd need to have an HD monitor at my PC or play the file through my camera upstairs on the big Sony (which I have not tried yet) I'll save that for when I get some nice outdoor shots.

http://www.wakelydam.com/Video/4x200.HD1280x720.wmv

Amazingly this file is only a meg or so larger than the 720x480 version I uploaded last night. I don't understand how or why?

http://www.wakelydam.com/Video/4x200.wmv