I am not sure about this, but I vaguely remember something about having to go to a menu item and turning ON the DV Output on a few Sony camcorders. Hope I don't send you on a wild goose chase.

For some Sony cameras, with "real-time pass-through" from analog input to firewire out, you have to enable that feature in a menu, if you are doing real-time transcoding to firewire. The TRV900, which is an earlier model, does not have that feature so that is not the issue in this case. The TRV900 "should" just work if you are doing regular MiniDV playback through firewire, and I don't know why it doesn't.

-john beale
www.bealecorner.com

Hi John,

I have the same set up as you. No problems on either capture or output back to tape. Didn't need any additional drivers. Do check the dv editing settings on your 900 to make sure they are set correctly.

jbeale,

I am able to pass analog through my TRV900's firewire output. It appears in your message that this is not possible.

Do you mean real-time analog in and firewire out without recording to tape first? (not firewire in and analog out, which certainly is possible).

All I can say is I am very surprised, if so. This was not possible on my own stock TRV900, or from anyone I heard from over the past four years of running my TRV900 website bealecorner.com. It is true that some users did report a "hack" to enable the feature but it was not a standard menu option: http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/rm95.html#transcoding

I am only able to do a passthru after applying the "hack" by using the sony remote control and resetting the camera's cmos temporarily. I think that this is the rule vs. the exception here.

dave

Please - what is a "hack" ?

Hi John,

I am indeed able to run analog into my stock TRV900 and out by firewire, without recording to tape first.

I'd done this regularly to transcode unstable VHS, when capturing into a Casablanca. Haven't tried it yet with Vegas, but will give it a try and report results.

A "hack" is the changing of fundamental internal codes that are normally not changable by the user. The "hack" is something outside the scope of the menus and other setting that a user is expected to want to do.

Many camcorders, including many Sony units, allow things that are not even mentioned in the manuals, such as zebra stripping. Sony likes to tell everyone that if the user "hacks" or breaks into the system and changes something which damages the system that the user has voided the warranty. So, be careful with "hacks." Make sure the change is temporary, or that you can change it back before you attempt a "hack."

Dave Summersond,

I have the RM-95 remote and am trying to figure out how to use it to program my TRV900 for passthrough. The Beale site (http://www.bealecorner.com/trv900/rm95.html) reports:

1) Connect the RM-95 to the LANC terminal.
2) Set the HOLD switch of the RM-95 to "HOLD" (SERVICE position). If it has been properly connected, the LCD on the RM95 will display: 0: 00: 00


That has not been my experience. When I connect the RM-95 and switch to the HOLD position the display does not change to all zeroes. Rather, the display remains as a tape counter instead.

Can you offer any assistance in helping my get me RM-95 to work with my TRV900?

Any help, online or offline, is appreciated.

Mike McCarthy
mgmccarthy@cinci.rr.com

If the 900 is like the D8 series in this respect, most European ones have the passthru disabled, due to some sort of tax on VCRs, and this effectively makes the cam count as a VCR. The hack re-enables this.

American models can do this right out of the box. So if the 900 is the same in this respect, there ya go.

I sometimes have trouble getting a connection on my trv900 firewire input. I ofternhave to plug in and un plug the firewire cable several times on the camera end to get a connection.

I think my cameras connector is sort of marginal...maybe "worn down" a bit. I've switched out cables too and still seem to have a problem. On the other hand, my PD150 hooks up just great...never any problems....so I think if your case is similar to mine, you might try getting the firewire cable connector into the trv900 several times. If you do this with the Vegas capture window open, you should at least see a temporary connection then disconnection if the cable ever makes the link to the computer.

Phil

ps My trv900 has been in the shop since April of this year. The place I took it too in Austin, TX is having some troubles....they have lost their Sony authorized service status. They now tell me I need new heads and drum assembly and it's going to cost me close to $400. Does anyone know if I send the camera in to Sony to fix it...will the $270 Sony charges for trv900 workover include heads and a drum if necessary?

Mgmccarthy, I will look tonight to see what the instructions are to change the codes in the camera. I have done this several times with no problems. Be aware, though, that if done improperly, you could render the camera useless! I am able to pass firewire directly thru to analog with no problem, but going the other way, I have to make the changes with the RM-95. I will let you know when I get my hands on the info.

dave