URGENT: Print To Tape

thegrandchavez wrote on 4/1/2004, 5:28 AM
Hello,

I am currently using Sony Vegas Video 4.0 on a Sony Viao 1.5GHZwith a Sony Mini-DVcam (DCR-HC20 NTSC).

I have re-edited my project and now need to print it to tape. This is the first time I have ever printed ANYTHING to tape. Despite my cam being plugged in via USB and my having turned USB STREAMING to the ON position in my cam, Vegas keeps telling me "Device Not Ready". It will let me try to do this manually... however, it will only record black... no video... no sound...

could someone PLEASE give me some step by step instructions, I am not sure if I have something wrong with 1. Computer, 2. Cam, 3. Vegas. I need to then take the MiniDV and copy it on VHS for a festival submission that is DUE TODAY.

Please! I am an artist, not a technologist! ;) Thanks.

Comments

Randy Brown wrote on 4/1/2004, 5:44 AM
Okay I'll try (sorry Muttley). I would start with the manual but I don't believe you can PTT via USB. Firewire is the way most people do it but if your cam doesn't accept firewire there is a way to come out of your PC via RCA in analogue but I believe you need a special PCI slot card for that too.
Randy
thegrandchavez wrote on 4/1/2004, 5:52 AM
Yes,

but which mode do I have the camera in?

1. Camera mode
or
2. Play/edit mode
mark2929 wrote on 4/1/2004, 5:54 AM
Just done a search On the Camera ! It should have Firewire.. I would try that route Because of Your urgency (Getting to the Festival).. You need a Firewire Lead and connect up to the Firewire Connections. Or SOME People call It i Link.

Good Luck with the Festival.
farss wrote on 4/1/2004, 5:55 AM
Unfrotunately Randy is right, as far as i know there is NO way to PTT via USB. If nothing else I doubt USB 1 is fast enough to handle DV25.

The Vaio MIGHT have a Firewire port, mine certainly does. If that's the case then you need to get a firewire cable from the laptop to the camera and switch it to VCR mode to get it to record to tape.

If that'll work you MAY also be able to use the camera to do a pass through print to VHS. Run the AV cable from the cameraa AV Output to the VHS VCR, disable device control in Vegas and don't have a tape in the camera. You'll need to manually put the VHS VCR into record as well.

You can still PTT to teh DV tape in the camera and then record from that but if you're pressed for time going straight to VHS will save a step. Afterwards still make a DV copy as a backup, making copies from VHS to VHS is not a good idea quality wise.

Hope this helps and good luck.

PS if the laptop doesn't have a firewire port you can buy a PCMCIA one very cheaply, I pick up a no name one in Taiwan for AUD 40, probably could have got one for half that if I'd walked around a bit more too.
mark2929 wrote on 4/1/2004, 6:04 AM
If your recording from the computer Then surely record mode. ON the Camera anyway I think that Vegas takes control and You would set the record from within Vegas.

Try this When TheFirewire or i Link is connected to the Computer

Open Vegas.

Import Your Film Place it on the timeline.

Press the Icon above the Place where your Film Is stored. The Icon has a Camera On it. This will Bring up the Video Capture Screen when Pressed

On this screen In the top right you will see a Tab that says Print to Tape.

Hope This Helps.
thegrandchavez wrote on 4/1/2004, 7:14 AM
Okay- bought the firewire, plugged it in- now it is "prerendering" 47 files (15 minute movie)...

Does it prerender all prior to printing any?

Also- set camera to CAMERA mode and record with lenscap on or set camera to PLAY/EDIT with lenscap on and record? There are 2 record buttons on this camera.
Chienworks wrote on 4/1/2004, 7:22 AM
I would set the camera to the Play/Edit mode and then allow Vegas to control it automatically. There will be a dialog box asking if you wish to use device control or not before the actual printing process starts. Say 'Yes' to this.
andybb wrote on 4/1/2004, 1:22 PM
I am also new to Vegas, but I have found that using the fire wire works just fine, but it doesn't like the USB.
andybb wrote on 4/1/2004, 1:25 PM
With the fire wir working, you shouldn't need to touch the camera.
Caruso wrote on 4/1/2004, 1:52 PM
I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that this isn't some April Fools joke.

Your Sony cam certainly will have a DV in/output. Sounds as if you have already found the firewire cord - one end should fit your computer's firewire port, the other is a sort of bow tie shaped plug that fits the cam's DV in/out port.

As suggested earlier in the thread, once you have everything plugged in, just set your cam to VTR (playback) mode. Again, as suggested, open Vegas (can be your project or a blank timeline, doesn't matter). Click on the little camcorder icon at lower left to get into the Vegas Video Capture program (vidcap). Click on Options and then Preferences and make certain "enable device control" is checked.

Then, after navigating back to to Vidcap's main window, click on the folder icon - upper right of screen - to explore/navigate to the folder where the file you want to PTT resides. Double click this file so that it appears in the box below the folder icon.

Again, at lower left, click the icon for "print to tape". If the cam and Vegas are communicating, Vegas will automatically put your cam in record mode (doesn't matter if the lens cap is on or off) and keep it there until the file has printed, then, will turn it off.

That's all there is to it.

If you want, you can hook your cam via its S-video or Composite video output jack to a VHS or SVHS record deck - you also need to connect the analog audio outputs. You can simultaneously print to your cam and the VHS/SVHS deck at the same time.

Some cams will pass the signal onto the vhs/svhs deck even when you don't have a minidv tape in the cam. That's what is meant by pass through - it allows you to skip making the dv tape and just make the vhs/svhs tape.

Hope you were serious, and, if so, hope this helps.

Caruso