Video preview to external monitor not working consistently

mkoenigs wrote on 6/20/2002, 7:53 PM
It worked fine up until a week ago. I can capture video, but preview to external monitor quit working completely.

Setup:
Sony DCR-PC110
Sony Desktop Multimedia PC (can't remember the string of crap for a model). Built-in Firewire
Running Windows XP Professional
256 MB RAM
External Firewire 7200 RPM drives

I completely uninstalled and reinstalled Vegas 3.0 build 76. I've tweaked every combination of machine control, etc. I've even hooked the camera up to a Firewire-equipped laptop and get the same results. I've tried different cables.

I can capture video and control the camera from Vegas. Sometimes Vegas doesn't recognize the camera. I've turned it on and off, etc. but nothing seems to work.

A few minutes ago I managed to get the thing to print to video and then that stopped working too. I've restarted all machines, unplugged and plugged back in too.

What else can I try?

Comments

Tyler.Durden wrote on 6/21/2002, 6:41 AM
Hello,

"I've even hooked the camera up to a Firewire-equipped laptop and get the same results. "

This might indicate a setting in the camera has changed. Is the cam still set for "TV-in Video3" (or the like) to display the incoming digital signal? It may have been changed to do analog "pass-through" to 1394.


HTH, MPH
mkoenigs wrote on 6/21/2002, 10:43 AM
Yes, I've tried every setting and nothing seems to make a difference. Any other thoughts?
Former user wrote on 6/21/2002, 10:46 AM
Check your firewire cable and connection. Wiggle it around a bit. Those cables can break very easily.

Dave T2
mkoenigs wrote on 6/21/2002, 12:57 PM
OK. I'm ahead of you on that. I swapped cables a while ago, have plugged an re-plugged in the device, wiggled the cables, etc. Again, I'm able to capture from the device just fine. When I try to preview or record, the deck goes in record mode but the camera stays in "blue screen" mode. At the bottom of the camera display, I see "A/V->DV". Everything is spinning along just fine.

I'd like to think I have something set incorrectly on the camera, but I've played with every configuration I can think of. Perhaps I have ANOTHER fussy cable? Could it be something as simple and stupid as that (I'd need to go buy a new cable if that's the case!)

Interestingly, today after plugging and re-plugging, I got a message that read "AV/C Device Not Recognized" and started to ask for drivers. Of course it didn't find them. I did a quick search online and found a blurb that read:

Here is the answer. I can't believe I had to do this. Real easy!
-Rename:
-C:\Windows\Inf\msdv.PNF.1 to msdv.PNF
-C:\Windows\Inf\Msdv.inf.f1 to Msdv.inf
-
-Then re-plug in you DV Device. It detects it and recognises it.
-Stupid MS!! Why did I have to do that?

I did that and didn't get the error message, but the camera still won't preview or play back. Again, yesterday it worked for a quick moment and then stopped. I currently have the camera connected to a diferent bus than the hard drives.
jboy wrote on 6/21/2002, 2:01 PM
Doesn't A/V>DV mean you have your pass-thru feature enabled ? If so, disable it, and if you want to use it in the future, be sure to disable "device control" in preferences. Also, you might try upgrading to 3.0b
Tyler.Durden wrote on 6/21/2002, 2:35 PM
Did you happen to install Avid XDV last week?

This usually generates the filename changes.


Regards, MPH
mkoenigs wrote on 6/21/2002, 3:17 PM
> Doesn't A/V>DV mean you have your pass-thru feature enabled ? If so, disable it,
> and if you want to use it in the future, be sure to disable "device control" in
> preferences. Also, you might try upgrading to 3.0b

I'll have to admit to being ignorant about the A/V>DV pass-thru. Do I turn this off on the camera? Where would the setting be? I didn't see anything about this in the documentation, but perhaps I missed it...
mkoenigs wrote on 6/21/2002, 3:25 PM
I did--I heard there was a utility that allows you to switch DV switch settings and thought maybe that would correct the problem I was experiencing. It didn't work.
bdunn wrote on 6/21/2002, 3:45 PM
mkoenigs

Recently purchased a Sony D8 myself.
I'm not sure if your camera has the same settings or not, but....

On the right had side of the camera is a function thumbwheel for
VCR, Off, Camera, Memory. Set it to VCR.
Bring up your Menu, mine has a setting (2nd from top) for VCR Set, select it,
scroll down to A/V>DV Out. Depress the selection switch to select it
and scoll the sub-menu down to 'Off' and select it.
A/V>DV should now be off allowing the computer to pass the signal back thru
your camera to the TV, Monitor or VCR. Select 'Preview On Device' from the
PTT tab in Vegas.

Hope this helps.
Barry
mkoenigs wrote on 6/21/2002, 4:09 PM
Barry,
You're my new best friend. I can't tell you how many times I changed every setting EXCEPT that one.

It's perfect...thanks a ton--here's a big "virtual handshake"!
Mike
bdunn wrote on 6/21/2002, 7:18 PM
Mike
No problem, new to this myself and you might say I've been there, done that.
Pulled out a few hairs before I realized it's set to 'On' for A/V going to DV (PC)
and 'Off' going from the PC to the Cam or through to the VCR.
Glad it worked for you.
Barry