Canon ZR960 MiniDV not detected over FireWire on Windows 10 — ADVC-110 work

[tmangia]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to capture MiniDV tapes from a Canon ZR960 using ScenalyzerLive on a Windows 10 64-bit PC, but the camera is not detected.

My setup:

Canon ZR960 MiniDV camcorder
FireWire/IEEE 1394 connection
PCIe FireWire card with a Texas Instruments 1394 OHCI controller
Windows 10 64-bit
ScenalyzerLive
FireWire cable: 4-pin (camcorder) to 6-pin (PC)
Camera powered by its AC adapter and set to PLAY/VCR mode

What I have tested:

The FireWire card itself is working: my Canopus ADVC-110 is correctly detected by Windows on the same PC and FireWire card.

The Canon, however, is not detected.

When I connect the FireWire cable to the Canon, the camera's LCD displays "DV-IN", so the camera appears to detect something on the DV port.

In Windows Device Manager:

The Texas Instruments 1394 controller is detected correctly.
An "AV/C Tape Recorder/Player" entry exists under Imaging Devices, but it is greyed out.
Its status is Code 45: "Currently, this hardware device is not connected to the computer."
Windows does not detect the Canon when I connect it.
ScenalyzerLive therefore does not see the camera either.

I also installed the 1394 OHCI Legacy driver and switched the FireWire controller to:

1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)

I rebooted the PC and tested the Canon again, but the AV/C Tape Recorder/Player remains greyed out and the camera is still not detected.

I have not yet tested another 4-pin FireWire cable or another MiniDV camcorder, so I cannot completely rule out the cable or the Canon's DV port.

My question:

Given that the ADVC-110 works correctly on the same PC, FireWire card and driver, while the Canon ZR960 is not enumerated at all, what would be the most likely cause?

Could the DV/IEEE 1394 port on the Canon ZR960 be faulty, even though the camera displays "DV-IN" when the cable is connected?

Or is there another Windows/FireWire setting or diagnostic procedure I should try before assuming the camera's DV port is defective?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[dellsam34]

Do you have other camera devices and/or OBS installed? If so, delete those drivers/software and try again.

[Alwyn]

Hmmm...

The "DV-IN" indicates the camera is in Receive mode, which is not what you want.

Try going into Play mode and playing a tape. That should force an outbound signal to the PC.

[The_Doman]

I’m trying to capture MiniDV tapes from a Canon ZR960 using ScenalyzerLive on a Windows 10 64-bit PC, but the camera is not detected.

When I connect the FireWire cable to the Canon, the camera's LCD displays "DV-IN", so the camera appears to detect something on the DV port.
Could the DV/IEEE 1394 port on the Canon ZR960 be faulty, even though the camera displays "DV-IN" when the cable is connected?

Do you get any (audible) response from the PC/Device manager when you turn the camera ON/OFF while connected?
It should then play the device connected or disconnected sound.
If there is no device/response at all, it is quite possible that the FireWire part or chip is damaged.
I always warn people against the so called "hot-plugging" when using Firewire.

miniDV camcorder file transfer issue

And be careful when connecting firewire devices to a PC.
Specially the firewire with Sony camcorders are prone to get damaged when connected to a working PC.
Best to connect everything when powered off.

Google: Firewire Hotplugging

[VWestlife]

The "DV-IN" indicates the camera is in Receive mode, which is not what you want.

MiniDV camcorders always show "DV-IN" on their display when connected to any other device via FireWire. The connection is bidirectional, so they will automatically switch to output mode when you begin playing a tape. You can check it even without a tape by using a live camera feed, which the camcorder will output via the DV port.

[VWestlife]

I always warn people against the so called "hot-plugging" when using Firewire.

The risk of damage is physical, not electronic -- no power is supplied via a 4-pin FireWire connection. A lot of aftermarket FireWire cables are excessively stiff and heavy and put a lot of strain on the tiny 4-pin DV port, and can cause the solder pads to rip off the circuit board inside the camcorder. Sony's official "i.Link" DV cable is thin and light, and that's actually what works best, and saves your camcorder's DV port from wear and tear.

[lollo]

The risk of damage is physical, not electronic

Sony's official "i.Link" DV cable is thin and light, and that's actually what works best, and saves your camcorder's DV port from wear and tear.

Confirmed.

My old loved Sony's official "i.Link" DV cable, used to death without any problem:

[tmangia]

Never heard about this cable. Will give it a search for it.
I don't have any other camera devices installed, just the driver that works my advc.
It doesn't get any sound when plugging my camera on PC, it's just like it doesn't exist.

[lollo]

Never heard about this cable. Will give it a search for it.

Wait, that cable is out of production since decades, and your problem is probably not related to a cable. Mine was just a side-comment

[dellsam34]

I would put a tape in playback and reboot the computer, if still doesn't show up, it's either a driver issue or a faulty camcorder port/chip. Alternatively try WinDV.

[tmangia]

I would put a tape in playback and reboot the computer, if still doesn't show up, it's either a driver issue or a faulty camcorder port/chip. Alternatively try WinDV.

I've already did that. I'm thinking about remove the drivers used for capture and reinstall it again

[Alwyn]

The risk of damage is physical, not electronic -- no power is supplied via a 4-pin FireWire connection.

The problem is if you happen to put the 6-pin plug in upside down in the PC, which apparently can be done if you try hard (or it is worn). Then you can fry your camera.

[Alwyn]

There are no user-installable drivers for capture. The only driver for Firewire is the Windows driver for the Firewire card you have (for Win 10 and 11, the default or the legacy). You could "uninstall" the card, then reboot your PC so that it installs again. In my view, Texas Instruments cards are not as reliable as VIA cards with 64bit Win 10 and 11. The 690 might be a bit more finnicky than the 110 on your TI card.

[tmangia]

Update:

I did some additional testing.

The Texas Instruments FireWire controller is working correctly: the ADVC-110 is recognized when connected directly to it.

However, the Canon ZR960 is still not detected by Windows when connected directly to the Texas Instruments controller.

I tested two different FireWire cables:

* 6-pin PC → 4-pin Canon
* 4-pin PC → 4-pin Canon

Neither one resulted in the Canon being detected.

The camera is in PLAY/VCR mode, with a MiniDV tape inserted and actually playing.

I also completely uninstalled the FireWire-related drivers, shut down the PC, restarted it, and allowed Windows to reinstall the drivers automatically. There was no change.

ScenalyzerLive now reports:

> "Error: cc: Can't connect to capture driver - disconnect and reconnect firewire of camera/vcr!: 137"

WinDV also does not detect the camera.

There is an interesting behavior when connecting the Canon to the ADVC-110:

Canon ZR960 → FireWire 4-pin → ADVC-110 → FireWire → PC

When I select DIGITAL IN on the ADVC-110, the Canon intermittently displays "DV-IN". ScenalyzerLive then hangs while initializing the drivers, and neither ScenalyzerLive nor WinDV receives any video. Windows also does not play the usual device-connection sound.

When the ADVC-110 is disconnected and the Canon is connected directly to the PC, the DV-IN message disappears, but the Canon is still not detected.

I also noticed that Windows Driver Foundation (WUDFHost.exe) was using around 40% CPU while ScenalyzerLive was stuck at "Initializing the Drivers".

At this point, I'm starting to suspect a problem with the Canon's IEEE 1394/DV interface itself.

Unfortunately, I don't have another FireWire-equipped camera or computer available for comparison.

Does anyone have any suggestions for further diagnostics to determine whether the ZR960's DV OUT/IEEE 1394 interface is actually functioning?

[dellsam34]

Every finger is pointing to the camera being faulty, You just have to get another one and move on, DV camcorders are not that expensive in most countries, Not sure about Brazil, You can have someone import it for you if you don't want to deal with international shipping.

[tmangia]

Every finger is pointing to the camera being faulty, You just have to get another one and move on, DV camcorders are not that expensive in most countries, Not sure about Brazil, You can have someone import it for you if you don't want to deal with international shipping.

Just contacted the seller. He said he has more 9 cameras. The problem isn't about the price, it is hard to find it nowadays. Let's hope that the next one works.

[Alwyn]

My understanding is the ADVCs do not do DV passthrough.

You could connect camcorder DV to ADVC then ADVC Composite to your TV. That will confirm DV output (or not) from your camcorder.

[pchan]

If this MiniDV is what you have, then you need a FireWire / DV Terminal: IEEE 1394 (4-pin). The DV port is at the 3-minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jTEnqglF8Q&t=185s

Example of 4-pin firewire cable and PCIE firewire card.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msq6y4Zc2Kc

Hint: Sometimes name cannot give a full picture. As for cables, pictures that show clearly both ends are the best.

[tmangia]

If this MiniDV is what you have, then you need a FireWire / DV Terminal: IEEE 1394 (4-pin). The DV port is at the 3-minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jTEnqglF8Q&t=185s

Example of 4-pin firewire cable and PCIE firewire card.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Msq6y4Zc2Kc

Hint: Sometimes name cannot give a full picture. As for cables, pictures that show clearly both ends are the best.

I do also have this cable shown on the second video. Windows not recognizing it.
I've had a conversation with the seller and will return it and he'll send me another one to test.

[tmangia]

Are there any other firewire cards more suitable for recognizing miniDV camcorders than Texas Instruments?

[pchan]

Sorry, play mode has already been mentioned. If other devices already able to communicate with the firewire card, then it should be OK. There are other firewire cards that make use of VIA chipset.

[Alwyn]

Did you connect your cam to the ADVC then to the TV to check that the cam is outputting DV (as per my suggestion in post #17)?

The seller shouldn't be putting out stuff that doesn't work. Tell him to verify the cam works ie has correct DV output before he sends it. If he doesn't/can't do that, run a mile, you're just getting a flipper who's "passing thru" potential junk.

VIA chipset Firewire card that works with Win 10/11:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q2G79QG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

[aheatherly]

Your DV port is probably dead, but you can still capture the tapes. Just connect the Canon’s AV out to the ADVC-110 with a composite cable. You’ll lose device control and need to press play manually, but the quality should be close. No need to change FireWire cards since your ADVC-110 is already working with the TI chipset.

[dellsam34]

No, the quality will not be close, especially through composite.

[pchan]

Spray the DV port with electrical contact cleaner (not WD40). The copper contacts may be corroded.