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.