Can we record TV to camcorder

[sam9s]

Hi All,

I have heared that we can record TV channls to a camcorder, I searched the forums but I only found certain threads which discuess recording from a VCR. My handycamm is Sony D8 DCR-TRV285E PAL. I searched the maual as well, it also gives a method to record through VCR but that too using an iLink (Firewire). Strange that VCR comes with iLink as well. Nee way the only communication links my handycamm have are the A/V out, the IEEE Firewire and USB, there is no A/V in, does that mean I cannot recore TV using normal A/V cable. Is there a solution. Kindly guide. Thanks in advance.

[Bjs]

I think it is "you heard too late" ...

Earlier models could .

From memory , the story went that the manufacture's changed the design of the units to prevent the unauthorised copying from certain devices , such as vcr's , dvd player's in order to circumnavigate the copy protection systems employed ... and to protect themselve's from law suites from third parties later .

The intention was that you record with the device , and connect it to your vcr / tv , and play the recording from the device , and record it to vhs ... allowing you to use the tape's once again ... so the previous function was dumped for very specific reason's .

[ZAPPER]

http://au.shopping.com/xPF-Sony-Sony-DCRTRV285

According to this link the A/V jack and cable are for output.

I would check the cam to see if this A/V jack does input as well, this was the case with older cams. Look for possible setting options in the menu onboard, it is possible that these options will not appear until the cam is connected in such a fashion that would allow such input.


I am not an expert and could not find much info about your cam on the web (terrible at searches) It seems that cams are being manufactured that do not allow the function that you want, I feel that this is a step backwards and I feel for you. I did see in the FAQ section deeper into the link that you provided, that there was an explaination of the Analog to digital conversion process of sort, and this gives me a shread of hope.

If in fact your cam does not do what you want, take it back and get a refund or exchange it for one that does what you want, even if you have to pony up a few more bucks.

I bought my cam a few years ago, so I have not really been looking at the newer cams, it does piss me off that they would disable such a useful tool. Yes there is the possibility that this feature could be used for illeagle things, but there are also innocent uses for it too.

Good luck and keep us posted

[redwudz]

When you say 'record TV' I also assume you don't mean directly from the TV RF signal, as that would require a TV tuner and I don't know of any camcorder that would have that feature.

And, as mentioned, manufacturers seem to be making fewer camcorders that have video/audio passthrough that would allow you to convert analog video and audio from a cable box or VCR to DV. I use a Canopus unit for that, but camcorders that have passthrough seemed to work as well for analog video in to DV video out.

[ZAPPER]

redwudz brings up a good point. I assumed that you did mean using A/V out from the back of a VCR/Tuner or a TV that has A/V out. I have two TVs that have built in VCRs and they each have the standard A/V out RCA jacks. I don't have any modern TVs so I don't know if TVs without VCRs would have the A/V out RCA jacks.

I typically record/pass thru from the back of the VCR with the RCA jacks and use the jacks on the back of the TV to output to extra monitors (Different story) At any rate the cable that came with my cam has three RCA jacks (red, yellow and white) on one end and an eigth inch jack on the other. This Analog A/V cable is the one that I plug into the A/V jack on the cam and it works in either direction depending on what is on the RCA jack end of the cable. It is my understanding that the jack on the cam was not always labled as "in" or "out" only or as "IN/OUT" but it usually as just "A/V" or "Audio-Video" (my Sony, by the way has a yellow ring around this jack) In the old days, this jack was bi-directional. Now it seems that the function is being disabled on some cams. If after trying this approach your cam does not do what you want, I encourage you to return your cam and seek out one that does what you want it to do.

I have heard of this problem a few times now, and it always seems to be with the PAL type cams although I am sure it has spread to this side of the pond as well by now.

I fear a few things are happening here. They don't want to make a product that can be used to break the law and face law suits. They are part of a company that has alot of money tied up in the movies that they don't want to see get pirated and are looking out for them selves. And the old analog ways are just that, "old technology" and support for it is waining or being forced obsolete.

Personally I think it is bad bussiness, people want all of the bells and whistles that are available wether they use them or not.

[sam9s]

Yes my TV does have the AV out (for RCA 3-in-1 cable) and an AV in as well, but my handy camm has only one A/V point and is clearly labeled A/V out so it does seem that they removed the option of accepting the AV signals, how ever still I did try but no success. Ironically if it were a matter of unauthorised copying why provide an option of copying through VCR using iLink, making a copy of a VHS tape sounds more illegit than making a copy of a TV programm..........probably they wanted to bann out other sources as DVD players as well.

BTW what is a pass through, can that be done because I did see a point in the FAQ for my camm. Have a look...

The camera's onboard analogue-to-digital converter lets you line-in all your older Hi8 and VHS recordings and transforms them into digital copies. This useful feature protects your older recording by preserving it on non-degrading digital format. It even opens up a whole new library of resources for non-linear video-editing on your PC or digital workstation. Alternatively, the Digital Handycams can act as the bridge between analogue sources and your i.LINK equipped computer. The analogue-to-digital converter changes your analogue line-in video source into a digital data stream output from its IEEE 1394 terminal.

Any hope.....

[edDV]

Hi All,

I have heared that we can record TV channls to a camcorder, I searched the forums but I only found certain threads which discuess recording from a VCR. My handycamm is Sony D8 DCR-TRV285E PAL. I searched the maual as well, it also gives a method to record through VCR but that too using an iLink (Firewire). Strange that VCR comes with iLink as well. Nee way the only communication links my handycamm have are the A/V out, the IEEE Firewire and USB, there is no A/V in, does that mean I cannot recore TV using normal A/V cable. Is there a solution. Kindly guide. Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure of India, many PAL Euro D8 and MiniDV camcorders had the analog inputs removed over audio recording tax issues. Most NTSC models allowed A/V input recording and many included pass-through to DV format over IEEE-1394 until recently where these features are now only found in upper range models.

If you do have A/V inputs and pass-through, the camcorder makes a very high quality video + uncompressed PCM audio recording option. If you record to tape, you are limited to 60-90min. If you record to hard drive over IEEE-1394, you are only limited by hard disc capacity @13.5GB/hr.

[redwudz]

That FAQ may cover several models and not specifically yours. Your camcorder owners manual or one downloaded from Sony should be more specific about input/output capabilities. If you didn't see a A/V input, you likely don't have one.

Basically, your quoted text discusses what I would call a 'passthrough' connection. It uses the analog to digital converter within the camera to convert the incoming signal from a VCR or other source to a digital DV format that transfers directly to the computer.

They probably eliminated the feature because of legal problems and to save money, and even to keep someone from inputing a signal that might damage the camera.

[The_Doman]

BTW what is a pass through, can that be done because I did see a point in the FAQ for my camm. Have a look...

This is how I use the analog-in of my Sony D8-TRV120 (European PAL).
It came with the DV-in disabled but analog-in was working without modification, even directly through the firewire in the PC.

When you set in it VTR mode and the the firewire/DV cable is connected to the pc the camcorder goes in DV-out mode and the analog A/V outputs are switched to inputs.
The picture of the analog source then will appear on the camcorder LCD and on the connected Firewire/DV viewing/capturing program.

When DV-in is enabled on your camcorder and it has analog in capabilities there should be a extra menu option to switch between DV-in and Analog-in.
Those functions can't work at the same time.

This is from my Sony D8-TRV120 after enabling the DV-in option.


Some more about this subject here:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t288705.html

[sam9s]

Damn!! so I dont even have a pass through option, but the quoted text was under my camm model FAQ's.

[sam9s]

BTW what is a pass through, can that be done because I did see a point in the FAQ for my camm. Have a look...

This is how I use the analog-in of my Sony D8-TRV120 (European PAL).
It came with the DV-in disabled but analog-in was working without modification, even directly through the firewire in the PC.

When you set in it VTR mode and the the firewire/DV cable is connected to the pc the camcorder goes in DV-out mode and the analog A/V outputs are switched to inputs.
The picture of the analog source then will appear on the camcorder LCD and on the connected Firewire/DV viewing/capturing program.

When DV-in is enabled on your camcorder and it has analog in capabilities there should be a extra menu option to switch between DV-in and Analog-in.
Those functions can't work at the same time.

This is from my Sony D8-TRV120 after enabling the DV-in option.


Some more about this subject here:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t288705.html

Very Thanks doman for such a detail help, the moment I saw your post I ran to get my camara, but alas there is no such option as "VTR SET" in the menu looked all over. There is a "VCR SET" with 2 options Audio mix and Hifi sound, thats it.Damn Damn Damn, m dissappointed.

[The_Doman]

Very Thanks doman for such a detail help, the moment I saw your post I ran to get my camara, but alas there is no such option as "VTR SET" in the menu looked all over. There is a "VCR SET" with 2 options Audio mix and Hifi sound, thats it.Damn Damn Damn, m dissappointed.

At my camcorder you only see that function in the menu when you switch to VTR mode using the the ON/OFF switch. you set the camera to "Camera mode" for filming or so called "VTR-VCR" mode to playback your recordings from tape.

There SHOULD be a possibility to switch it to VTR playback mode!
(could be they named it differently)

[edDV]

This is what happens when tax policy meets consumer technology. Somebody takes a meat axe to the product to avoid paying the tax. Seldom do these mods get consumer testing because it isn't about the consumer's wishes.

[sam9s]

At my camcorder you only see that function in the menu when you switch to VTR mode using the the ON/OFF switch. you set the camera to "Camera mode" for filming or so called "VTR-VCR" mode to playback your recordings from tape.

There SHOULD be a possibility to switch it to VTR playback mode!
(could be they named it differently)

Nope the VCR SET option is only in the playback mode and it has nothing except Audio mix and Hifi sound. My bad luck, I guess I have to look for other options. Is there any hardware that can act as the "passthrough thingi". I cant buy a VCR, just for that, I already have a sexy DVD player...

[ZAPPER]

@ sam9s

I know it may seem extreme, but if you still have the option of returning your cam and up grading I would venture to guess that you would be happier. The problem may be that there are no more PAL cams that can do what we are talking about due to newer laws.

Yes there are analog to digital conversion boxes that work in both directions even (I think that they wotk in both directions anyways, I don't have one , but I do want one)

Tough call though, I dont know if I would rather have a cam that did it all or a cam and a conversion box if the money came out to the same amount.