Regarding to the IEEE-1394 or S-Video connection from DV to DVD recorder

[coody]

I want to copy the Mini DV picture onto a DVD disc by connecting to a DVD recorder. However, the IEEE-1394 connection loses date stamp; the S-Video has only picture but no sound. The AV connection can obtain both of the date stamp and sound but the picture quality is not good as the IEEE-1394 or S-Video connection is. Do you know how to connect the Mini DV to the DVD recorder through the IEEE-1394 or S-Video connection without loss of the date stamp and sound? Both of the DV camera and DVD recorder have IEEE-1394, S-Video and AV input/output terminals. Thank you for your answer.

[bobkart]

the S-Video has only picture but no sound.

That's because you left off the White/Red RCA connection. That's where the sound comes from, just like with a Composite Video connection (what you're calling "AV").

[coody]

That's because you left off the White/Red RCA connection. That's where the sound comes from, just like with a Composite Video connection (what you're calling "AV").

Before recording, you must need to select the source, DV, AV or S-Video from the DVD recorder. After you have selected the S-Video, does connecting the AV white and red lines still have effect on the sound? Does anyone have experience in connecting the DV to DVD recorder with the IEEE-1394 or S-Video without loss of the date stamp and sound?

[thecoalman]

S-Video is video only, you need to connect the red and white for audio as posted by bobkart.

Not sure what you mean by date stamp, are you referring to time and date right on the video? If so that's created by the camcorder, it's not part of the video. Look in your menu options for displaying it through S-Video or A/V out. Not sure you can do it over firewire but I guess it's possible some camcorders would have that feature.

[coody]

My miniDV is Sony. It can record the date. But, the date cannot be transferred through the IEEE-1394. The S-Video, however, only transfers video (with date stamp). After selection of the connecting method, S-Video, the AV connection is automatically disabled. It means no sound from the TV even if I connected the white and red AV lines after the S-Video had been selected. Since the AV connection is disabled, there is only video can be transferred without sound. How can I get both of the picture and sound to be recorded? Does anyone know it? My conection is S-Video, white and red AV lines to the DVD recorder, then the DVD recorder to the TV with the AV connection, yellow, red and white lines. The result is no sound but only the video with the date stamp recoreded onto a DVD disc.

[bobkart]

It doesn't make sense that the audio output is disabled when you select S-Video output. Also, I'm not sure why you need to select S-Video output, on every DV camcorder I've used, all the outputs are live, there's no reason to turn off one when using the other. Maybe you can try a different camcorder? Borrow/rent? Because this should be very simple, just as you have it connected. with no selecting of outputs. Of course I'm not familiar with your particular mode, but it makes no sense to turn off the audio output for S-Video since that prevents using it as it ought to be used.

[coody]

When connecting the MiniDV to the DVD recorder with the S-Video, your DVD recorder has to select the source S-Video. Do you mean the DVD recorder can still record sound after it selects the source S-Video? Someone has already answered, the S-Video is video only. I want the MiniDV picture, sound and date stamp to be recorded by the DVD recorder with the S-Video connection because the S-Video can provide better picture than the AV connection does.

[bobkart]

Yes, your DVD Recorder should still be able to record audio when you select an S-Video input. What would be the point of having an S-Video input that couldn't be used to also record the audio associated with the video.

Try connecting it with the Yellow/White/Red RCA connections. Test that you have good audio and video. Then remove the Yellow RCA from the DVD Recorder, and add the S-Video connection from the camcorder, leaving the White/Red RCA connections. This would work on all of my DVD Recorders (4 models from 3 manufacturers). Now some models need you to select S-Video over Composite Video as it sounds like yours does, I've never used one that needs that selection, they just take whatever is on either connection. So in that case you will need to make that selection. I have to assume that the audio inputs for when you select the S-Video input are the same as for when you select the Composite Video input.

[coody]

I have detected the problems. After connecting the RCA audio cables to the rear audio inputs instead of the front inputs, the audio becomes available with the S-Video connection. But do not know why the front RCA audio inputs do not respond to the rear S-Video. It seems the IEEE 1394 connection cannot transfer the video date stamp though it transfers better picture quality.

[thecoalman]

It seems the IEEE 1394 connection cannot transfer the video date stamp though it transfers better picture quality.

The reason for that is there is only one conversion going on. With the firewire whatever is being transferred is exactly what's on tape, the only conversion is being done by the recorder to MPEG. By going through S-video the cam has to convert it to analog which i turn has to be converted to MPEG ... As far as displaying the date the more I think about it I doubt your going to be able to do that with the camcorder, it's simply transferring the file. To add the date it would have to reprocess the data, only way I can see is if your recorder has the ability to read the timestamp.

[JohnnyMalaria]

If you meet all of the following criteria:

1. You have a Windows XP PC with Firewire and a CPU with SSE2
2. The PC recognizes your DVD recorder as a DV device (some are recognized, many aren't)
3. You have at least two free Firewire ports on the PC

then you can use the Enosoft DV Processor to add the time/date etc on the fly to the DV coming in from the camcorder and send it back out to the DVD recorder. No capturing etc - basically the PC acts as a black box between the two DV devices.

This WILL permit you to maintain an entirely digital path from the camcorder to the DVD recorder and add the time/date etc.