Unable to capture Digital8 video

[_Adam]

Hello all!

I'm trying to capture Digital8 video from a Sony DCR-TRV350 via an iLink/firewire cable, but have had no success so far. I've installed a LinksTek PCIE card (PCIE-1394A) and the Windows legacy 1394 driver (procedure in this video). Both the PCIE card and the camcorder ("Sony DV Camcorder") are showing in the Device Manager without any warnings or errors.

[Attachment 75091 - Click to enlarge]

I did come across one video that showed someone who connected their camcorder and had it show up under the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the system tray. But, mine has never showed up there. Maybe irrelevant, but thought I'd mention it.

I've tried the following software to capture and have gotten various errors and/or bad results (camcorder is running and in "VCR" mode):

• WinDV ("Can't find DV output PIN" -- doesn't show Sony cam as optional device)
• Sony PlayMemories ("Please turn on a camera")
• Scenalyzer Live ("Error:cc:can't instantiate:272")
• Corel VideoStudio X8 (When I select the "Sony DV Device" source, I'm able to control the camcorder with the VS UI/controls, but no video plays in VS or is captured.)
• DVIO ("Could not find DVcam output pin. Is camera connected?")

If I update the driver to either the default (non-legacy) or VIA driver, there might be a slight difference in results (depending on the software), but I'm still unable to capture or get video to show in the desktop app. I don't want to clutter up my machine any further by installing additional software in a feeble attempt to stumble across something that might work. I feel like I must be missing something simple here, but I don't know what it is. I'd be eternally grateful if someone could point me in the right direction.

Please let me know if I can provide additional information that might be helpful.

Thanks!
-Adam

EDIT: Also, I have used two different cables -- one 4-pin to 6-pin (came with the card) and one 4-pin to 4-pin.

[Bwaak]

Have you checked Win 10/11 camera permissions?

[_Adam]

Have you checked Win 10/11 camera permissions?

I believe so. "Allow apps to access your camera" and "Allow desktop apps to access your camera" are both on. The latter has Corel VS, ScenalyzerLive, WinDV and WLX Import Video listed.

[dellsam34]

Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to set A/V to DV OUT (p. 214 of the user manual), Try another firewire cable and make sure the port on your camcorder is not loose, dirty or damaged, Try rebooting the system while the camcorder is playing a D8 tape.

[_Adam]

Turn the SEL/PUSH EXEC dial to set A/V to DV OUT (p. 214 of the user manual). . .

YES! This did the trick! And, it works for both Corel VS and ScenalyzerLive. I knew there had to be something I was missing completely.
And, I never considered -- or ran across anything suggesting -- the camera's output settings (of course, I also no longer have the user manual).

A thousand thank-yous, dellsam34! After spending so much time on this I'm relieved to finally have a solution. Most of the videos are of our kids in their infant and toddler stages, so my wife is going to be ecstatic.

Thanks!
-Adam

[dellsam34]

No problem, I'm glad you got it working.

[_Adam]

Ugh! Okay. . . so, it *was* working. I was able to capture video from one of the D8 tapes. Now, the card doesn't seem to want to recognize the camera. I don't think anything changed. I don't believe there were any Windows (or, any other) updates installed. I haven't installed any new hardware or software.

Windows still recognizes the card. One thing that's different is this. . .

Previously, when I changed the IEEE 1394 host controller driver, Windows would prompt me that there's been a hardware change and ask if I want to restart the computer. Now, when I switch drivers I do not get that prompt.

I have, again, used two different cables -- one 4-pin to 6-pin (came with the card) and one 4-pin to 4-pin. There have been several computer reboots. And, I also tried rebooting the system while the camcorder is playing a D8 tape. I also uninstalled the card via the Device Manager and rebooted so Window reinstalled it. Switching the camera's DV output to "off" and then "on" again also didn't help. I would try reinstalling the legacy driver, but I don't know what would happen (if it would overwrite the previous driver, install a duplicate, etc.).

I'm not sure where to go from here and would greatly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

Thanks!
-Adam

[oln]

If you are having a lot of issues with the driver on windows, one option you can try is to use linux and the dvgrab app instead. DV devices should just work out of the box on any modern linux distro so you just have to install dvgrab via the package manager (it's readily available in most distributions). It's a command line program but it's pretty straight forward to use. You can even use it off a live usb image for that matter just by installing dvgrab into the live environment and not need to install linux to the machine itself.

[_Adam]

oln - I appreciate the suggestion. I might just try that as I really should get familiar with Linux anyway. Do you have a live usb distro suggestion for someone who is fairly tech-savvy, but basically has only worked in Windows?

Thanks!
-Adam

[Alwyn]

I'd try the Legacy driver again given you have Win 10; David Knarr recommends the Legacy driver for Win 10 (his website does get a bit complex and convoluted and has minor errors but his suggestions re drivers for 10 and 11 and chip-type work for me).

[_Adam]

Thanks, Alwyn. What do you mean try the driver again? How do I do that; what are the steps? I've tried to uninstall the driver (to reinstall it), but I apparently don't know how to uninstall correctly since it was still available after reboot. I also tried updating the driver associated with the card to a different driver > rebooted the computer > switched back to the 'legacy' driver > rebooted the computer, and still no luck. It's so weird that it was working before and isn't any more. I hope the port on the camcorder didn't go bad.

I have previously seen the site at the link you provided and the steps I followed are the same. The only difference I can find is that the card I purchased doesn't specifically have "VIA" printed on the chip. The seller's description says it "is based on VIALab. . .". Since they're relatively cheap, I'm purchasing a different card that specifically has VIA printed on the chip.

I appreciate the feedback!
-Adam

[Bwaak]

Is there a definitive explanation why the legacy driver works better for DV/HDV camcorders?

[oln]

oln - I appreciate the suggestion. I might just try that as I really should get familiar with Linux anyway. Do you have a live usb distro suggestion for someone who is fairly tech-savvy, but basically has only worked in Windows?

Thanks!
-Adam

Any of the more beginner friendly linux distros, e.g linux mint or ubuntu should be okay.

After booting the live image - you can navigate using the file manager to a drive on the computer, right click and look for the option to open a terminal at that location (exact spot depends on distro/desktop environment). Then I believe you should be able to just do

sudo apt install dvgrab

to install dvgrab if using mint/debian/ubuntu (if using fedora/arch it will be a different command, I don't think it will ask for any password on the live system but not sure). You may also be able to install it via the gui software center.
then you can start a capture automatically by using e.g

dvgrab -rewind -s 0 -f avi

to rewind to the start of the tape and capture as one file in the terminal. (Make sure you are located in the folder you want the file to be stored in!)

[Alwyn]

Adam, just right-click on the host controller entry then:

Update driver
Browse my computer for drivers
Let me pick from a list
Try all of those drivers listed.

I apparently don't know how to uninstall correctly since it was still available after reboot.

That's probably because, if you left the card in the machine, Windows is automatically installing it again. You should then be able to install the Legacy driver.

The cheapy I bought for my Win 11 machine was one of these, and it works a treat, unfortunately out of stock but you should be able to find something similar with VIA on it.

https://www.amazon.com.au/tunghey-Firewire-Windows-Express-Controller/dp/B0BJ24DZV7/re...s%2C278&sr=1-2

It's only a hunch, but I'd stay away from the combo Firewire400/Firewire800 cards.

[dellsam34]

How do I do that; what are the steps? I've tried to uninstall the driver (to reinstall it), but I apparently don't know how to uninstall correctly since it was still available after reboot. I also tried updating the driver associated with the card to a different driver > rebooted the computer > switched back to the 'legacy' driver > rebooted the computer, and still no luck. It's so weird that it was working before and isn't any more. I hope the port on the camcorder didn't go bad.

Open the desktop and remove the card, reboot the computer without the card, uninstall all drivers, Shutdown, install the card and reboot. From here, there is two options, One: Let windows install its own drivers and see if it works, If not, repeat the entire process and don't let Windows install default drivers, instead, install the legacy driver. If all fails, it could be a faulty chip in the card, chips can be killed by a static charge, That's why technicians and factory workers wear ground straps when working on electronic components.

[_Adam]

I replaced the PCIE card, but that didn't help. There were a couple of posts I read along the way that suggested the ports in the camcorder can be fragile. I'm thinking the pins in the port may have gotten bent:

[Attachment 75313 - Click to enlarge]

They're difficult to see and I don't have anything to compare it to. I also don't have a different FW400 device I can test the card with. I'll have to see if I can find a replacement port/board for the camcorder.

[dellsam34]

Replacing the iLink port on the camcorder is a much more involved repair task, You would need to take the camcorder a part and may need to use heat gun if the soldering gun can't do the job, It is as delicate as removing SMD components.

[_Adam]

Replacing the iLink port on the camcorder is a much more involved repair task, You would need to take the camcorder a part and may need to use heat gun if the soldering gun can't do the job, It is as delicate as removing SMD components.

Hopefully not too difficult in this case. I've seen a few YT videos on disassembly (doesn't that alone make me an instant expert? ). It looks like the part is connected via ribbon rather than being soldered:

[Attachment 75336 - Click to enlarge]

I'm pretty good at dis/assembly, and I only need this camera for its playback capability. Plus, I found a used part online for about $19, so I don't have much to lose at this point. If I have to, I found someone experienced who will fix it for around $125. That sounds expensive, but retrieving those memories from the cassettes would be worth it for us.

[dellsam34]

See first if you can get a working camcorder for less than what you are going to spend on repairs, if not, make sure that's the problem first, you could spend time and money on replacing the iLink port but will not fix the problem.

[_Adam]

See first if you can get a working camcorder for less than what you are going to spend on repairs, if not, make sure that's the problem first, you could spend time and money on replacing the iLink port but will not fix the problem.

Good point - for sure!