Frustrated! Computer can control camera, but no video or audio is imported...

[mjolnier]

I'm having a hard time with the HV20. I'm on a WinXP Pro PC, 4GB of RAM, etc. I have a Panasonic camcorder and can import and edit video with no problems.

I just had my work purchase the HV20, I shot some video in HD, and when I connect it to the computer it sees the camera without a problem, I can play and rewind from the PC, etc. But when I have it try to capture video, it starts playing the video on the camera, but I get no video or audio on the PC. After a while I realized that I needed to get HD software, so I downloaded the latest from Ulead, Sony Vegas Pro and Adobe Premiere CS3, all with the same results. I also have my own version of Adobe Premiere Elements, same results.

Any ideas on how I can make this work would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Terfyn]

Do check your Firewire connections especially at the camera end. I had exactly the same problem. It turned out to be the connector. I solved mine by a firm push into the camera. No problem now.
If you still have problems, I suggest you change the Firewire cable before resorting to more expensive remedies.

[brido]

When this happened to me, I checked all my settings for importing/capture. Got this right and i was capturing again.

PS. I have had trouble with my Panasonic firewire (one camera still does not work with this function!) Get a good magnifying glass and see in any of the pins on the camera firewire socket are bent. This is often the case.

[mjolnier]

Just an FYI, I brought the camera into work, connected it to the iMac using iMovieHD, and it worked right away, probably because the software was already HD compatible (I hate it when Mac people are right.)

It could be the cable I have at home, so I'm going to swap cables just to check, but I still think it's the settings in my software that are causing the problem...

[bluegrass]

I'm having a hard time with the HV20. I'm on a WinXP Pro PC, 4GB of RAM, etc. I have a Panasonic camcorder and can import and edit video with no problems.

I just had my work purchase the HV20, I shot some video in HD, and when I connect it to the computer it sees the camera without a problem, I can play and rewind from the PC, etc. But when I have it try to capture video, it starts playing the video on the camera, but I get no video or audio on the PC. After a while I realized that I needed to get HD software, so I downloaded the latest from Ulead, Sony Vegas Pro and Adobe Premiere CS3, all with the same results. I also have my own version of Adobe Premiere Elements, same results.

Any ideas on how I can make this work would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.

If the cable doesn't solve your problem, I would try to test to see if you record DV instead of HDV, if it captures DV from the HV20 OK. If it does, you could be in a situation where the trial versions of the apps you downloaded don't have HDV support. Keep in mind that support for HDV is fairly new to NLE apps and I even had to pay a little extra to get the HDV plugin for my NLE.

I occasionally have a black window on the preview during capture and sometimes need to restart the NLE and start the capture all over. The tape goes but nothing appears in the preview window when this happens. In my case at least, I think it's an occasionaly glitch in the software and I don't worry about it as long as I get it going on the 2nd or 3rd try.

[mjolnier]

That seems to be the same thing that happens to me. Can you force the camera to send regular DV to the computer when you've recorded it in HD? Or do you have to record it in regular DV mode to do that?

[CBarce]

double post by accident

[CBarce]

I don't know Ulead, but the other two have to have certain things set up in order to capture HDV material. So you need to tell us exactly what you have set the programs to to determine whether you have it set up right.

Second, I have this vague recollection that the trial version of any of these programs will have .mpeg capture (including HDV) and mpeg codecs disabled because of rights issues. When you buy their program, they have to pay rights holders for the use they sold to you. They can't let you download it for free use.

Third, if your computer system can capture DV, you should be okay as far as capture.

Download a free program called HDVSplit from the internet, and it will capture HDV material for you automatically. You will end up with an m2t file.

Editing will be another issue. If you don't have an HDV enabled editor, you won't be able to edit. Premiere elements may be enabled, and if it is, you may only have to open an Adobe HDV project to edit it, and actually capture with it.

The camera will shoot in HDV, and down convert and capture in DV. Check your manual. I think you do it by putting camera in VCR mode, then go into menu, and set AV to DV on. Just my recollection, as I don't do it that way, but I think it can be done.

[bigjohn1961]

i work with Ulead Video Studio 11 and Ulead DVD Movie Factory 6, and they capture HDV in 50i and 25P just fine.