FIRE WIRE PROBLEM

[dalelpaq]

I use a Panasonic PV-GS400. It has always worked perfectly with DV being downloaded over the fire wire. Suddenly, my PC (Dell with Win XP Prof) won't recognize the camera. Verified PC port is OK, tried a new cable to no avail, and called Panasonic who walked me through the reset process - with no results. They say there is a problem with the port on the camera and it will cost $261 flat rate to fix whatever is wrong. On the other hand, the DV can be downloaded over USB 2.0 using their software. Then, I can import to PE3.0. Has anyone had such a problem? Why should I fix it if I can use USB 2.0? My thought is to wait till something else happens and then spend the same money to get everything fixed at once. Any opinions? Dale

[Ken Jarstad]

On the other hand, the DV can be downloaded over USB 2.0 using their software. Then, I can import to PE3.0.

This is not likely true. If you can record video from tape via USB on this camcorder, then you will have the recurring obsticles of the many folks who try to edit MPEG files. You may have to convert to DV-AVI first.

Have you tried taking your camcorder to another PC and trying to capture? Find one with a Firewire port, of course, and use WinDV to try capturing.

[Steve Grisetti]

I agree with Ken. I'd definitely make sure the camcorder was the problem before I dropped $300 on repairs.

If, for instance, the problem is really with the FireWire card in your computer, that's a $25 fix. If it's some broken fiber in the cable,that's a $15 fix.

[dalelpaq]

Thanks for the inputs. I tried a different peripheral with my fire wire it it worked perfectly. I also tried a brand new fire wire cable with the DV camcorder with no luck. I contacted Panasonic and they walked me through a camcorder reset process which produced no results. It's their position that it's the fire wire port on the camcorder.

That said, I did download using the USB 2.0 port and the Panasonic software (not the Adobe software). The resulting file is a *.avi. I ran GSpot on the file and it also describes it as an avi. GSpot says in the codec block 4CC dvsd Name DVC/DV Video. In another block it describes the clip as an Open DML AVI "rec list" style.

Can anyone interpret the GSpot data? I really don't think this is an mpeg of any kind. Is there some definitive test? Thanks. Dale

[Ken Jarstad]

Could it be that the PV-GS400 has the USB Video Class 1 feature?

[Dave McElderry]

I have the 400 and it does not have the USB video feature.

[Ken Jarstad]

That's a real mystery, Dale!

DVSC is the 4CC code for the generic DV codec. It appears as though your Panasonic software and your current hardware is able to capture from USB as a DV-AVI. Quite a feat, and many/most can't do this.

Since you can do this, you may just elect to save the cost of having your Firewire port repaired.

What is the name/version of your Panasonic software - and I wonder if it is available for free anywhere? Your combination of sofware/hardware might be of interest to other folks here who want to capture DV-AVI files from a USB port.

[Doreen L.]

You should be able to transfer from your GS400 via USB using XP. It's one of the few that can do this. Make sure it's a USB2 port on your PC. Make sure your cam is in tape playback mode. I think you can capture using Window's Movie Maker and if I remember correctly, PE2. I'd try it myself with my GS400 but I can't find my box with the USB cable.

[Dave McElderry]

Doreen, not to be argumentative, but I don't think so. As far as I know USB capability on the 400 is limited to transfer of photos. The video interface is limited to firewire. Or maybe you'll prove me wrong. I've never seen anything in the manual which indicated transfer of video over USB.

[Doreen L.]

I found one of my USB cables and was able to capture from my GS400 into Window's Movie Maker and PE2 via USB.

Dale - remember you need a USB2 slot and you need to change your preferences in PE to USB.

[dalelpaq]

Well now!! First, the PV-GS400 came with a cd rom which included their (Panasonic) Motion DV program. When I spoke to their support people, they said I could only download over USB 2.0 using their software. I have done this successfully. That said, I found the software to be pervasive - every time I tried something with the PC after that I wound up with a screen (desktop) filled with shortcuts to the files. Almost as bad, the files were not where they were supposed to be according to their addresses!! When I finished the movie clip I was working on, I had to delete all the files to keep their shortcuts off the desktop.

I'll try Movie Maker - one of you suggested that works as well. If it does, Motion DV is gone too!!.

Thanks all for you help. Dale

[Doreen L.]

Dale - You may be able to capture directly into PE3. Just make sure you set up USB capture under preferences. I had no problem capturing into PE2.

[Dave McElderry]

Wow! Doreen, can you point me to the section of the manual which describes being able to do this? I had no idea...

[Chuck Engels]

Connect the camcorder to the USB port, in Premiere Elements under 'Device Control' select USB capture. I do not believe you will have control over the camcorder like you would with Firewire capture, is that right Doreen?

Dale, why aren't you capturing over Firewire directly into Premiere Elements anyway?

[Steve Grisetti]

Chuck, I think you do have camera control when capturing over USB Video Class 1. It functions just like a FireWire capture, I think.