Hi

 

OK, So I bought a new workstation, HP 4400 with ATI 1650 card ( awaiting fireGL 7200),  Firewire access is via an old StudioDV Plus card

 2 problems: 

a) The machine does not reliably see the Canon XHA1 camcorder at all, it has worked but mostly does not (Works fine in SD mode)

b) Now, When I open logging tool, I am prompted for a reel, I can control the camera, BUT I get a black screen instead of incoming video footage

 

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks

I take it you were working fine with the Canon on your previous workstation?

Hi, I used the same camera on a HP Pavillion PC which had a built in Firewire port for the last 6 months.  I did have some issues, but not like this where I am generally unable to use the system

Try having the camera running and playing back material while opening the logging tool. See if that helps.

Also, just to make sure, you are on Ver. 7.2?

At next months if everything goes well I would like to buy it.

What major problems do you have?

You can't capture at all?

Not even at DV? 

Running XP?
My XH-A1 connects very reliably.

John are you logging HDV as well at both Easy and the logging tool?

Hi, Thanks for the replies, I'll try to answer, apologies if I miss a point:

The camera has worked OK for last 6 months connected to a HP Pavillion with a 6600 processor, XP media edition, built in firewire socket, Liq 7.2, only used it to upload HD

Week ago, new workstation as detailed above, XP Pro, L7.2.  Connected it 1st day, no problem, it let me upload, after that I was editing old material, so only tried to connect camera again on Thursday; nothing, camera not 'seen'  Set camera to downconvert to SD, all fine, back to HD, nothing

Since then I have had some success, it has done the following:

• Nothing
• Logger tool can control camera, but no image, Liquid then locks up on exiting logging tool, PC is controillable, but says recovered from major error on re boot
• EZ has never seen the camera in HD mode
• Finally, it sometimes works and lets me upload
• Live feed seems to work fine too

Note, Windows Movie Maker does not see the camera either (but does on the 'old' pc), I'm happy this is not a Liquid issue

I've uninstalled 1394 drivers, and AVC tape drivers and tried a new Belkin Firewire card

Any thoughts anyone?  I may walk away for the rest of tonight (I'm in UK) so apologies if I dont respond for a while

Well this XP Media Edition we know that may be a trouble...

Sounds like the install of XP may be bad. Would it be possible to start from scratch? Time consuming I know but sometimes the best approach.

Yes, that was one of the reasons for the dedicated workstation, but the fact is that it was Ok with the camera

Hi, It's certainly something that I've considered.  i would like to know if anyone can actually pinpoint the reasons for my problems though

He uses Media Center.

No, he used Media Center and it worked OK. He is now XP SP2, if I read correctly.

LewS is correct, my previous machine ran Media entre, the new workstation is XP Pro SP2.  Also it seems to work absolutely fine in SD mode. it's only in HD that I'm having the problems

Just did an experiment:  With camera in SD mode, I was able to use EZ and logging tool to view the tape.  Then, (with Liquid open) I disconnected the camera, set it to HD and reconnected. (device manager showed the driver appear as AV/C tape,) tried the logging tool. This time, I could control the camera, but no imagery.  On exiting logging tool, Liquid locked up

Anyone any ideas? 

I can only assume its the HD driver, or possibly the firewire one?

Many thanks

Pete

I don't know A1 yet.

But is there a setting for forced HDV or is it set to auto? 

I am using XP home with the logging tool. I think I have also used Easy capture, but can't say for sure.
There IS a setting in the camera menu to force HDV output. This setting MUST be used.

John if this camera belongs to you why you don't try it?

Is this difficult? 

I'm in the middle of putting a skim coat of joint compound on the dining/living room ceilings right now, so I'd rather not touch the HD camera right now, but I wil try easy capture later. Sounds like a flakey firewire controller chip or cable to me, or possibly some other app battling for control of the AV/C device. Does a dialouge box come up asking what you want to do when the camera is connected?

On the XHA1, normal output on the DV socket is HD.  For SD output, you select downconvert from the menu.  This can only be done when the firewire cable is disconnected

I'm an engineer by trade and have tried to fault find in a logical manner:  I've tried 2 cables, no difference and both an old StudioDVplus board, with firewire connector and a new Belkin 3 firewire port PCI board

The workstation is new, with only a USB KVM switch and a network cable attached apart from the camcorder

Can the 1394 circuitry be at fault if when SD mode is selected, all works OK?

It is possible but unlikely. There should be a place in the camera menu to force HDV. Make sure it is not in AUTO mode.

John,

Yes I got dialogue box, as well as the normal Pc sound you get when connecting a device.  You can also see the drivers come 'live' if you monitor Device manager when connecting/disconnecting

As we all say and I have seen this working ONLY like that properly on a Z1, you should use the HDV input and not the auto.

This may have nothing to do with it, but just out of curiosity have you set the video output in System Settings to HDV2?? And, when you open the capture tool, what is capture codec. Is it still DV or has it switched to the HDV mpeg codec? Also, have you installed the latest ATI drivers?

Control Panel > Site > System Settings > Inputs/Outputs > Video Outputs > IEEE 1394 and set MPEG output format to HDV2

LewS, you suggested earlier opening the tool while the camera was running, is this a known get around?  I have just done something similar which has worked a couple of times.

1. Open 7.2 with camera in Camera mode
2. Open logging tool, you see a live feed
3. Set camera to off and wait for drivers to disable
4. Set camera to VCR modeand wait for drivers to be loaded
5. Then you get video feed in the logging window!

I'll try this a few more times tomorrow, have to go sleep now (despite the desire to spend all night doing this!

Many thanks to everyone