Firewire issue with HVX200

[HoGiHung]

Hi,

Not sure if anyone else has had a similar scenario but could use some suggestions/advice.

I'm able to connect my HVX200 to my Mac via firewire and use FinalCut and this other app I'm testing. But when I use the same cable, (and a shorter one,) and connect to my Windows based Video Toaster [5] I'm not get the image. Windows sees the connection and asks what I want to do, but when I choose VT Capture, it launches but all I get is black image.

Hmmm, I just thought of something as I typed that. I have my camera setup at 1080 and I believe the VT can only do SD. I'll give that a try. Other than that, anyone have similar issue?

Thanks,

Ho... (john)

[Steve Laramie]

its because fw 4 pin is a bad design. It happens to allot of HVX's. Its probably not your fault its just the camera. I havnt had it happen to myne yet but theres been a few forums here. You might want to invest in a duel adapter.

[Nexis]

Don't think the HVX firewire works with PCs.

[HoGiHung]

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the Firewire design is not the best. The cable can get loose real easy. But the good news is I found the issue.

First I had to take the camera down to 480 rez. Shame aint it! Still didn't work. Hooked to Mac and worked fine in FinalCut (I love Macs.) Looked at the camera menu and found an option for just DV. This did the trick. So now I can use the camera via Firewire.

But it seems that the VT[5] can only use 1 DV (firewire) source at a time. So I need to get those component barrels anyways and use my HVX that way, and use my Sony via firewire.

Thanks again for the ideas/responses.

J.

[erdiaz]

HVX Firewire works perfectly with PC's and any other machine, even between cameras ans tape recorders (I have and transfer between AGDV60, AGdv 2500, and HVX200)

Even if the 4 pin Firewire connector could be (I donn't think so) a bad design, it is not an automatic failure.

I have used 4 pin connectors since 1996 and never, never had any complain, nor any accident; so for me 4 pin is as bad (or good), as any other type of connector.

Video Toaster (as I know) does not work with DVCPro 50 or 100 material.

I (just in case) made an kind of "safety aid" in order not to loos connection, is a plastic device where firewire is attached to a miniplug extension wich in turn is connected to phones camera´s plug (and the same in the other extreme, the laptop connection).
SEE:

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6762/1214959241.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6762/1214959317.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/6762/1214959399.jpg

[Barry_Green]

its because fw 4 pin is a bad design. It happens to allot of HVX's. Its probably not your fault its just the camera.
What?!??! Practically all DV/HDV cameras have a 4-pin firewire port. The 4-pin has nothing to do with it. It works just fine for live streaming in FCP, EDIUS, Avid, and OnLocation.

[Barry_Green]

Don't think the HVX firewire works with PCs.
It works for live streaming. It may or may not work for file transfer (PC MODE); it's not guaranteed to work but sometimes it does anyway. But I'm presuming the original poster was talking about live streaming into his Toaster, and it would certainly work for that.

[HoGiHung]

Thanks for the clarity Barry. My apologies if I wasn't clear in my original post. You nailed it though, I am not using the firewire for file transfer but live streaming for use with my Video Toaster.

Had to change two things - knock it down to 480i and change from DVCProHD to DV mode. Works fine now. Probably not practical, but it would be nice if the 4pin connector was like the Apple Mag connector for the powersupply. Snug, but can pop off if someone trips over the cord (like my dog did this evening.)

J.

[Barry_Green]

The 4-pin is hateful, of that there is no argument. But that doesn't mean it's non-functional.

The 500 and the 170 both are now sporting a 6-pin, and in the case of the 170 it's a locking 6-pin. Both are much better than the 4-pin. But peoplle have been using the 4-pin for streaming and capturing for over a decade now, so for there to be an implication that it doesn't work is just -- not correct. :)