Capturing help!

[lostcloud]

I am trying to capture using my Panasonic dvx100p and my mac powerbook g4 laptop the only problem is my laptop will not recognize my camera. When the camera is not plugged in the system profiler just says

FireWire Bus:

Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec

But when the camera is plugged in the "Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec" message goes away and only the "FireWire Bus:" header is left. I heard somewhere that the order of the components being plugged in and turned on while using firewire is important but I am not sure what the order is. Any help would be appreciated.

[grimrebes]

Have you had this problem before? Is the firewire bus on the computer working with other firewire devices?

First, the order. From what I understand, you can hotswap a firewire cable with a computer, but try to avoid it on a camera. Make sure the camera is off when you plug it in, turn it on only when the cable is secure. Then start up your editing software. If that doesnt work, connect everything with the computer off, turn it on, then turn the camera on.

Second, double check the firewire cable. Try another one, it might just be a broken cable...

[Casalen]

It sounds like the computer is detecting that something is plugged in, but is unable to communicate with the object. Have you used the DVX successfully in the past? As with above, try various power on attempts to get the computer to notice. However, you should always plug the cable into the computer only first, without being plugged into the camera; otherwise you could easily cause a short. I don't know the system all that well, so I don't know what method the computer would use to detect that something is plugged in.

[lostcloud]

I have used the camera successfully on an iMac at school but other than this I have had no luck. I am going to get another firewire today to see if that is the problem.

[lostcloud]

I have tried a different firewire cable and it has not changed anything. Please any suggestions would be nice.

[ryvac]

I had problems in the past when capturing so I'll tell you what happend to me.

first time I had the problem was when my firewire was too old. I had to get a new one.

the second time was actually some other decive was connected to the computre so the camera wasn't recognized.
do you have anything else connected to your computre, or maybe any kind of software running while you're trying to capture?

hope that helps. good luck

[lostcloud]

The only thing connected to the computer is my house and a second monitor.

[lostcloud]

Mouse*