XH-A1 Firewire Capturing problems

M

MDew

Member
Thanks mainly to the feedback on this forum, I recently made the XH-A1 purchase and am very happy with the results. Now I am dying to edit the footage but am having problems capturing with firewire.

I'm plugging the camera directly into the firewire card. I've tried capturing HDV into Vegas 7 and Premiere Pro, but it can't recognize the camera. I also tried this with another cord & firewire card on another computer, still no results.

I also tried capturing SD footage into Pinnacle Studio 7 & Windows Movie Maker on a 3rd computer via firewire as well. Still none of the programs can recognize the camera. I've tried switching the camera on/off, plugging/unplugging the cord, and every combination inbetween. I've looked all over online, and despite finding PLENTY of people with the same problem, I can't seem to find any helpful advice.

:(
 
I recommend testing another firewire cable, or another firewire port.

One of my ports was burnt and I thought the camera was broken for a while.
 
In Premiere Pro, try selecting the XM-2 model from the firewire protocol settings in the capture window.

File -> Capture...
Settings-tab -> under Device Control: Options...
Device Brand: Canon
Device Type: XM-2

It's a lot more responsive (for me at least) under these settings: You even don't need to press play on the camera anymore. Sometimes it still will be erroneous, but far less than when trying to capture using standard firewire protocols.

I think it's a clue towards a general solution (especially for Mac and FCP*), and I wrote Canon about it yesterday, but although they forwarded it, they still keep telling people the basic settings are just fine, while they just aren't.


*IF only Canon OR Apple would provide a dedicated firewire profile within FCP (or iMovie) for Canon Digital Camcorders. In FCP, you can choose for Sony camcorders, JVC camcorders and Panasonic camcorders, but Canon pretends that the basic firewire settings are fine. It's clear by now that such is not the case!
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I will try that when I get back to my home computer. So far I've tried all 3 ports on my card, 2 other firewire cards (on other computers) and 3 different cables.
 
I got my XH A1 last week and had the same problem. Windows wouldn't even recognize it. Luckily I work about 20 minutes away from the NJ repair location, so I dropped it off on Monday. They called me the next day to pick it up. It was a bad system board they had to replace.
 
jpasarela said:
I got my XH A1 last week and had the same problem. Windows wouldn't even recognize it. Luckily I work about 20 minutes away from the NJ repair location, so I dropped it off on Monday. They called me the next day to pick it up. It was a bad system board they had to replace.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, I might be rather screwed. Looks like the only Canon repair centers are in CA & NJ. Are those the only places that are covered under the warranty? I'm under a rather tight shooting schedule and can't afford to just ship it off somewhere for a few weeks.

I guess I can still hope that it's something else...
 
Have you double checked to be sure that the camera is in VCR mode with the HDV or auto signal standard selected? Also be sure that downconversion is turned off.
 
Elton said:
Have you double checked to be sure that the camera is in VCR mode with the HDV or auto signal standard selected? Also be sure that downconversion is turned off.
Click to expand...

Yep. It's on auto signal and downconversion is turned off.
 
So if the problem does lie in the camera, are my only options to either send it in for repair or buy a lesser Canon HDV camera and capture with that? (Buying a deck would do me no good?)
 
Polle said:
In Premiere Pro, try selecting the XM-2 model from the firewire protocol settings in the capture window.
Click to expand...

ok so I tried premiere pro again, but I did not see XM-2 in the list, is it perhaps because I have 1.5? (Will it support HDV or do I need an add-on or newer version?)
 
MDew said:
ok so I tried premiere pro again, but I did not see XM-2 in the list, is it perhaps because I have 1.5? (Will it support HDV or do I need an add-on or newer version?)
Click to expand...

That's probably the problem. Version 1.5 doesn't support HDV at all. If you're editing 24F then you need version 2.0 minimum.
 
But like I said, I did try to capture some SD footage as well. In any case, no matter what firewire card I use (I've tried 3 so far) the computers do not recognize anything being connected (no beeps, etc.). I know the firewire ports work because external HDs have been plugged into them as well.

I also have an older Panasonic PV-DV701 that also has the same problem (though it did work a couple times long ago).

Starting to think I need to send the camera off for repair, though I really won't have time to for about a month...
 
Hi There,
This is my very first post, so sorry if this doesn't work out correctly.

Anyway, if you are on a PC, then I may have a solution for you. I had a similar problem with a few digital cameras. Oddly, the solution was to install a newer .NET version from the 'optional' part of Windows Update. (I find version 3 buggy, but version 2 works).

I don't own a camcorder yet, so haven't tried any of this with one. But I'll be getting a A1 in a few weeks.

hope that helps,

Chris
 
chrisrobinson said:
Anyway, if you are on a PC, then I may have a solution for you. I had a similar problem with a few digital cameras. Oddly, the solution was to install a newer .NET version from the 'optional' part of Windows Update. (I find version 3 buggy, but version 2 works).
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, I just tried that but still no luck :(
 
jpasarela said:
I got my XH A1 last week and had the same problem. Windows wouldn't even recognize it. Luckily I work about 20 minutes away from the NJ repair location, so I dropped it off on Monday. They called me the next day to pick it up. It was a bad system board they had to replace.
Click to expand...

Finally got the cam back from the CA service center in working order. This was exactly what was wrong with it. Hmm maybe they should check this more often before sending them out...
 
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