phase52010

Q: OS 9.2.2 Firewire connection Ok, but no picture or sound

PowerMac G4 Quicksilver 867Mhz - 2Mb L3 cache - Memory 1.12Gb SDRAM

OS Z1 - 9.2.2 & OS 10.5.8

Quicktime 6.0.3 (standard only, not the PRO version).

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On the PowerMac I created 2 partitions.

One 27Gb in size in which I installed OS9.2.2

One 100Gb in size in which I installed OS 10.5.8

I can boot between them, and both OS work.

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I wanted to start archiving my old Betamax & VHS tapes.

I have a (Wired) Digital MediaPress MPEG2 (realtime) encoder card installed on G4. The software only runs under OS9.

 

I'm using a Sony Digital 8 camcorder ((DCR-TRV340E) which has digital pass through to connect the VHS to the G4 firewire port.

(The camera converts the analogue signal to digital, and is very reliable).

It was all working OK until a week ago.

I'd left the Powermac powered off for about a week and when I powered it back on I encountered an odd problem.

 

In OS9 the DMP software detects the presence of the TRV340E, and when it is not present.

But it will not show a video image or sound.

 

I have FCP3 installed as well. I tried to capture some camcorder footage using "log and capture".

FCP3 will control the camcorder but it will not show a video image or sound.

 

I booted into OS 10.5.8 and tried again with FCP (4.5) HD.

Uisng "log and capture" i immediately got a video image and sound and was able to capture.

So I'm assuming the firewire connection is OK.

 

I went back to OS 9.2.2

I checked the firewire extensions through "Extentions Manager".

Firewire Support 2.8.5

Firewire Enabler 2.8.5

(Is there a way to check these two extensions are working properly?)

 

As far as I can tell everything is as it should be, but in OS 9.2.2 firewire works, but only to a point.

I can control devices, but no video or audio comes through. Any Thoughts.

 

many thanks.

robert.

Posted on Dec 8, 2013 3:01 PM

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Q: OS 9.2.2 Firewire connection Ok, but no picture or sound

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  • Helpful answers

  • by phase52010,

    phase52010 phase52010 Dec 10, 2013 11:48 PM in response to phase52010
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Dec 10, 2013 11:48 PM in response to phase52010

    OK, I've been working on this issue for a few days and I finally got around to doing what I probably should have done initially. I disconnected the SONY DCR-TRV340E Digital 8 Camcorder and replaced it with a spare Canopus ADVC110. And it worked. Both FCP3 and the Digital Mediapress software recognised it and I got picture and sound. However I wish to use the DCR-TRV340E as it's much better at dealing with difficult sync signals then is the Canopus device.

     

    So it looks like I'm missing something in OS9.2.2 that allows the system the recognise Sony Camcorders. Yes, I did check the various OS9 and FCP install disc's but couldn't find anything. I also reinstalled FCP3 to no avail.

     

    If anyone can assist I'd be most grateful.

    Thank you. Robert.

  • by Gary - former developer,Solvedanswer

    Gary - former developer Gary - former developer Dec 11, 2013 1:55 PM in response to phase52010
    Level 1 (95 points)
    Dec 11, 2013 1:55 PM in response to phase52010

    Load a version of iMovie (versions 2.1.2 and lower are Mac OS 9 compatible). See if iMovie can do the capture. If it can then you can concentrate your efforts on FCP as the culprit (which is a distinct possibility).

     

     

    Gary

  • by phase52010,Helpful

    phase52010 phase52010 Dec 11, 2013 3:45 PM in response to Gary - former developer
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Dec 11, 2013 3:45 PM in response to Gary - former developer

    Gary;

     

    Thank you most kindly for your response, because your suggestion solved my problem.

     

    And it's a good reason for never throwing away your old disc's, because I had a iMovie 2.0.1 in the archives. I installed it, it detected the DCR-TRV340E straight away and when I clicked on "play" up came a picture, with sound, in the main viewer. I captured a bit of footage and it was fine.

     

    I tried FCP3 and got the same results. The DCR-TRV340E was detected, i could control it and capture audio and video. Now the version of FCP3 I have is the upgrade from FCP 1.2.5 which I had installed first before upgrading to FCP3. Personally I would have thought that either, or both, versions of FCP would have installed whatever was necessaary for the system to see the DCR-TRV340E.

     

    Next I tried the (Wired) Digital MediaPress MPEG2 (realtime) encoder card, which is what I REALLY wanted to work, and it did! So I'm now one very happy and grateful camper, as I doubt it would have occured to me to try installing iMovie 2.

     

    All in alll it's been quiet an interesting few days, and I've learnt quiet a lot. And if I ever go through this again, at least I'll know how to fix it quickly.

     

    Again, many thanks for your help.

    Robert.

  • by phase52010,

    phase52010 phase52010 Dec 14, 2013 4:32 PM in response to phase52010
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Dec 14, 2013 4:32 PM in response to phase52010

    Well sadly, about an hour after posting the above I lost the connection again, and could not get it back.

     

    So i went back to my G4 software restore discs (grey background) and restored OS 9.0.4.

     

    Initially I had been using the OS9 (9.2.1) disc (with a white background and an orange 9 on it) to install OS9.

     

    Using the G4 Restore Discs resulted in a system with iTunes, iMovie2 and allowed me to attach a firewire drive which I hadn't been able to do before.

     

    Anyway, long story short, I upgraded to 9.2.2 but still couldn't get the system to recognise the SONY DCR-TRV340E which it had done previously. (And for years). I tested the Canopus ADVC110 and the system recoginsed it and I could input video. I then tried my old SONY DVCAM PD100AP and the system recognised it at once. Full control, no problems. So it appears the issue is with the DCR-TRV340E, which is odd as I've been using it for over a year without any problems. (And yes, I did change the firewire cable and G4 firewire port to no avail).

     

    So I'll be working on that and report back.

     

    Robert.

  • by fpneves,

    fpneves fpneves Mar 23, 2016 2:47 PM in response to phase52010
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 23, 2016 2:47 PM in response to phase52010

    hi there,

     

    probably you can help me, please.

    how did you achieve digital pass through with a DCR-TRV340E ???

    are you sure your camera is a TRV340E ? or is it TRV340 ?

    i cant make digital pass through with a DCR-TRV340E.

     

    thank you

    fernando