Hi Susann,

Capture used to be real easy.....but.... with the proliferation of various storage/capture methods it make explaining way more difficult.

1. You need to state what camera you have (so I/we can look up and read the spec).
2. You then have to - depends if it's needed - to state what hook up and selections you see in PD7 Capture mode - the choices you have.
3. Important. You need to state what version and build of PD7 you are using in case I have to direct you to get the latest patch.
Director's Chair > Help > About > see the info I need?

I think this is easily resolvable - just need some more info and you should be video editing with the best of us quite soon.

Dafydd
[Moderator]

Dear Dafydd,
Thanks very much for writing back. I am seeking to download to my Dell Inspiron 530 PC, from a JVC GR-D372u digital video camcorder. I am using PD "Deluxe" 7.00.

Basically, whenever I open the PD7 program, it immediately defaults to "read disc" mode, even when the disc drive is empty. I can't get the program even to recognise that my camcorder is plugged into one of the USB ports. The capture icon for camcorder is indeed present under the "capture" tab, however this is disabled (not active) and I cannot get the program to get away from trying to capture material only from the disc-drive.

I want to get started, but getting my source video material into the system is proving a bit more difficult than I expected.
-S

Hi Susann,

This may seem obvious, but you are ensuring that your camcorder is connected to the computer and turned on before you open PD7.

Robert Intel i7 930, 16GB ram, Radeon HD 5770 1Gb,Ver. 14.12 Win7 64 bit
Intel i7 7700 HQ, 16 GB ram Nvidia GTX 1050Ti 4GB dual drives 1 TB SSD + 1 TB HDD Win 10

PDtoots

Hi Susann,

I'm not familiar with your camera, so i have to rely on a spec's list to see what the capabilities are for your camera - pretty standard stuff.

I haven't used a USB connection to capture miniDV, I've used the Firewire (i.Link Digital Input/Output (IEEE 1394 compliant) DV in/out ) link and I would suggest you connect your camcorder using this method.

PC active
Switch on your Camcorder - connected using Firewire
Open PD
Select Capture
See the Camcorder icon - select that option.

My concern here is the PC > Camcorder connection - I want to know if you have a "i.Link Digital Input/Output (IEEE 1394 compliant) DV in/out" cable? I've looked up a lot of ebay advertised JVC GR-D372u and none have the cable.

The cable is easy to buy.

Dafydd

Firewire cable images:
Connections needed: Click for Image
Cable length/type: Click for Image

**************
Product Description

* 32X Optical Zoom
* Clear LCD 2.5" High Resolution Monitor, to reduce glare and reflections from the LCD screen.
* Illumi-Light: Built-in Auto light using twin LED lights for 1/10 the power consumption.
* Live Slow record or playback slow motion effect with real-time audio
* 800X Digital Hyper Zoom with Spline Interpolation
* 1/6-inch 680,000 Pixel CCD
* Data Batteries provide up to 1.5 hours recording time, shows five levels of remaining battery and record time on camcorder LCD monitor
* F1.8 Bright lens
* Color Viewfinder
* Program AE with Special Effects
* Night Alive for full color shooting in extreme low light
* Digital Image Stabilizer
* Power-Linked Operation
* USB Interface
* MMC/SD Card Slot
* Multi-Function Remote Control
* High Density Image Recording, Mini DV NTSC (SD specifications)
* PCM Digital Stereo Audio
* Iris Lock
* Manual focus, Exposure, and White Balance modes
* Variable shutter speeds
* Black Fader
* Digital Wipes and Fades
* Animation mode records a few frames of video with each press of the record start/stop button. Great for making special effects
* 5 Second Record Mode lets you record short video clips with each press of the record start/stop button
* Built-in AC Power Adapter/battery charger
* i.Link Digital Input/Output (IEEE 1394 compliant) DV in/out
* Web-Camera function via IEEE1394

No question is too simple to ask...but yes, both units (camcorder and PC) are turned on. The cable issue may indeed be the problem. The mfgr's description of this cable is simply "USB cable" which is accompanied by a "core filter", which I have dutifully attached. Furthermore, the camcorder manual shows the USB cable directly connecting to a PC's USB port, as if that's what one does to download. The matter of the "i.Link Digital Input/Output (IEEE 1394 compliant) DV in/out" cable interests me...does this behave like a USB cable?

Looks like I need to get this extra cable before I can begin learning about PD7!

There is also the worrisome point of why PD7 appears to open up in DVD/CD mode by default.

Can I import audio tracks from my PC's RealPlayer program into PD7? That's where my soundtrack is located.

I am also intrigued to learn why about 25% of available memory is occupied before I do anything. Even when I delete the library of standard images, a lot of my pie-graph is still spoken for. Thanks again for your advice on these issues.
-S

Hi Susann,

I may be wrong here but I'm sure the USB cable that comes with the camera is only useful for downloading stills. For video you need a firewire cable (1394 or i-link in some parts of the world as Dafydd has said). That should allow the camera and PC to talk to each other on the assumption your PC has a firewire port.

Check this link
http://www.simplydv.co.uk/info-base/pages/about_firewire.html

PLEASE be careful with firewire connections, they have been known to be VERY tempermental and 3 years ago I lost the firewire port on my Panasonic mini DV within about 4 months out of warranty. Mainboard repair only, not worthwhile to do so ended up capturing by analogue - not good. There is a lot of info out there on firewire so its worth checking.

Example
http://www.videoforums.co.uk/hardware-problems/4096-problems-connecting-camcorder-via-firewire.html

Page 41 on the english version of the manual
http://uk.jvc-service.net/public/document.cfm?prog=InstrBook.cfm&Model=GR-D372
shows the set up.

Cheers
Adrian

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

Susann,

Pay special attention to Adrian's warning. The IEEE1394 "Firewire" port on many digital cameras can be very sensitive to electronic damage. The only "safe" way to connect or disconnect is with both camcorder and computer turned OFF. Once connected and powered up try not to move the camcorder as any flexing or strain on the cable connector at the camcorder may cause a short. These connectors are notorious for not being strong.

Most DV cannot be transferred from Camcorder to PC by USB unless the camera can be configured to be seen by the computer as another "drive" and then the content may not be recognized by the editing software as a video file.

If your PC does not have the IEEE1394 port, you can usually have the card installed by most computer shops for not too much cost. Look at your USB ports, the 1394 Firewire port is often located with USB but it will be a "fatter" connector and if your ports are identified with symbols the symbol on that one will be different from the USB symbol.

The reason your video camera capture icon is disabled is because PD7 is not seeing a live IEEE1394 Firewire connection (Again BE SURE BOTH COMPUTER AND CAMCORDER ARE OFF before connecting or disconnecting either end).

I know Firewire is supposed to be "hot swappable" but over on HV20.com there are a few discussion threads on "fried" ports mostly on camcorders but occasionally also on the computer.