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M
Motion Fab
Inspiring
March 24, 2022
Question

Impossible to import from MiniDV

  • March 24, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 1083 views

Hi!
I am beginning to despair.
I can't get rushs in MiniDV on my PC (Windows 10) via firewire 800.
I bought a PCIe firewire card especially for that..
.
In Première CC (2022 or 2021) I manage to control (read/fast forward/Stop...) the camcorder in the acquisition window. But the window remains black and the recording button is grey.
I tried other software like WinDV, HDVSplit or CapDVHS, but the camcorder is not recognized...

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

M
Michael Grenadier
Legend
March 24, 2022

Let's try and eliminate some obvious issues.  

 

First, I'd make sure that you can read and write to a firewire drive (formatted for windows) connected via the firewire card and then find a drive speed utility and make sure you have sufficient thruput..   

 

I'm assuming you're seeing video and audio and timecode in the capture window in premiere and can control the dv deck/camera from within premiere...  If not, let us know.   And are you trying to capture to an internal or external drive.  If it's external, how is it connected?    Might try connecting to a different drive.  

 

What version of Premiere are you using?  Had a bunch of minidv tapes to capture about a year ago and gotta say it was not simple.   Luckily I have both a mac and pc to work with...  If I remember correctly I had to revert to an earlier version of Premiere to get it to work on a mac.  Don't think I ever had any success on a windows.  Did have access to a blackmagic intensity shuttle which was a great device that allowed video and audio inputs to usb3.  Unfortunately BM is no longer supporting the device so you have to boot from an earlier Mac OS which means you have to run an earlier version of Premiere.    Finally managed to get a firewire to thunderbolt 2 converter which then of course required a thunderbolt 2 to 3 converter...  and was able to get Premiere to work.    If you can borrow a mac, I can probably help getting that to work.

M
Motion FabAuthor
Inspiring
March 24, 2022

Thank you for these different tips.
No mac at hand unfortunately... And I bought a PCIe firewire 800 card especially for my PC...!
I will try to download an old version (I currently have the CC2021 and CC 2022) of Premiere to see if it works...

M
Michael Grenadier
Legend
March 24, 2022

unfortunately adobe no longer makes earlier versions of premiere available.  There were some direct download links available, but not sure if that's still true.  Might do some googling.

M
Motion FabAuthor
Inspiring
March 24, 2022

Eureka! I finally managed to launch the acquisition from Premiere CC by installing the Firewire 1394 Legacy Driver as explained here: https://www.startech.com/en-us/faq/firewire-cards-windows-legacy-driver-swap

Unfortunately, I am faced with a new problem: the sequences recorded by Premiere CC are unreadable.
I actually get a .avi file that I can't read...: (
Any ideas?

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Ann BensCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 24, 2022

Capturing footage from a mini dv camera on a pc comes in DV-avi.

Premiere is quite capable or editing dv-avi.

 

WinDV if for capturing SD footage.

HDV split is for HDV footage and is captured in mpeg.

Premiere can capture SD as wel as HDV.

M
Motion FabAuthor
Inspiring
March 24, 2022

The file is always a 125 Ko file.
If i try to import the file into Premiere, I get this message : unsupported format or damaged file.

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