Capture device offline

[_bcdavis75]

Well after getting all psyched up to start my first project in CS4, I've hit a bit of a snag.

No matter what I do, I can't get cs4 to capture from my Sony HDR HC3. The strange thing is that it can definitely see the camera because the playback transport buttons actually work. I can make the camera play and rewind etc from the capture panel. The all important RECORD button remains ghosted however and there is a message across the top that says Capture device Offline.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Dell T7400
12 gigs RAM
Vista 64
Adobe CS4
HDV footage.

[_bcdavis75]

All,

Many apoligies as I haven't been able to try some of the troubleshooting that's been suggested until yesterday. Anyway, the good news is that it works now.

The problem was indeed a camera setting. I have no idea how this happened but the Sony's have a setting for i.Link downconversion of HDV to SD. It was turned on. I reset this option and it has worked just fine.

Having said that, I've switched to using HDVSplit. I don't know know how I lived with without scene detection for so long.

[jimmieg8826699]

Fixed for me too! Trying this for 9 years!. Thank you so much. Seriously.

[_Lauren_Van_Riper_]

Just called Adobe, the new CS4 doesn't support USB, USB2 connections for capture. It is either firewire or use the native software that came with the camera for capture. Because of all the HD cameras they all use fire wire and they won't support cameras that use USB..... Great.

[h2ofun]

I am trying to get CS4 to see my sony deck. Works with HDlink. Works with HDVsplit. But, all I get so far is capture device offline with CS4.

Dave

[shooternz]

Set it to ON then.

Prference>Device Control

BTW Lauren - Premiere has never supported USB. Use the software that came with your camera then import files into Premiere (if they are compatible). Simple really.

[_WB_Vaughan_]

Actually, it seems be maybe a Windows thing. APP CS4 and Premiere Elements 4 both see my Canon XHA1 in both HDV and SD mode. But they only see my Sony Gv-HD700 deck in SD mode -- in HDV mode the capture setup window says it's online, the tape controls work (play, fast forward,etc) but the record is greyed out. When I look at Device Manager, I see that Vista has the deck listed as Sony DV Deck. I wonder if that's a clue...now to figure out how to tell Vista that the Sony is HDV? I wonder if APP would recognize it then?

On another rant, it is ridiculous that you can't see what you are logging in HDV mode. I am a Final Cut professional, FCP just WORKS without these stupid gotchas; we're testing Premiere Pro because the IT people want to move to Windoze...and I'm not at all impressed with anything but After Effects, which is awesome. //video_man

[_WB_Vaughan_]

Update on the Sony GV-HD700 deck: you have to set iLink Conv to OFF in the menu in order to log HDV. Why, I dunno, but then windows recognizes the deck and loads a driver, where it only loads it generically as a firewire device and shows "sony dv deck" in device manager if iLink Conv is set to "on".

SO == to log HDV in the Sony deck (maybe applies to the Sony camera problems people have been having as well) set iLink conv to OFF and try again. Premiere Pro still won't show you what you are logging, although the Sony deck has a nice screen making it moot...but, hey, Adobe, wise up, the logging window should show what you're working on, and scene capture should work in HDV. Strange -- in Final Cut Pro, scene logging ONLY works in HDV...but it CAN be done. //video_man

[excited_Genie16B8]

>Why, I dunno

My guess would be because with it on, it's changing the HDV source to DV output.

[_naartjie_]

hi all,
just installed premiere cs4 with the 4.01 update. trying to capture hdv footage. capture can see my sony hvr-a1 camera as online, and i can control the device from the software but i get no video and no audio - just timecode running. if i look on the lcd screen on the camera it's playing back fine. checked through all settings on camera - no problems. rebooted computer and camera no change. in fact, i had not changed settings on the camera since capturing without problems in cs3. any ideas?
thanks.
ps i have tried this both with a project imported from cs3 and with a new blank project with the same results.

[Farvid]

Hi all,

I'm using a trial version of Premiere Pro CS4 on Vista. Problem is I can't Capture from Canon xl1s, (device offline). I also have a small JVC Camcorder which captures fine,(device online) using same firewire cable as before. I'v also changed cables, same thing happens. Same problem when I tried both Cameras with Windows Movie Maker, xl1s(offline), JVC(online). I also tried capturing from both cameras onto the mac using FCP and they both worked fine. I have changed the Device Control settings in Premiere Pro, nothing. I'v changed the settings on the xl1s, nothing. I'v changed lots of different settings on laptop, i.e. screen saver settings,display settings etc, as per suggested on forum, nothing. I'm at a loss with this one, "all suggestions welcome"...

[Eddie Lotter]

See the capture page for some troubleshooting tips.

Cheers
Eddie

[acmputr]

I Hvae a Sony FX 1000 and was able to control the camera but not able to caprure video or sound.  I set the iLink convert to off (it was on) and now it works just fine.  Thanx for the thread...

[Rulerof52]

So the big answer? If you have a Sony Camera, you need to change the settings. This problem bugged me for months untill I found this thread. Here's what you need to do to capture a sony camera in HDV:

1) In Premiere Pro, go to Project, Project Settings, General, and under Capture, set Capture Format to HDV.

2) In Premiere Pro, go to File, Capture, Settings, and under Capture Settings, make sure it says HDV. If not, click edit.

3) On your Sony Camera, Go to Menu, Menu, Standard Set. Scroll down to VCR HDV/DV. Set to HDV.

4) On your Sony Camera, Go to Menu, Menu, Standard Set. Scroll down to i.Link Conv, and set i.Link Conv to off.

5) Connect the computer and camera with a firewire cable, hit F5, and record your video.

I hope this helps. I just want to help others who had the same problem that I had. Also, the settings on your camera might be different than mine, so look around.

Thanks,

Rulerof52

[the_wine_snob]

Very informative. Thank you for sharing.

Hunt

[christophert72193579]

Here I am in 2018 still having this problem. What's worse? I don't even want to capture video right now, I only want to capture audio, but as long as it's convinced my devices are offline I'm screwed in this regard.

I have tried my GoPro on webcam mode, which works fine in webcam applications, I've tried my Vive camera, same deal, and I've tried a little MS webcam I have. Works fine in other software, good old AAA Adobe Premiere not only doesn't detect it, it doesn't even allow me to have a choice in which device I'm using. On top of that, I don't want to record video. I'm doing that separately.

[peterd90070594]

Hello,

I've done all the above and still no luck, here in 2024.  I have a Sony HVR-A1U/A1N plugged directly from camera into my Windows 10 firewire port.  I have dubbed in lots of other video using my Canopus ADVC 110, but am not using it since ... I do not need to convert the video?  Or should I use Canpous still (couldn't get that to work either).

Thank you for any consideration!  ( BTW I am using the 2023 Premiere since the new version does not accept Capture any longer. }

Peter D

[Peru Bob]

You can use these programs for capture:

WinDV   WinDV

HDVSplit   HDVSplit 0.77 beta

[peterd90070594]

Thanks for the quick reply Peru Bob.

In both of those

programs, it can't see my camera.

[Peru Bob]

Try a different FireWire cable.

[peterd90070594]

I have done that.  Here is a bit more on the situation: Finding a challenge in capturing HDV videotape from my Sony HVR-A1U/A1N into Premiere Pro 2023 Windows 10.
I'm assuming I no longer need my Canopus since it's not analog video? (When I tried that, the video looked stretched.). I had great success capturing from a variety of formats using the Canopus.
When I plug directly from camera's 4 pin firewire to computer 6 pin firewire, I see nothing.
Should I try 4 pin to 4 pin - camera to computer?

[Peru Bob]

Should I try 4 pin to 4 pin - camera to computer?

By @peterd90070594

Not if your FireWire on the computer is 6 pin.

[Peru Bob]

I just looked at the user manual for that camera, and they show a mini USB (camera) to USB  (computer) to connect to a computer.

[peterd90070594]

hi - I have the manual here too.  do you mean the iLink cable?

[Peru Bob]

Sorry, my mistake.

The mini USB to USB is only for viewing the card contents, not the tape contents.

You will need to use the iLink cable.

[peterd90070594]

Thank you - will try that when it arrives.  What about using HDVSplit to capture, since PPro is being so balky.