With old Canon analog, had no issue with this. I would set recorder unput to DV.
But with Sony, wont work, don't see picture on screen.

Farthest I got in ideas was in manual to turn on i link, but some message comes on then about computer, and then an error, (I trying to burn to home DVD recoder not computer) Any help appreciated? thanks.

You need to set the camera's firewire output to standard DV mode instead of HDV. I have a Z1, but suspect it's similar on your camera. You should turn on i.LINK CONV in the menus (it's on the IN-OUT REC menu on my Z1). That will downconvert your HDV footage to DV as it plays back on the camera.

Does your camera have s-video output? If so then that's another option for feeding your DVD recorder, but firewire (i.Link) would be digital and higher quality if your recorder supports it.

I have HDR-HC3. I think it's set on some auto to go either HD or Standard. I dub for instance to other decks with standard tape. I set i link to on . Did not help. any other ideas appreciated. the manual is a mess. anyone who knows this camera I would love to hear from

I have HDR-HC3. I think it's set on some auto to go either HD or Standard.

The setting for record format shouldn't matter. But you need to have i.LINK CONV turned on if you're capturing regular DV from an HDV tape. When you play the tape, does it show up on the camera's LCD screen?

Can you capture regular DV on your computer via firewire? Can your DVD recorder capture DV from another camera via firewire? Have you tried a different firewire cable?

yes Boyd, it shows on the LCD, and i link is on. but still can't see picture on the TV screen. Yes I've been doing camera to camera backups, so think cord is Ok. anywher in manual go over this?

this is an answer I just got from another forum, can anyone verify this?

"The DV input on U.S. DVD recorders require the source video to be DV 720x480 480i in format. If you are shooting HD video then the DVD recorder cannot accept this. I don't know if your camcorder has an s-video output but if it does then you may be able to transfer the video that way because s-video is standard definition. "


( the sony hdr- hc3 does not have S out)

Hi Kevin -

Used to have a 3, let's see if I can figure this out for you.

what connection to the DVD recorder are you trying to use?

If firewire, there's a setting in the camcorder you need to change so that the firewire output is SD not HD - dig around in the touchscreen menus - I think it's called "i-link conv"... once you set that the camera downrezes for you to std DV (480i) instead of HDV, and should be acknowledged on your device input.

If component (R/G/B), not sure if the camera can downrez that output...

If composite (R/W/Y), you should be OK (I thought the composite would only be 480...?), and there is a cable available with S-vid , although I think the one that shipped with the camera didn't have that, only the audio L/R and composite. You can find the one with Svid on FleaBay for under $20.

So there's the three options for output from the camera - one of 'em ought to work! Firewire I would think would be the best?

DB>)

The DV input on U.S. DVD recorders require the source video to be DV 720x480 480i in format.

This is correct, and it's why I asked if you have i.LINK CONV activated on your camera. That will downconvert your 1920x1080 HD video to 720x480 for the recorder.

Since I don't have an HC3 I don't know whether it has this option, but I'm pretty sure it does. Have a look in your manual.

Ok , think got it going. now question:
Why do I not want to leave i link on?

Also, going, but picture on TV looks kind of distorted

Why do I not want to leave i link on?
If you never plan on capturing HDV to a computer or dubbing HDV to another cam, you can leave it on.

Pages 74-77 of the manual are pretty comprehensive about dubbing to devices and which cables and settings to use, and as noted above, with the right cable the HC3 will output S-Vid via the a/v jack.

How did you get it going? And how is the picture distorted?

My guess would be that the "distortion" is just normal anamorphic 16:9 viewed on a 4:3 TV. If you want to watch your 16:9 footage on a 4:3 TV you will need to burn an anamorphic DVD. My Sony DVD recorder can do this but I gather that the cheaper ones cannot.

Look through the menus and it would be under a heading like "record mode". You need to set the recorder for 16:9 if possible. If you can do this then the DVD's you burn will automatically be letterboxed when playing back on a 4:3 TV. Note that this is a different setting from the "screen size" menu which tells the DVD recorder what kind of TV it's connected to. That setting only affects playback. You need a setting to control the way the DVD is recorded.

If your DVD recorder can't do this then you're probably just out of luck, everything will look too tall and skinny on a 4:3 TV but will be correct on a 16:9 TV.

Adam, I just got it going by noting, from manual, need to unplug cord and then turn on ilink.

Picture is distorted, faces long, but that may be TV no?

"If you never plan on capturing HDV to a computer or dubbing HDV to another cam, you can leave it on."

But it's not like you need to have it on , correct, to capture to computer or dub to another camcorder.? In fact I do plan on backing up tapes with both those methods. is ilink a part of that equation? I thought it's just for DVD recorders. And WHEN would you want to turn it off?

Boyd: what you says makes sense. Do you know if my RDR-GX330 can do this? thanks -- same questions to Adam to you

Kevin -

i-link is Sony's term for "firewire" or 1394 or...

I is used for transferring video to your computer - if you want to edit HD instead of SD, the camera nees to be set to not downconvert - your DVD recorder doesn't have the software to interpret the HDV signals when the i-link is not downconverting, thus why you have to change the camera.

As for everyone looking tall and skinny, you're set to 16:9 output on a 4:3 screen - I think there's a menu setting to change that on the camera as well so you'll get a letterboxed output (like regular WS DVD's) on the 4:3 TV. Dig around in the menus - i remember seeing it somewhere on one of my cameras, and it seems like most of the Sony menus have similar if not identical settings.

I am guessing you're not one for manuals... I suggest you poke around the menus a bit (just hit the p-menu button on the touchcreen, then the menu button and then scroll around...) when you have time, and if you see something you don't understand, then consult the manual... these cameras aren't too tough to master <wink>!

DB>)

Kevin, that sounds like a Sony model number. I have an older model, the RDR-GX7. If the menu structure is similar, here's how to set it on my recorder. Press the TOOLS button on the remote and scroll to REC SETTINGS. Set REC SCREEN SIZE to 16:9 and press RETURN.

If all else fails, RTFM as Dave suggests :-)

Bottom line, is that this camera is recording in 16x9, even though, my TV is stone age 4x3, correct?

True, all HD is 16:9. But depending on the camera, you may have the option of converting it to 4:3 when downconverting to regular DV. My Z1 can do this either by letterboxing or chopping off the sides. Yours may not offer these choices.

But if you make the DVD correctly, the player itself will provide the letterbox on a 4:3 screen but send the full 16:9 image to a widescreen TV.

Ok just did some testing today, starting with the Sony DVD Recorder DRD-GX330.

On page 74 of manual it describes 3 modes, 16:9, 4:3 letterbox, and 4:3 pan scan.

It describes the letterbox and having black bars and pan scan as no black bars.

Everything I've recorded to this unit in last few months has NO black bars. ie 4:3 Pan Scan.

So it was odd when I navigated to video output for the first time and the setting was on 4:3 letterbox (which the manual says has black bars) --not pan scan

But more annoying was I recorded/tested in all three modes, 4:3, pan scan, and 16:9, and nothing changed -- all results came out as how I've been always getting same: pan scan ie, the screen all filled up, no black bars

In other words, no matter what I choose I get what they call 4:3 pan scan which fills up the whole screen. I just retested and this is what happens, and i link is on. (I've been dubbing from VHS for last few months and been getting this result too, pan scan which has been fine with me, and the setting has been on 4:3 letter box with black bars) but anyone have any clues why I don't get any change on this? thanks!

Kevin - check the CAMCORDER - there's a setting in there for 4:3 or 16:9 - on my HC7 which should be almost the same, under standard settings there is "TV TYPE"...

Odds are pretty good your camcorder has the SAME setting (sold my 3, so can't check it...).

If you would take a bit of time and at least bring up the camera menus (I don't read manuals EITHER, so I HAVE to poke at the buttons if I want to figure out my toys!!), you'd find these things pretty fast...

OTOH, I just found a setting for LCD color which I'm going to have to toy with since the LCD looks bland compared to the one on the HV20... maybe I can adjust these!

DB>)

thanks Dave, yes, I was going to go to the camera next, regardless of how the recorder worked out, but still curious about these issues with recorder I just mentioned. fairly bizarre or not?

So it was odd when I navigated to video output for the first time and the setting was on 4:3 letterbox (which the manual says has black bars) --not pan scan

Kevin, we just "aren't reaching each other" for some reason. Please read my post again.

Look through the menus and it would be under a heading like "record mode". You need to set the recorder for 16:9 if possible. If you can do this then the DVD's you burn will automatically be letterboxed when playing back on a 4:3 TV. Note that this is a different setting from the "screen size" menu which tells the DVD recorder what kind of TV it's connected to. That setting only affects playback. You need a setting to control the way the DVD is recorded.

You are looking (in your own words) at the OUTPUT menu. That determines how the playback function will handle widescreen video when it sends the image to your TV. It doesn't affect the way the video is RECORDED.

There should be a separate setting for the RECORD format of the video. You need to set that to 16:9. This will properly encode the widescreen material on the DVD. The other setting you tried may then be used to choose how you want to display the disk after it's recorded.

Hey guys, the torture chamber continues. I thought I had this down.
I'm on page 78 on manaul - hdr-hc3, only explanation I've ever succeeded in dubbing between these two camcorders, I own both.

I set up everything for HDV 1080 as I want that HD quality to be on the copy tape.

I set up record pause.

I have i link cord going between two camcorders, and now I get this message on the copy camcorder:

no output image, in "vcr hdv/dv, change format"

it's greek to me, if anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it. I'm doing a project and connot continue until I get a safety copy
Now in the VCR HD/DV menu, if I choose, HDV, (which I want right? I shot in HD 1080 and I want my backup tape to be also HD 1080 right?) I get this message, no output image, in "vcr hdv/dv, change format"

But... if go back and choose auto, then I can make the back up tape, but I see "DV" in the upper left of the copy camcorder instead of HDV 1080.

Which, tell me I'm wrong, that the back up tape would not be true HD 1080 like the master tape is.

Can someone please help!!! thanks!

The manual suggests setting the destination device to AUTO. Try setting both cams to AUTO and see if that changes anything. Then try setting them both to HDV.

i.LINK CONV is OFF on both, yes?

What's the 2nd camcorder? Another HC3?

No, i link was On, on the main deck, so I turned it off and now it seems good to go. thanks for saving day here Adam! Man, so many little things to check for...