Problems Connecting a V1U to computers

Andrew Buchanan · September 11th, 2008, 12:21 PM

Jeff - thanks for the response... when my camera gets back from Sony (provided I cannot return it) I will give this a try.

Dennis Watson · September 16th, 2008, 08:48 AM

Thanks Max and Seth,
Ive tried both of your suggestions and I'm still having the same issue. (ilink recognized on camera, not on pc or mac). I guessing its software issue within the camera itself. Speaking of which, does anyone know if there are any firmware updates for the v1 that might fix the issue? I went to sonys website and I see firmware updates for many of their cameras. https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-software.aspx However there is not a firmware update "specifically" for the v1.

Thanks.
-dw

Max Volki · September 16th, 2008, 04:06 PM

Dennis

If it is that bad, I would call your next Sony-Repair-Centre and ask them, if and how you can test the ILink-out of your camera. If it is "broken", you will have to send the camera in anyway

volki

Jeff Allen · September 17th, 2008, 06:49 AM

Dennis, I had posted earlier in this thread on some easy setup's that helped to solve my connectivity problem, which must have jinxed me, because I had problems connecting/recognizing over the weekend again myself.

One thing I did notice is that while having problems recognizing the camera on my Mac Pro, when I checked the firewire connections ('menu' - 'about this mac'- 'more info' - 'firewire', or just go straight into the System Profiler then 'firewire') the V1U was not showing on the firewire bus, but the camera showed iLink as active, and HDVin was also displayed on the camera LCD. I tried a number of things to get it recognized again, rebooting & clearing PRAM, etc. Finally I shut down, removed power from the computer, waited a few minutes, reconnected power, started up again, and connected the camera, and checked system profiler, and the camera was now showing as connected on the firewire bus.

Then when I started FCP, everything worked like normal again. Very strange and flaky behavior, that was frustrating, but I was able to get the camera recognized again, and working with FCP and capturing perfectly once again.

Not sure if any of the above helps, but there does appear to be some strange behavior with the firewire/iLink connectivity. I didn't change anything on my computer when the camera stopped connecting, and I made no changes when it started working again. Including making no changes to other devices on the Firewire bus.

Justin Zimmerman · September 18th, 2008, 04:41 PM

had this problem with FCP 5, but not FCP 6.

i used the same workaround you did. frustrating to say the least. fortunately, this problem has not plagued me since the upgrade...

Jeff Allen · September 19th, 2008, 07:38 AM

Justin, I am on Final Cut Pro 6.04. I have been on final cut 6 since before I got the V1U camera, so there must be something else at play here either in the camera, or related to system setup is my assumption (or maybe some interaction between the two that makes the connection marginal?). I don't believe based on my experience this is a FCP 5 versus FCP 6 issue, although FCP 5 may make it worse, no way for me to test that.

So far this has only happened to me twice, so hoping it does not become more frequent.

In the end, I love the quality of the camera, and will put up with this annoyance. I also have not reached the conclusion that I can completely blame the camera (yet).

Justin Zimmerman · September 19th, 2008, 09:37 AM

yeah, i figured. just hoping it was an issue that might be solved by an upgrade. have you tried uninstalling and then reinstalling FCP? i find the VU1 camera simply finicky...though i have yet to have issues with the newest version of FCP...as of yet!

Jeff Allen · September 20th, 2008, 07:03 AM

Justin, Given that my system was not recognizing the V1U on the firewire bus prior to launching FCP, and then after trouble shooting, it was recognizing it on the bus, prior to launching FCP, I don't think uninstalling and reinstalling FCP will solve the problem. Plus, that would end up taking much more time doing the uninstall/reinstall than what I have spent trouble shooting. At this point, with my particular issue I am going to see if it becomes more prevalent, and then may take more drastic measures if it does. I will keep my fingers crossed that the issue doesn't crop up very often.

If it does come up again, I may try a much more systematic approach to trouble shooting, and will post my findings here.

Justin Zimmerman · September 20th, 2008, 10:14 AM

interestingly, though, i was seeing the iLINK light and the camera responding to the firewire out normally when i was using the previous version of FCP - but i could not get FCP to recognize the camera as a deck. i'd have to boot everything up then hot swap the camera when log and capture was up to get the footage in in native HDV.

with the new FCP and the new Pro Res CODEC, all is fine. that's why i'm wondering if it's a FCP issue, and the program is not creating the proper interface for the computer to recognize the camera on the bus. most likely not, as you've suggested. but it might be something to try if things get desperate.

good luck!

Jeff Turkali · September 24th, 2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Allen

Finally I shut down, removed power from the computer, waited a few minutes, reconnected power, started up again, and connected the camera, and checked system profiler, and the camera was now showing as connected on the firewire bus.

This is risky, connecting PW devices while powered up. Some have been lucky for months, and then one day they have fried jacks.

Jeff Turkali · September 24th, 2008, 12:31 AM

I've had my eye on this camera for many months but not sure if... perhaps I should steer clear after reading these reports. Major bummer!

Seth Bloombaum · September 24th, 2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Turkali

I've had my eye on this camera for many months but not sure if... perhaps I should steer clear after reading these reports. Major bummer!

I wouldn't want to diminish the problems the original poster and a couple others are having, but they are in a small minority of users. I wouldn't base a camera-buying decision on this. If you search this forum, you'll see that many, many users are connecting up without issue to FCP, Premiere, Vegas, Edius, you name it.

Again, those problems are real, but affecting very few. Most forum threads are created to help solve problems, issues like this tend to get magnified.

Justin Zimmerman · September 24th, 2008, 11:27 AM

i agree.

zero problems for me since i upgraded to FCP 6.0.4.

Jeff Turkali · September 24th, 2008, 02:43 PM

answered in earlier post

Greg Laves · September 24th, 2008, 03:43 PM

I have had no problems connecting my V1 to either of my computors via firewire. Both have CS3. And a colleague who has a lap top and a desktop has had zero problems connecting through his firewire either. I have never worried about turning anything off before connecting or disconnecting, either.

September 16th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#17
Dennis Watson Tourist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: kingsport, tn Posts: 3	No Luck. Thanks Max and Seth, Ive tried both of your suggestions and I'm still having the same issue. (ilink recognized on camera, not on pc or mac). I guessing its software issue within the camera itself. Speaking of which, does anyone know if there are any firmware updates for the v1 that might fix the issue? I went to sonys website and I see firmware updates for many of their cameras. https://servicesplus.us.sony.biz/sony-software.aspx However there is not a firmware update "specifically" for the v1. Thanks. -dw

September 24th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#29
Jeff Turkali Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 57	answered in earlier post Last edited by Jeff Turkali; September 25th, 2008 at 03:38 AM. Reason: duh!

September 11th, 2008, 12:21 PM	#16
Andrew Buchanan Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 28	Jeff - thanks for the response... when my camera gets back from Sony (provided I cannot return it) I will give this a try.

September 16th, 2008, 04:06 PM	#18
Max Volki Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 88	Dennis If it is that bad, I would call your next Sony-Repair-Centre and ask them, if and how you can test the ILink-out of your camera. If it is "broken", you will have to send the camera in anyway volki

September 17th, 2008, 06:49 AM	#19
Jeff Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 40	Dennis, I had posted earlier in this thread on some easy setup's that helped to solve my connectivity problem, which must have jinxed me, because I had problems connecting/recognizing over the weekend again myself. One thing I did notice is that while having problems recognizing the camera on my Mac Pro, when I checked the firewire connections ('menu' - 'about this mac'- 'more info' - 'firewire', or just go straight into the System Profiler then 'firewire') the V1U was not showing on the firewire bus, but the camera showed iLink as active, and HDVin was also displayed on the camera LCD. I tried a number of things to get it recognized again, rebooting & clearing PRAM, etc. Finally I shut down, removed power from the computer, waited a few minutes, reconnected power, started up again, and connected the camera, and checked system profiler, and the camera was now showing as connected on the firewire bus. Then when I started FCP, everything worked like normal again. Very strange and flaky behavior, that was frustrating, but I was able to get the camera recognized again, and working with FCP and capturing perfectly once again. Not sure if any of the above helps, but there does appear to be some strange behavior with the firewire/iLink connectivity. I didn't change anything on my computer when the camera stopped connecting, and I made no changes when it started working again. Including making no changes to other devices on the Firewire bus.

September 18th, 2008, 04:41 PM	#20
Justin Zimmerman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 101	had this problem with FCP 5, but not FCP 6. i used the same workaround you did. frustrating to say the least. fortunately, this problem has not plagued me since the upgrade...

September 19th, 2008, 07:38 AM	#21
Jeff Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 40	Justin, I am on Final Cut Pro 6.04. I have been on final cut 6 since before I got the V1U camera, so there must be something else at play here either in the camera, or related to system setup is my assumption (or maybe some interaction between the two that makes the connection marginal?). I don't believe based on my experience this is a FCP 5 versus FCP 6 issue, although FCP 5 may make it worse, no way for me to test that. So far this has only happened to me twice, so hoping it does not become more frequent. In the end, I love the quality of the camera, and will put up with this annoyance. I also have not reached the conclusion that I can completely blame the camera (yet).

September 19th, 2008, 09:37 AM	#22
Justin Zimmerman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 101	yeah, i figured. just hoping it was an issue that might be solved by an upgrade. have you tried uninstalling and then reinstalling FCP? i find the VU1 camera simply finicky...though i have yet to have issues with the newest version of FCP...as of yet!

September 20th, 2008, 07:03 AM	#23
Jeff Allen Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Roseville, CA Posts: 40	Justin, Given that my system was not recognizing the V1U on the firewire bus prior to launching FCP, and then after trouble shooting, it was recognizing it on the bus, prior to launching FCP, I don't think uninstalling and reinstalling FCP will solve the problem. Plus, that would end up taking much more time doing the uninstall/reinstall than what I have spent trouble shooting. At this point, with my particular issue I am going to see if it becomes more prevalent, and then may take more drastic measures if it does. I will keep my fingers crossed that the issue doesn't crop up very often. If it does come up again, I may try a much more systematic approach to trouble shooting, and will post my findings here.

September 20th, 2008, 10:14 AM	#24
Justin Zimmerman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 101	interestingly, though, i was seeing the iLINK light and the camera responding to the firewire out normally when i was using the previous version of FCP - but i could not get FCP to recognize the camera as a deck. i'd have to boot everything up then hot swap the camera when log and capture was up to get the footage in in native HDV. with the new FCP and the new Pro Res CODEC, all is fine. that's why i'm wondering if it's a FCP issue, and the program is not creating the proper interface for the computer to recognize the camera on the bus. most likely not, as you've suggested. but it might be something to try if things get desperate. good luck!

September 24th, 2008, 12:31 AM	#26
Jeff Turkali Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 57	I've had my eye on this camera for many months but not sure if... perhaps I should steer clear after reading these reports. Major bummer!

September 24th, 2008, 11:27 AM	#28
Justin Zimmerman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 101	i agree. zero problems for me since i upgraded to FCP 6.0.4.

September 24th, 2008, 03:43 PM	#30
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	I have had no problems connecting my V1 to either of my computors via firewire. Both have CS3. And a colleague who has a lap top and a desktop has had zero problems connecting through his firewire either. I have never worried about turning anything off before connecting or disconnecting, either.