Copying Back To Tape In DV Camcorder

[Guest]

I can copy from my camcorder (Panasonic DV900) to Moviemaker but when I try
to copy it back after the movie is completed, the progress bar gets to 50%,
the camera seems like it going to start recording, and I get an error -
"CHECK DV-INPUT". I even tried a different firewire with no luck. Do you
think it could be the camera (Panasonic was not much help) or maybe a driver
I need to load? I know I have done this process before, with the same camera
and firewire, but it may have been a different computer. Does anyone have any
suggestions I can try?

 

[Guest]

One post noted that it may be that the DV-in feature on your camera is
disabled
http://www.dmnforums.com/cgi-bin/displaywwugpost.fcgi?forum=adobe_premiere&post=020319202553.htm

However, you mentioned that you have done this in the past, possibly on a
different computer. Another post I found, noted that you may have to put
additional 'black' space at the beginning of your movie to fool the
Panasonic. The post applied to iMovie, so I don't know if it translates to
WMM, but here is a snippet:

* Using Panasonic camcorders
If you try to export to tape and the camcorder LCD flashes the
message "Check DV Input," then goes into Record/Pause mode but
doesn't start recording, do the following:
1. Stop the camcorder and cancel the export.
2. Add a few extra seconds of black before the recording, or increase
the time to wait for the camcorder in the Export Movie window.
3. When you export to tape, watch for black frames being sent to the
camcorder on the LCD then press the Still button on the camcorder's
VTR controls to begin recording.

Other than that, I have no first-hand experience with this brand of
camcorder, so I can't help further.

 

[Guest]

I added the black frames in front of my movies and hit the still button when
moviemaker started controlling the camera and the black frames came on the
display. This is when the error message usually appeared but this time the
Record light came on and the movie was captured successfully. Thanks so much
for your help. It's still a bit of a nuisance because you have to sit here
and babysit it, especially for long movies because it could take a while
before the copy process actually starts, but I'll take it! Thanks again!

 

[Guest]

You're welcome... I'm glad it worked even if it is rather 'kludgy'.