A Plea for Help! Technical?

[Rvrwind]

I have a request of the membership if one of them could possibly help me.
Back in 2000 - 2001 I bought a video camera, which I still have & am trying to use without success.
It is a Sony Digital Handycam DCR-TRV 140, a good camera by all accounts.
When I purchased it (in Canada) the instruction booklet said it had a disc with it for the drivers to be able to use it on my computer. Well the disc was never with the camera & at the time I wasn't concerned as I had no plans to use it with my puter & the sales agent gave me some song & dance I can't recall now & I just figured to hell with it. I now regret that decision as I need that disc.
The disc contains, according to the instruction booklet, PIXELA Image Maker Ver. 1.0 for Sony as well as the video & audio drivers.
I have already downloaded the drivers from the web, twice & from two different sites including Sony's own website. I can get the video to work, no problem there. The problem is the audio won't work. I have uninstalled & reinstalled & redownloaded & for some reason cannot get the audio to work.
I fear the only way will be to obtain this disc & use it for the installation. If anybody might have this disc or some idea how I can get the audio drivers to work it would be much appreciated.
Keep in mind I cannot be running all over the internet downloading several programs. I pay my internet by the MB & it gets costly, I have already spent a small fortune to this point & not looking forward to spending another small fortune trying to get this dang thing working. I am seriously in need of getting it to work properly & would really appreciate any help.
Thanks in advance!

[BC]

Could be a problem with the viewer program you are using to view the files on you pc.. missing or bad/partially working codec.

Make a very short movie, download it from your camera to your desktop and then attach it to a post here.  Maybe others can hear the audio portion.  If so it has something to do with your 'puter.

p.s.

If you can't attach the file to a post, just ask and will send you an email address to send it to.

[MaxxumUSA]

I have a video editing software called Studio 9.  I think there must be a newer version but this one is fine.

Have you tried a third party video editing software like this?

BTW - I can help you and bring a copy of whatever you need on disc when I fly to russia in august.

It would be nice to know your computer and operating system information.

- Dave

[Rvrwind]

I have a video editing software called Studio 9.  I think there must be a newer version but this one is fine.

Have you tried a third party video editing software like this?

Dave...wouldn't I need to install a video capture device for that? I know the guys at the Puter store here tried to sell me one with a special cable, I think it was Firewire but I wasn't sure it would pug into my camcorder.
Besides I can capture the video so obviously I must have a video capture device already installed.

Make a very short movie, download it from your camera to your desktop and then attach it to a post here.  Maybe others can hear the audio portion.  If so it has something to do with your 'puter.

I'll give that a try BC, I'll make it pretty short though as it will cost, LOL., Late tonight so I'll try it tomorrow.
Thanks for the replies guys.
I have recieved word that the drivers are on their way. Not sure in what form. If it is the actual disc from Sony or if he downloaded them himsef. Guess I'll know when I get them. A friend is bringing them when he comes in 8 weeks but I have a lot to do & will be heading back to Canada shortly after that so I would really like to have them much sooner. So in the meantime I am going to continue trying to get the damn thing working with what I got. Maybe I'll get lucky.

[Rvrwind]

Tried to upload a 30 second video but it says the file is too large & won't upload it, any suggestions?

[BC]

check your pm

[Rvrwind]

Okay, I uploaded it to my server & tested it with Windows Movie Player & the video works but no sound, here's the link - give it a go...
http://www.tverangels.com/videofiles/Sample.wmv

[BC]

Made my mouth water.. but no sound.. video was fine.

I assume when you play the file on your camera there is sound.

Am not a video techie, but 'sounds' like sony is using some convoluted form of the WMV format.

In the meantime you might want to check in your camera if other video formats are supported and try another one.

Here tested with several linux players and editors but could only get a few squeaks and pops fiddling with different audio encoders.

[Kuna]

Rvrwnd,

What sort of cable are you using to conenct the camera to your computer?

[Rvrwind]

I assume when you play the file on your camera there is sound.

Sure is BC & when I hook it to the TV I get sound as well so I know the camera is working. Its some problem with the drivers, I'm pretty sure. But what I don't know. I've tried all the different settings for the audio too, Aux, Mcrophone, Stero Mix & about four others, nada!
Didn't mean to make you hungry though, LOL. Just wanted a clip with lots of sounds.

What sort of cable are you using to conenct the camera to your computer?

Kuna, using a USB cable. Got an E mail today suggesting to use Firewire instead. Appearantly it is a smarter wire & bypasses some functions, which begs the question. How can a piece of wire be smart, its only wire?
Anyway the sender said to get 4 pin on one end & 6 on the other but didn't mention which end for which # of pins! Or is all Firewire the same. I can probably find it here but if its Russian & smart wire, how will it react being mated to a Canadian Camera?? Hmmm another puzzle, LOL.

[MaxxumUSA]

You definitely need firewire.  Not the same as USB.  It should be readily available in Russia.

You may have difficulty after doing this with the speed of your hard drives.  This problem can be rectified in most instances with your existing drives so if it gives you this error after using the firewire do not panic.

[Rvrwind]

Okay,I will give it a try on the morrow.
What is the error message & how do I fix it if need be?

[catzenmouse]

Cute video. Who was that shady looking character lurking around in the background? Looks like trouble to me so you may want to keep "him" away from that lovely wife of yours...

Good luck with the camera! Technology is great when it works and helps you remember all those swear words you've tried to forget when it doesn't!

Ken

[Muckraker]

Rvr, any chance you are using Windows 98?  Page 97 of the owners manual says it it won't record sound if using Windows 98.

Muck

[MaxxumUSA]

It would be nice to know your computer and operating system information.

Rvr, any chance you are using Windows 98?  Page 97 of the owners manual says it it won't record sound if using Windows 98.

Muck

???

[Bruno]

Got an E mail today suggesting to use Firewire instead. Appearantly it is a smarter wire & bypasses some functions, which begs the question. How can a piece of wire be smart, its only wire?
Anyway the sender said to get 4 pin on one end & 6 on the other but didn't mention which end for which # of pins! Or is all Firewire the same. I can probably find it here but if its Russian & smart wire, how will it react being mated to a Canadian Camera?? Hmmm another puzzle, LOL.

Via a Firewire, the camera send the film in full digital mode ( RAW )... file are big, very big... but the quality is like original since no compression codec are used... why Firewire is fast... simply because it don't relay to your computer processor...

about sound on your test file, you have a sound channel :

Audio: MS Windows Media Audio 2 65kb/s
Video: MS WMV 9 (win32) 320x240(320x240)

So, it is not a problem of transfer... more a codec problem...

Have you try Linux... i have a Sony too but  not your model... when i plug it via USB, a new windows open and i can browse the "memory" of the Sony like it is a hard drive... simply "copy and paste" the video... and in my case, video are stored in MPG format !!!

[Rvrwind]

Well I got the Firewire, a waste of money. It plugs into the camera but I have no place to plug it into the computer. I was of the impression that it was still a USB plug in on the computer end, wrong. Apperantly to use the Firewire I also have to purchase some dang board to put in my puter. More hardware & sorry but can't afford that just yet.

Rvr, any chance you are using Windows 98?  Page 97 of the owners manual says it it won't record sound if using Windows 98.

Come on Muck, I ain't that clueless, although I feel close sometimes. I am using Windows XP Professional 2002 Service Pack 2

about sound on your test file, you have a sound channel :

Yes Bruno. When I play the Video at the bottom it shows that the sound file is there & how big & how fast it is, just so - Video 320 x 240 Audio 44 khz 16 bps stereo 473 kbps 21.32 fps. To me that is saying the audio is there but it ain't comming out over my speakers.
I thought perhaps the drivers didn't load properly but in my Device Manager it says they are present & they are working correctly. If it is a codec problem I have no idea how to fix that or what codec to install.
No I don't have Lunix & with the problems I am already facing I ain't into adding more. LOL

[Simoni]

Well I got the Firewire, a waste of money. It plugs into the camera but I have no place to plug it into the computer.

You can buy a firewire card for your mother board for around $25.   I like firewire a lot and recommend it to you; and for more that this single issue.

[Rvrwind]

I might do that but right now, it ain't feesible. If I get this new job I'm interveiwing for in Moscow on Monday, then I think my banker (my wife) will let me buy it...if I am a good boy!!

[Simoni]

Richard, good luck with your interview in Moscow!

[Rvrwind]

Thanks Simoni. Already intervewed me over the phone but need to meet in person. It sounds good & the pay is excellent so if everything else works out I'll be back in the relm of the employed.
The demand for teachers here is growing in leaps & bounds, mostly due to the Olympics. All the Police & most of the businesses & those that will be doing business in Sochi & their staff need to learn English.
Big opportunities for those interested.