Thanks, Mark I realise I should have given more details. If it had been a question about Word or Excel, I'm sure I would have - but here my ignorance makes me act dumb. No, he's not using Vista - or Firewire. I got him to describe the set-up and the problem: Specs: - Panasonic Video Camcorder, model NV-GS500, using MiniDV tapes - Connected via USB2.0 (NOT FireWire or IEEE-1394, no port installed) - Using Windows XP (S/P 2) - Running Adobe Premiere Pro v 1.5 - Premiere acknowledges camera (status 'detected') but cannot activate or control camera via USB link. Displays error message "Can't Activate Recorder. Try resetting camera." (This doesn't work). Windows Movie Maker has no such problem, but creates many complications in the capture process, i.e. large file size, clips not registered, loss of quality + dropped frames, etc. - Other capturing programs also create file and seem unable to capture audio from camera, as they require audio be captured from sound card (audio from playing camera is not heard through the speaker ergo not through sound card) and our sound card cannot capture from microphones (pointless as there is no cord to properly connect). Hope this gives you and others some idea of the problem. Howard Howard Silcock Technical Writer Zare Pty Ltd Ph 02 6261 2073 Fax 02 6112 2073 "Kofler, Mark" <Mark.Kofler@xxxxxx> Sent by: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 08/01/2008 05:06 PM Please respond to austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> cc Subject atw: Re: Anyone have experience with capturing to Adobe Premiere? [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED] What camera and Operating system is he using? Is he using Firewire under Vista? Vista has known issues with Firewire. I have never been able to get Vista to recognize my Cannon video camera. Look at support at Microsoft for Vista and Firewire for some work around. Also try another PC with a Firewire port, preferably running XP. If it does not work under XP, suspect a hardware fault on the camera. I have been told that incorrect connection to a firewire port can burn out the motherboard on the camera - which is what also happened to me. Check the firewire card is properly enabled and working through System Devices in Control panel. Install/update drivers if required for the Firewire card. Also try another device on the Firewire card, like an Ipod, if it does not work, suspect a faulty Firewire card. There only about $20 bucks to replace. Contact the Support area of the maker of the camera. Cheers, Mark Mark Kofler CA Senior Technical Writer Tel: +61 3 84165757 +61 3 84165600 Fax: +61 3 84165810 Mobile: +61 401375219 Mark.Kofler@xxxxxx http://www.ca.com From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Howard.Silcock@xxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, 8 January 2008 4:43 PM To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: atw: Anyone have experience with capturing to Adobe Premiere? [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED] Not sure if this is just on the border of tech writing or totally off-topic. My son is using Adobe Premiere for video editing on our PC at home and is having problems capturing from his video camera. I know next to nothing about video editing, so I'm looking for advice. I suspect there may be some simple way to do what he needs to do that someone with a bit of experience could just pass on. The problems seems to be with getting Premiere to recognise the video camera. He has also tried other capture software, but that seems to produce other problems. If you think you may be able to help, I'd be very grateful. Howard Howard Silcock Technical Writer Zare Pty Ltd Ph 02 6261 2073 Fax 02 6112 2073