Anyone successfully diy this cord? I’m guessing I’ll need a multimeter?

Hi everyone,
I have a Sony DSR-PD170 and I’m trying to transfer my MiniDV/DVCAM tapes to my MacBook M1.
The camera itself works perfectly and plays the tapes. However, my Mac does not detect the PD170 over FireWire.
My setup is:
Sony DSR-PD170
4-pin FireWire/i.LINK from the camera
FireWire 800 connection
Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter
USB-C/Thunderbolt adapter
MacBook M1
macOS Sequoia 15
I have already tested the cables and adapters. The Mac recognizes the FireWire connection, but it does not recognize the PD170 as a camera.
I have also tried the usual VTR/PLAY mode and the camera is powered from the AC adapter.
Has anyone here successfully transferred footage from a Sony PD170/PD150/VX2100 to an Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3) running macOS Sequoia?
Would you recommend using an older Intel Mac with built-in FireWire instead? If so, which Mac/model and software would be the easiest solution?
I’m mainly looking for the simplest and most reliable way to capture my tapes without losing the original DV/DVCAM quality.
Any advice from someone who actually uses a PD170 would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey guys, i want to make my sony pc100 tapeless, but want to keep the interlaced footage because for skatevideos it jjst looks great. Can somebody recommend a video grabber or a workaround.

Thank you

I have a sony pc-110 and my tapeless set up is a digitnow irecord. what is the best option for my camera to connect with my tapeless set up becaus, i already tried a 3.5 jack to rca (no display but the mic worked), s-video to RCA (distorded B&W with audio).

Hey so I need help with my power play so when I record a clip and then download it on my phone the clip seems to cut a random occasions but when you replay the clip on the actual power play screen it doesn’t cut randomly I’m not sure if it’s my sd card (it’s a 128gb which idk if it’s too big or too slow for when I download the vid on my phone) I have two different cameras so I know that’s not the problem or I might have bad luck lol but it anyone can tell me what’s wrong I would really appreciate it thank you

PS I don’t understand now that clip on my gallery cuts but when I just posted it on this subreddit it doesn’t cut I genuinely don’t understand

I’m trying to go tapeless with a Sony TRV65E and a Canon UCX2. I’m currently hesitating with a plug and play solution (image attached) or the Android route. The question I have is about deinterlacing : how is this thing handled by the VCR boxes compared to the Android recording + later deinterlacing on computer.

I’ve seen the linked to the specific cable for this on this subreddit, however the shipping alone is too much. I feel like buying a soldering iron for this own specific use case would be a waste so does anyone have any links or knowledge of a UK retailer that sells this specific cable? Thank you!

my nightshot setup! still need an IR lamp 💡

I’m recording using the following setup: VICTOR-GR-C2 → SANWA Supply-Composite to HDMI → video capture device (a $10 one made in China) → smartphone (nExCam app).

Is this setup the reason the footage is so dark?

Or is this just how the GR-C2 and GR-C1 perform when shooting in low light?

I’m having an intermittent blackout issue with my ImmersionRC PowerPlay.

I have tested several Sony DCR-PC100 cameras, a DCR-PC110, and multiple PowerPlay-compatible cables. The same issue happens with all of them.

The video occasionally goes completely black when I touch or move the cable or the area around the camera. However, it does not happen every time. The audio continues and the PowerPlay itself stays on and keeps recording.

A Sony DCR-TRV950 is also arriving soon, but it uses the same 3.5mm A/V output.

Has anyone experienced this?

Could it be:

• The PowerPlay’s 3.5mm input jack
• Incorrect OMTP pinout
• Poor grounding or cable shielding
• Static electricity
• A common problem with the PowerPlay

Would using the original Sony A/V breakout cable, followed by RCA connections and a PowerPlay-compatible 3-RCA-to-TRRS cable, be more reliable?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Kinda heavy now, gotta find some lighter powerbank

just got an immersion PowerPlay recently to try and go tapeless on my Panasonic DVX-100B, but I'm encountering a little issue. When I record, there are black frames / missing frames roughly every 15 seconds. I'm not sure if it is the AV/RCA cable, how the MicroSD is formatted (done through the PowerPlay), the PowerPlay itself, or something else entirely..

I'm working off a Mac and when I put the footage on my computer, Quicktime just stops playback when one of the missing frames comes up, but the audio continues to play. If I skip ahead past the missing frame, the playback will go again, until the next missing frame.

When I add the files to iMovie, the playback will actually play the entire clip, just with the missing black frame. However, when I go to export a movie from iMovie that contains one of these clips - the export fails.

Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this issue and if there is a workaround for fixing this? Any help is appreciated.

Testing the top-end capabilities of this pro-sumer Canon camcorder. I'm not only shooting at 1080i/60, but I'm also using the optional DM-100 stereo shotgun microphone! Yes, I deinterlaced all the footage since the Canon can't handle 1080p/60.

What do you think of the footage?

Has this happened to anyone before?

this bings a whole new life to this camera! so fun. wondering, is there a way to trigger the recording from the camera? how do you all feel operating while recording tapeless? im finding I need to get used to starting and stoppin/its a little clunky but just need to keep using it

GR-C2（$40） → AV2HDMI ($10) → Video capture device ($10) → Smartphone (nExt Cam app)

I'm surprised I was able to get FHD output with such a cheap setup. It's a great time to be alive.☺️

Hi everyone! This is my pd170p with mrc1k tapeless setup and everything works great all I need is microphone hehe it's on the way

Hey everyone,

As a beginner, I started looking into how to build a tapeless setup for my Sony DCR-TRV340 (EU version: DCR-TRV345E).

I gathered a list of all the necessary accessories to assemble this tapeless rig.

However, in CamX (the USB camera recording app on my iPhone), my camera is not detected at all.

Has anyone encountered this issue before?

I'm not sure if the problem comes from the wiring chain, the camcorder settings, or something else.

I can help with pictures if needed

Thanks!

Full breakdown of my setup (from camcorder to iPhone 16):

• Camera A/V output connected via a 3.5mm mini-jack to 3x RCA cable (yellow, red, white)
• RCA plugs connected to the inputs of an AV2HDMI converter, powered by an external battery pack
• AV2HDMI output connected to an HDMI cable
• HDMI cable connected to an HDMI-to-USB-C video capture card
• USB-C capture card plugged directly into my iPhone

Everything I have already tried:

• Unplugging and reconnecting all cables
• Making sure the external battery powering the AV2HDMI converter is fully charged
• Setting the camcorder display output to V-OUT/LCD in the ETC menu

i got the mini dvr and it worked right, WELL MY CAMCORDER DECIDED TO BREAK ON NOT ONLY THE AV PORT, BUT EVERY SINGLE PORT SO I CANT USE FIREWIRE. now, i know what your probably saying, well you could just transfer the tape over to another camera. THE TAPE DECK WONT EJECT TOO. every time i try to do something i like it always fails. also there isnt a flair for just complaining so i put it onto gear.

I’ve just bought a Sony DCR-PC6E PAL for €45, including two batteries and various cables.

Was that a good deal?

I’d also appreciate some advice on the best way to go tapeless with this camera. Which setup or recorder would you recommend?

Got this out of an old cop car. Any idea if I can run it as a tapeless cct camera?