Unable to initialize video deck help

Yesterday my sony dvcam deck that had been working well for around 3 years failed to initialize and I can't get final cut to recognize it. I've tried everything. I trashed the prefs, reinstalled final cut, reinstalled quicktime, deleted the quicktime receipts, different presets etc. and nothing seems to work. I can capture video with imovie and quicktime but final cut won't recognize it. I have nowhere else to turn!
Any help would be appreciated,
Tim

"...When the problem occurred my versions were:
OS - 10.4.11
FCP - 5.1.4
QT - 7.6.2..."
This may have started the issue. FCP 5.1.4 works best with the OS you list, but also QT 7.1.2(or3). Inadvertently upgrading QT above this has been know to bungle FW connectivity.
My guess is that you process of upgrading FCS hasn't cleared the issue.
So, you may be correct, in that...depending on how you accomplished the FCS upgrade, you may need to restart the process.
Since I've not had to do this, I'll let others post details, or search this forum for somethiing like... "FCP doesn't recognize", or some such terminology. We've seen this often in the past.
Best procedure is to do a complete archive/erase/install of all components...OS/FCP/QT, which gets you up to date with best clean combination.
This link may be of assistance regarding best combos...
http://www.digitalrebellion.net/blog/posts/recommendedquicktime_and_mac_os_configurations_for_final_cutpro.html
K
EDIT - just noticed you're on a PPC G5. My understanding is that G5's will not work with Snow Leopard, so be advised...Leopard is as high as you should go with the OS.
Message was edited by: Kevan D. Holdsworth

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Unable to initialize video deck, (can not capture from camera)

Hello All,
I am using a quad core G5 and am trying to capture some footage into Final Cut Pro version 5.0. I have two Panasonic DVX 100B mini DV cameras. I normally capture with a JVC BR-DV3000 mini DV deck but it is currently not working. So I'm trying to capture using my camera.
I hooked my camera up to my computer via firewire and started final cut, When I click File > Log and capture a little window pops up that reads:
" Unable to initialize video deck. You may still log offline clips or use Capture Now"
I'm not sure why this box is appearing. When I click the capture now button, the Capture window pops up and then I press play on the video camera and the footage plays on the camera but the capture window remains black or empty. I have tried both cameras and two different firewire cables with the same results. I have also tried to restart the computer.
Can anyone shine some light on this situation?
Thank you so much for your help.
Mike Wardynski

Are there any other firewire devices connected to your Mac?
Did you go into your easy setup and reselect the DV setting for the standard you are using?
Also sometimes, shutting down and restarting your Mac, after making these changes some times allows the new device to be recognized.
One other thing, the DV camera may have a menu setting that needs to be set for communication via firewire possibly?

"Unable to initialize video deck" inquiry

I am new to Mac and FCE, so I ask for some slack...
I am trying to get video from my Panasonic AG DVX 100 into FCE.
About my system: IMac 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with OS X 10.5.2. I have FCE 4 on this computer, not an upgrade of earlier program, but version 4, straight out of the box. I know FCE is working, because I have edited a hour long project on it.
Here's my issue: With the first project complete, I want to import some new video into FCE and start another project. I connect the camera to the Mac via firewire (the white cable that I bought at the Mac store). When I go to "File" in FCE, I go to capture, and I get the following message:
*"Unable to initialize video deck. You may still use capture now."*
I continue by selecting "capture now." The capture window appears with "preview disabled" on the color bars, "no communication" at the bottom of the window. I hit "capture now" in the bottom right and I get the following message:
*"Attempt to capture video without a video device selected. Please select a video device in your capture presets and try again."*
I can't seem to track down "capture presets" , so that's my first issue. This was not a problem the first time I captured video. While at the Mac store, we plugged the camera into other Macs, but still would not get a signal. On FC, it would recognize the camera for a second or two, then flash the "no communication" error. The Mac folks believed it was a camera video out issue.
Some additional factors:
1. it's not the video output on this particular camera. Since that Mac store visit, I hooked it up to another computer and I could see video. So I'm confident that the camera will send video through this firewire.
2. Back to my original project, I imported video into FCE using this cable and a different mini dv camera (sony). It worked with the Sony camera, but will not work with this Panasonic.
I asked another friend, a MAC/FC/Panasonic DVX 100 guy, and he has never encountered this particular error message. He believes it's some setting within the computer that can be fixed through a software patch.
I would be most grateful for insight into solving what is likely a problem others have experienced. Please keep in mind that I am new to this whole process, and will likely show this thread to the people at the Mac store during my next one-on-one class.
Thank you very much.

David:
Thanks for your suggestion. I did check the firewire to ensure it's securely in place, and it seems like it is.
I did connect this camera and this firewire into a friend's macbook, and the signal was successfully received.
So I don't think it's a "loose wire" possibility. We also checked another camera into my Mac's firewire port, and it was successful.
So for some unknown reason, this particular Mac will not recognize this particular camera.
Again, your insights are greatly appreciated.

Unable to initialize video deck

I'm using Final Cut Pro 7.0.2 and I get this message when trying to Capture Footage from my camera: "Unable to initialize video deck". My settings are on Firewire NTSC which is what I always use. I used it a week ago and it worked then and many times before, now all of a sudden, it doesn't work. Anyone know what the problem is? Is the firewire fried or is there something else that could be wrong?

I am having a similar problem. I have the Canon Z65 DV camcorder and have a firewire 800 cable that connects correctly to the camera and my newer Macbook Pro but i dont see anything under the Apple Info under firewire. It just lists the maximum speed for the firewire bus. I put the camera on VCR/Play mode and even tried setting the cameras VCR setting VCR-->DV to On but still i dont see any changes for whats connected to the firewire bus or the ability to see the camera in imovie.
Any advice?

Unable to Initialize video deck, you may still use capture now. ??

Im trying to capture footage off my sony DCR-TRV900. Ive been able to do it before, but all of a sudden i cant. Ive tried all sorts of crap like switching cables, even sending the camera in. I dont know if settings got messed up or crap like that, but now my FCE is just acting weird with the camera plugged in. If i try to start it with my camera plugged in with VTR on, it will just crash. Ive been using FCE for 2 years now, and i really don't think i changed anything preference-wise. The only MAJOR change to my computer has been leopard, and if that somehow screwed it up, i will be ******. I can capture using a different camera, by putting the tape that i used in my 900 into a DCR TRV9. however, it always fails to capture correctly, screwing up the audio and leaving it un-synced. If someone could help me, it would be a life saver, thanks. Also, i wouldn't consider myself a beginner, but i taught myself how to use this program from the ground up, so i might be missing a crucial step.
Comp specsM
IMAC
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.16 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 4 MB
Memory: 2 GB
Message was edited by: alex2928

Let's start over.
I confused myself by invoking the Capture window. Of course that didn't work.
This was a completely different problem. My apologies.
The real problem was that the Log and Transfer window displayed ONLY the Logging pane. The clip list and queue pane were hidden and I couldn't get them back. I eventually found that resizing the entire window - even a small nudge - restored the missing panes. I expected the pane divider bar to not reveal the clip list, but this doesn't happen until the bar gets at least halfway across the window at which point the pane suddenly pops into view. This also confused me.
For the record, I'm using a MacBook core solo running Leopard. My Panasonic SD1 camera is not connected. The files from dozens of camera cards are stored on an external USB drive. I copy selected AVCHD folders from the USB drive to the root directory of the MacBook boot drive so that FCE will recognize them. The scratch disk is a large Firewire 400 drive also connected to the MacBook.

Unable to initialize HDV deck. Please make sure a deck is connected....

Ok, this is driving me nuts. I've done this before. I have a Canon HV20. I spent HOURS and HOURS on Sunday (two days ago) capturing 1.5 hours of video (DV, not HD) from my HV20 using iMovie09. Then spent more hours burning a DVD using iDVD09. Results were less than glamorous. Quite disappointing, video-quality-wise....
So today I reinstalled FCE 4.0 (HD) and decided to capture a few minutes of the same film and compare the results when making a DVD. My expectations are that it will look better. Naturally, I was hoping for the less-expensive, easier to use product (iMove09) would win, but so far, I can't compare because I keep getting "Unable to initialize HDV deck...". Folks, I have a firewire cable connected. I just used the same camera on the same cable on the same computer (macbook pro). the ONLY thing i changed was the software. Even switched back to iMovie for a minute to see if the cable still worked and sure enough, it's fine.
So, I'm blank on ideas here as to why "FILE/CAPTURE" in FCE would give me this error now. I'm waaaaaaaay open to ideas and even open to "stupid user error"... just tell me what it is....
This is soooooooooooo frustrating. Now I remember why I don't do video that often. Real pain in the butt sometimes...
Thoughts????

"Unable to initialize HDV deck...".
You seem to be trying to capture DV?
At the moment FCE is looking for a HDV camera and there is not one attached, a DV camera is.
Change the Easy Setup to the correct DV option to match the cameras output (audio and video), save, then try again.
Al

Unable to initialize hdv deck problem

Hi all,
I'm having the 'unable to initialize hdv deck' problem. I am trying to capture HD footage from a Sony HVR-A1E camera. iLink and down conversion are off (like they should be) and I have just captured a HD tape before the problem started.
I don't understand how I could capture HD footage just fine and then without touching any settings (just trying to start capture again) I suddenly get the error message, "Unable to initialize HDV deck. Please make sure a deck is connected and try again."
Any ideas?

Definitely. Shot on HDV, definite difference between the clips I've captured so far (HD capture that worked fine before this is high quality sharp image, where as when capturing in SD, image quality is poor and smaller).
Everything has been filmed on the same camera with no setting changes between shots. Like I said before, I have already been able to capture today in HD just fine, but for some unknown reason (which I don't think is the prefs.) capture will not work. I can 'trick' FCE into HD capture but it gets stuck on cueing tape (even though video is playing fine on camera).

Desperate for help ... Getting error "can't initialize video deck"

Last night, I had been importing footage just fine into Final Cut Pro HD 4.5 from my camcorder. Then today, no matter how many times I try, how many times I reboot, I get the error that it cannot initialize the video deck when I try to Log and Capture the footage. I've read a number of the solutions to other people having this problem, I ran Disk Utility to Repair Permissions, try unplugging the power and FireWire cable completely, to no avail. Before this, it had been kind of "buggy" in the last few days trying to capture footage, but usually would connect just fine after I would turn off the camera and turn it back on. But today nothing ... I haven't installed or done anything to this system in months, and like I said, I've imported 24 tapes up to now with only a couple of slight times where it couldn't load initially, but usually did on the second try. Could something be conflicting on my system? I have an external hard drive connected to the system which I use for my capture scratch disk, and if I boot up the system with my camcorder turned on, my external hard drive is not recognized. But once I turn the camcorder off, my external hard drive pops right up. Same kind of issue when opening Final Cut Pro ... if I try to open FCP with my camcorder turned on, it hangs on the little rainbow circle. But the second I turn off the camcorder, Final Cut loads just fine. I am really desperate for a solution on this one, I'm way behind on a project, and only have 7 more tapes to go. By the way, I'm on a Power Mac G5.

jason,
Before I go into the firewire port reset procedure there are two things you should understand.
1. Paragraphs are not optional. Your English teacher should give you a dope slap for the way you wrote your original post.
2. When you reply to a Post, click REPLY ON THAT POST not on your original post. Otherwise, when you view this thread in 'Threaded View" (to be found under My Settings), it looks like you are talking to yourself.
Now, to reset the firewire bus. I like to do this in a recreational manner - hence the 'Harpoon Solution" (aka the Guinness solution in the mid and far west)
1. turn everything off.
2. unplug firewire cables
3. unplug power cords
4. get up from well worn chair
5. walk to refrigerator
6. open refrigerator
7. remove bottle of Harpoon (Guinness, local micro brew, etc)
8. pop cap
9. pour into glass ( you AREN'T going to drink it from a bottle, are you?)
10. sip responsibly. enjoy the moment. think pure thoughts
11. return to kitchen. If less than 15 minutes has elapsed, have another. Otherwise, retrurn to edit room.
12. Plug everything back together
12. fire up external monitors, VTR, external hard drives & computer in that order.
Does it work now? If yes, congratulate your self. If not, oh well, but at least you are in a much better frame of mind to begin some serious troubleshooting.
cheerios,
x

Multiple computers unable to initialize decks.

I have something very odd happening. At the University where I teach we have multiple Macs all running Final Cut. First one PowerPC started giving a message that it was "unable to initialize" the deck. I tried two decks and two cameras... nothing. Now I have three machines all giving me the same message. I brought my Computer and Deck from home (Sony DV Cam) which was working. I plugged it into one of the school's computers and zip. I plugged back into my computer... and now it can't initialize. I've tried two brand new firewires (6 to 4 pin) and neither work.
I've checked all the setting and they are fine.
I have students trying to turn in final projects and I'm stumped.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might cause this wide spread failure?
Thanks in advance

I plugged it into one of the school's computers and zip. I plugged back into my computer... and now it can't initialize.< </div>
My first conclusion is that your decks at the school have had their FW ports shorted and this is shorting out and destroying your computers' ports one at a time as each one is attached to the decks.
You bebug this with a simple binary test that will end in a small and relatively inexpensive disaster. If you cannot determine which of the decks (maybe all) have burned out FW ports (might google testing FW, there's probably a simple device for the task), you must locate working FW buses on a computer and then plug in your decks. Buy several cheap FW cards, install them in one machine. Fry them one at a time until you determine where the problem lies.
bogiesan

Unable to capture video

I have FCP HD 4.5. I am trying to capture video from a camcorder. I can connect the camera to my iMac via the cameras DV port into the firewire port or by the camera's USB port into the computer's USB. I have tried both ways but the camera is not being recognized. The camera is a Canon Elura 80, mini DV.
I select Log and Capture and I am told it is "unable to recognize video deck." Then I try Capture Now but it says video device isn't selected. What should I do?
Thanks

You have two problems that fold into one another masking the solution.
1. an intermittant connection between your camera and the computer
2. a possible conflict between your camera and an external drive.
Lets take the problems individually.
1. An intermittant connection. If your camera is not being recognized in system profiler (before trying iMovie or FCP) you have a connection issue. Either the camera settings are wrong, the camera's firewire port is damaged, your firewire cable is flakey and/or your computer firewire port is damaged.
To test these items individually, you'll need another computer, cable and camera that you know work. If you don't have these things or have access to them, you'll probably need to take your machine to a knowledgable repair shop.
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x

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Unable to initialize deck?

I have 3 tapes from an event to capture and edit with my Panasonic DVX100B. The first tape captured fine. A couple of days later I try to capture another tape and suddenly I get "unable to initialize deck"!
I have...
1) Tried to capture on my Macbook Pro - same message
2) Tried to capture with a different camera - Canon Optura 40 - when I click capture it says "no video"
3) Deleted QuickTime Receipts and reinstalled QuickTime
4) Tried to capture with QuickTime and iMovie - no can do
5) Tried to change settings in FCP but it says "[Missing] Apple Firewire NTSC
any suggestions? Please help!
Diane

For whatever reason, your mac is not recognizing the deck/camera. Not sure what the issue is, since it obviously recognized the FW drive on at least one port, yet didn't recognize the 2nd camera.
My first thought would be bad FW cable(s)/port(s), but what you've explained doesn't sound like the problem.
FYI, updates are a tricky business...particularly QT. Final Cut tends to operate best with certain combinations of OS/FCP/QT. But that shouldn't explain your mac not even recognizing the camera(s).
Tell us exactly what versions of OS/FCP/QT you're currently working with.
Might also try connecting both cameras to see if they can see each other (ruling out bad FW ports on each). Might also go buy a new FW cable.
Post back,
K

Unable to Intialize HDV deck - can anyone pls help me with this FCE Issue?

I have recently moved from a MacBook Pro (circa 2 yrs old) to a new MacBook Pro with the NEW firewire 800 port. I have bought a new firewire cable and my camera does not want to be capture from my Sony A1E.
I have a MacBook Pro 2.8ghz running on OS X 10.6.2 and have all the updates installed for FCE.
Every time i try to capture the message comes up "Unable to Intialize HDV deck. Please make sure a deck is connected and try again".
The System is set up to receive the correct frame rate footage and type of footage (which is: HDV-Apple Intermediate Codec 1080i50. Formats: All formats). I am running on PAL, so 25fps.
Is there any advice / direction that you could give me at all as I am struggling!
Any help support would be appreciated!
Thanks, Martin

Hi,
Would you confirm that you are using a 9-pin to 4-pin FW cable to connect to your camcorder and that your camcorder is the only FW device connected to your Mac.
When you start up FCE with the camera connected to your Mac and already powered on in VTR mode, does FCE 'see' the camera, or do you get a warning message that FCE is "Unable to locate the following external devices ..." ?

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