FireWire not linking

[Rydawg96]

Just picked up a Sony Handycam DCR-TRV460 to convert my old analog tapes to digital. While waiting for my Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter to arrive to try the camcorder on my M1 MacBook Air, I decided to try to connect the camcorder to my 2012 MacBook Pro that still has a FireWire port built in, and unfortunately its failing to recognize it. When I plug it in before starting up macOS, it shows this message in System Information

Eventually I tried to unplug and plug back in, but unfortunately, it fails to recognize any devices connected

When I reboot with the camcorder plugged in, it goes back to the first message until I unplug it again. On the other hand the camcorder does show a DV in indicator on the screen, so tat should be working, but my Mac is having issues so something needs to be fixed. Hopefully my M1 doesn't give the same issues with the adapter, but would still be great to fix the issue on my 2012 pro.

 

[Fishrrman]

Aren't you going to need TWO adapters for the m1?

1. Thunderbolt3 to thunderbolt2 adapter
and
2. Thunderbolt2 to firewire800 adapter

And then, you'll need a firewire800 to mini-firewire connecting cable for the camera, right?

 

[Rydawg96]

Aren't you going to need TWO adapters for the m1?

1. Thunderbolt3 to thunderbolt2 adapter
and
2. Thunderbolt2 to firewire800 adapter

And then, you'll need a firewire800 to mini-firewire connecting cable for the camera, right?

Not relevant to what im trying to do. Im trying to fix FireWire on my 2012

 

[Rydawg96]

Update: Just got my FireWire to Thunderbolt for my M1, exact same issue! When I plug the Thunderbolt end in with the firewire cable already connected to the camcorder, it comes up with the " Warning: Unable to list FireWire devices." Message. And when I plug in the FireWire cable after the Thunderbolt is plugged in, it still says "Maximum Speed: Up to 800 Mb/sec" without showing the device despite showing a "DV in" indicator on the camcorder LCD. Whats even going on with my Macs?

 

[Fishrrman]

I wouldn't put too much money into this.
If you really want what's on those old video tapes, there are professional outfits that can extract the data for you.

Also, I suggest you visit "gearspace.com".
That's where the audio/video guys hang out at...

 

[dandeco]

Sounds like the Sony Handycam's DV port is shot/fried. That happened to me a couple of years ago when I was plugging a similar Sony Digital8 camcorder into my PowerMac G4 QuickSilver. The PowerMac was on, and then I turned on the camcorder, but the PowerMac went into a kernel panic, and then after that I got the same issue as the OP mentioned. So I ended up having to recycle/scrap that Digital8 camcorder and buy a replacement model, for playing back and digitizing my Hi-8 recordings, and I've had good luck with it so far, even on my M1 MacBook Air!

 

[DeltaMac]

I think the above post is probably the reason -- your DCR-TRV460 likely has a dead AV port.
(That model was introduced 18 years ago, discontinued by Sony a long time back.)

 

[kozmick]

Just picked up a Sony Handycam DCR-TRV460 to convert my old analog tapes to digital. While waiting for my Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter to arrive to try the camcorder on my M1 MacBook Air, I decided to try to connect the camcorder to my 2012 MacBook Pro that still has a FireWire port built in, and unfortunately its failing to recognize it. When I plug it in before starting up macOS, it shows this message in System Information

View attachment 1967279
Eventually I tried to unplug and plug back in, but unfortunately, it fails to recognize any devices connected
View attachment 1967280
When I reboot with the camcorder plugged in, it goes back to the first message until I unplug it again. On the other hand the camcorder does show a DV in indicator on the screen, so tat should be working, but my Mac is having issues so something needs to be fixed. Hopefully my M1 doesn't give the same issues with the adapter, but would still be great to fix the issue on my 2012 pro.

I am having the same issue with my Sony DCR-TRV11. I am using the same hook up you have with the two adapters. My new M1 Mac recognized the device when I first got it. Now, after the latest Monterey update, it no longer recognizes it. In the settings, it does show that the fire wire is connected. Therefore, I doubt it is an issue with the camcorder. I believe it has something to do with the MacOS. I am working with Apple support to correct the issue. At this time, they have no answers.

 

[dandeco]

I am having the same issue with my Sony DCR-TRV11. I am using the same hook up you have with the two adapters. My new M1 Mac recognized the device when I first got it. Now, after the latest Monterey update, it no longer recognizes it. In the settings, it does show that the fire wire is connected. Therefore, I doubt it is an issue with the camcorder. I believe it has something to do with the MacOS. I am working with Apple support to correct the issue. At this time, they have no answers.

It's a bug that was introduced with Monterey 12.3. The issue still persists in 12.3.1. We talk about here...

DV capture bug on 12.3 (.1)?

I recently did some experimentation with my Canon Optura 60 and HV40 DV camcorders. Somehow, with one of the recent versions of Mac OS 12 Monterey, I believe version 12.3, some kind of bug was developed that prevents video capture software from detecting IEEE-1394/FireWire video cameras! I would...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[kozmick]

With the latest Monterey 12.4 update, my video camera is now being recognized by my iMac! Time to transfer the rest of my movies before another bug arises.

 

[jav6454]

Sounds like the Sony Handycam's DV port is shot/fried. That happened to me a couple of years ago when I was plugging a similar Sony Digital8 camcorder into my PowerMac G4 QuickSilver. The PowerMac was on, and then I turned on the camcorder, but the PowerMac went into a kernel panic, and then after that I got the same issue as the OP mentioned. So I ended up having to recycle/scrap that Digital8 camcorder and buy a replacement model, for playing back and digitizing my Hi-8 recordings, and I've had good luck with it so far, even on my M1 MacBook Air!
View attachment 1967813

That's some linkage.

 

[rajs]

FYI -- if on macOS Ventura (13.x) you may need to explicity enable permission for your firewire device to connect to the mac. See this thread and the details are in red font.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/updated-old-video-tapes-conversion-via-thunderbolt-firewire-for-camcorders-video-decks-and-players-that-supported-ieee-1394-firewire-ilink.2321691/