Panasonic HDC-DX1 PC connectivity troubleshooting

[feelsickened]

Hi All,
This is my first post - so sorry if this issue has already be discussed and solved, but i've been looking everywhere and I'm just stumped.

I have HDC-DX1 and when connecting to my PC (Windows XP, Vegas Pro 8) i have no initial problem with it recognizing the hardhare. I can access the SD card slot no worries, but cannot access the newly created DVD rom drive (the camcorders drive). I have a DVD-RAM disc in there full of footage.

I get an error msg saying - not word for word - something about not being able to access the drive becuase it may be in incompatible format or possibly corrupt. The DVD-RAM plays back fine on the camera. I just want to bring it into Vegas and edit.

This is what i can find in the manual:
Disk drive display
-Optical Disk Drive- is displayed in -My Computer-, but it cannot be opened on computers that do not support the AVCHD. In order to access the drive, you will need a computer which has had software installed that supports the AVCHD.

Do I need to download a codec or driver? Where? No CD came with the HDC-DX1 (or at least that i have held onto.)

Any suggestions - or advise will so greatly be appreciated.
Jim

[redsox_mark]

You will need software/codecs to be able to play an AVCHD file, but if it is not even letting you access the drive and see the files from Windows that is something other than a codec issue. Vegas 8 pro can edit AVCHD (even Panasonic AVCHD), so providing you can get access to the files from windows it should work. Sorry I've not used an AVCHD-DVD camcorder so I can't add anything else.

[feelsickened]

Finally got in touch with someone in support at Panasonic and have been advised that Pinnacle Studio 11 should recognize the disc + drive and access the AVCHD data.
Another Ulead program was mentioned, but i wouldn't touch Ulead with my mates richard.

Wish Sony Vegas Pro 8 did the job. Wish Panasonic hurried up and developed software for windows XP friendly happy joy joy compatibility.

If anyone has any similar experiences / or related news and info - please post.
*Watch this space*

Jim

[redsox_mark]

Good luck, but I don't believe that. Yes Pinnacle 11 will edit AVCHD, as will Vegas 8. But if windows can't access the files on the DVD, I don't see how changing from Vegas to Pinnacle 11 will help.

[feelsickened]

Hey Mark,
Your absolutely right. Pinnacle Studio Plus didn't make a difference. So i've blasted panasonic support a tirade ramble and will see what happens. Looks like i just wasted $200 on more software I didn't need. Amazed panasonic would recommend to anyone using vegas pro 8 they need pinnacle - but at the same time if you compare websites of both products - one can easily be convinced that pinnacle is really up to speed on the whole AVCHD thing.

Perception VS Reality - the reality being pinnacle studio plus is for kids in comparison to Sony Vegas Pro 8. The price point alone is case and point. What were panasonic support thinking???

Moving right along - I think you've hit the nail on the head below - If windows won't access the camera's onboard disc drive and the data contained on the DVD-RAM disc - no video editing software is going to work.

*FRUSTRATED!*

Looks like the HDC-DX1 has been superseded. I hope i'm wrong in believing its been superseded before even becoming compatible with windows. *sigh*

[redsox_mark]

In this case I'm sorry I was right..
I think all you can do is put pressure on Panasonic to help debug the problem.. especially as you purchased the software they recommended!

Earlier versions of Vegas didn't edit Panasonic AVCHD (only Sony), so that is probably why they gave you the Pinnacle advice... but that is fixed in Vegas 8, and as you realise the problem you are having is more basic, windows access to the files on the DVD.

[feelsickened]

Just for the record:
The error is as follows word for word - "Windows cannot read from this disk. The disk might be corrupted, or it could be using a format that is not compatible."

I replied to the email I received from panasonic recommending the Pinnacle software and went into as much detail as I could. This included and especially mentioned the fact that windows won't explore the disc in the camcorder drive.

The response was 2 sentences long - one thanking me for my email. The second telling me to go talk to pinnacle support.

[senu]

There isnt much wrong with Ulead Movie factory 6 plus.. whatever you think about Ulead in general

[feelsickened]

For anyone encountering the same problem please go here:

http://www.pana3ccduser.com

This forum has a dedicated AVHDC forum section that goes into all sorts of details & discussions regarding the same problem i have encountered. As well as heaps of HD codec / format discussion that is very interesting...to me anyway.

The simple answer that I have found and am using is ISObuster.
Unfortunately its not free software, but it can be used to access the panasonic camcorder drive and get all the video data from it for editing. It seems to bypass windows XP compatability issues.

The panasonic HDC-DX1 actually formats its 8cm discs to UDF2.5 which is blu-ray - apparently. Whether the 8cm discs would play / work in a conventional blu-ray player i don't know...but regardless i can now access my video data!

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!

[senu]

Good on you.. but not a great advert for the DVD camcorders I have to say, Especially Panasonics. Not everybody is resourceful as you have been TBH

If say you could make Blue ray compatible discs ..would the BD players play the 8cm discs?

[redsox_mark]

AVCHD discs should play on a Blu-Ray player and PS3... this should also apply to 8 cm discs. (Though I don't have the kit to prove this).

[texnofobix]

Check out this thread. I was able to get the mini-discs to read in a normal DVD drive (after they were finalized of course), by following these instructions.

http://pana3ccduser.com/showthread.php?t=16322