Premiere Pro "Can't activate recorder. Try resetting camera."

I can't comment much on the Intensity setup, as I've never run one (although did you connect your RCA cables from the deck for the audio?  You only mentioned the composite cable...)

On the DV side, shot in the dark: you might be getting tripped up by missing admin permissions when running the app.  Try right-clicking on Premiere's icon & choose 'run as administrator'.  Also, some decks are fussy & cause grief if you're not flipped into 'remote' mode.

If that doesn't work, I'm wondering whether it's your firewire port..?  Any other apps with firewire support that you can run to confirm/deny whether it works?

I just go this same error message today.  It is caused by the capture settings, camera settings and project settings not matching.  In my situation the project was HDV, the camera was set for HDV (HDV to DV conversion turned off in camera), but the capture setting was set to DV.  I don't understand why the default capture setting in an HDV project would DV, but as soon as I switched it to HDV I was able to capture.  You mentioned your capture setting was "DV".  If the project is an HDV project, you need to switch to HDV and make sure HDV to DV conversion is turned off in the camera.  If it is a DV project, then leave the capture setting "DV" and turn on the "HDV to DV" conversion in the camera.  Good luck.

Hi gacey, and welcome to the forum.

I don't understand why the default capture setting in an HDV project would DV, but as soon as I switched it to HDV I was able to capture.  You mentioned your capture setting was "DV".  If the project is an HDV project, you need to switch to HDV and make sure HDV to DV conversion is turned off in the camera.

 

For clarity's sake, in CS5, projects aren't classified as HDV, DV, etc.  Those settings are determined by the individual sequences.  All projects start out generic.  Since capture is a global project operation, it's settings are not dependent on any one sequence.

-Jeff

I have the same problem.  I have Windows 7 and a Panasonic DV910 camcorder connected through iLink.  Windows detects the camcorder and gives it a generic driver but Premiere Pro CS5 says it "Can't Activate Recorder. Try resetting camera."

Project > Project Setting > General,  Capture Format set to DV:

  Most of the buttons are grayed out in the Capture window, except for stop and record.

  Status is "Can't activate recorder"

Project > Project Setting > General, Capture Format set HDV:

  Most of the buttons are available, except "record" so I can't capture!

  Hitting play causes the camcorder to play the video but it isn't shown in the Capture window.

  Status is "Capture Device Offline"

Jim

I have the same problem, with a Panasonic NV-DA1EN camcorder and Windows 7 64-bit. I can capture video from a Sony camcorder with the same firewire cable, PC port and Premiere Pro CS5. Could it be a missing driver?

For starters, what mode is the camera set to?

Next, if the mode is correct, see this ARTICLE for a possible cause and fix.

Good luck,

Hunt

Hi Bill

Thank you so much, the link and setting the Legacy Firewire driver did the trick!

With kind regards, Steve.

you probably just saved me hours of frustration! thank you!! simple fix. and this was the first forum i came to

Gacey,

I encountered the same issue after doing an upgrade of my system and switching to HDV did the trick.

Your post saved me much time. I could have spent hours ruling out new firewire card, Win8, CC2015, etc.

Thanks,

--Greg