So I recently bought a Sony Handycam (DCR-HC38), but bought it used, without any cables or software. From my experience, included drivers are usually out of date, and I figured I would head straight to the Sony website and get the drivers from there. Sadly, that’s not the case with Sony handycam drivers. They require that you purchase a $30 driver/software replacement cd from their website!
Well, I thought that was just ridiculous, and after looking around, found out that I wasn’t the only person looking around for these drivers. OpenDrivers.com had a generic driver that claimed to work, and I found an identical driver on Sony-Asia.com.
Here is a direct link for those who just can’t wait: USBDRVEN.exe. There is also a Vista patch here, but I can’t vouch for it.
Although the driver doesn’t seem to be supported by Sony or Windows, it worked for me. Installation gave me one of those windows claiming it didn’t pass Windows Logo testing, but upon completion I was able to record into Windows Movie Maker, and also use it as a webcam for a Skype call.
One thing to note is that my model only allows for USB streaming, meaning that it does not use the Mini-DV tape, but records directly to your computer. Video recorded onto the tape has to be transfered via firewire cable. They are fairly inexpensive, just be sure to buy the correct one for your camera and computer.
You will also need to enable this feature on your camera menu: FN > Menu > Setup Menu Option > USB Streaming. I’m sure this process will be different for other models, because the PDF manual for my own model had a different menu system.
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