How do I hook up my video camera to my computer?

Question

I got a old SAMSUNG video camera. (2001) I wanted to know what i need, and how to put it on the computer, and how to put it on Movie Maker. THANK YOU!!!!

Answer 1

Many are suggesting you hook up via USB or Firewire. Your camera more than likely DOES NOT have these connections as it's 6 years old. My bet is your camera is an analog 8mm, Hi8 or VHS-C camcorder. What you need is a video capture device. These come in PCI cards usually built into TV tuner cards that plug into your motherboard inside your computer, but there are also ones which plug into your USB port and gives you composite inputs (RCA jacks) on your computer. You then hook up your camera to the RCA jacks just like you would hooking it up to your TV set, usually with a 1/8" stereo to 2 male RCA cable.

Here are some USB video capture devices:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=1428

As you can see, one for typical home use will run you about $40-$50 on average so you don't have to break the bank. Get one with a TV tuner in it and you can watch TV on your computer as well, using it to record like a Tivo!

Answer 2

I think that u can't upload the video to the computer using either USB cable or Firewire cable, I suppose that your Samsung records movie in analog mode, not digital, therefore it is impossible to upload "directly" into the computer.

One way will definitely work for u. You have to have a "digital converter" what I mean by that is the DVD / VHS player that can convert your tapes into DVD, so that u can upload the DVD to the computer and start editing the video with Movie Maker.

Answer 3

Best quality is with a PCI card from Turtle Beach or Dazzel (an Avid company). Cost $125+

OK quality with a Turtle Beach USB connector. Same cost, easier to install, but it's 9 bit not 10 bit like the PCI cards.

All come with better software than Movie Makers (basically it's the same software with more features).

http://www.tbeach.com/site/products/videocap.asp

Answer 4

If you are looking a for a hardware, you can find it here http://www.adstech.com/products/intro/products.asp . Im using Pyro AV Link to transfer video from analog sources such as VCR, Satellite receiver, analog camcorder. It's a great piece of hardware for transferring video to PC..

Answer 5

I use Pinnicle 9 for editing movies and it works wonderful.

All you have to do on Pinnicle is:
1. click "Capture"
2. plug in camcorder using a Fire-Wire cord
3. turn on camera
4. and press start

Its very easy.

Answer 6

Should have a wire and jack right in mine does its gotta a usb port bck of puter.........if you dont have wire you gotta get one