Transfering video from my Digital Video Camera to my PC?

Question

Alright. I have a Digital Video Camera (mini DV). I want to transfer video to my PC. I know I can use Windows Movie Maker, but I do not have a DV device (but I do have a place to plug one in on my camera). My questions are:

-Where do I get a DV device?
-Is a DV device connectable to my PC? (I think all I have are USB ports)
-If my PC is not compatable with a DV device, can I make it compatable?
-How much does one of these devices cost?

I am just learning to understand all this information, so please speak to me like I'm a child. Assume I don't know anything about what you're saying. Thank you

Okay, I found the cable that I think I need.

http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027087&pathId=111&page=2

According to my handbook, this is the caple (and number) that I need. My only question left is, since one side of the cable is USB, will it still work on my computer?

I have a Dell and Windows XP.

My camera is JVC

Answer 1

You've linked to a firewire cable at the JVC website. Both ends are for firewire - the 6 pin (large) end plugs into your computers firewire port and the 4 pin (small) end plugs into your camcorder.

Since your computer doesn't have a firewire port - you'll need to install one. Here are some examples (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_e/104-4597660-7495121?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=pci+firewire )

You'll need to open your computer to make sure that you have an empty PCI slot - if your not comfortable with doing this, you should probably ask for help from a computer savy friend or relative....or there's BestBuy's GeekSquad.

Answer 2

You said a PC so that means you are probably using Microsoft Windows.
If the Microsoft windows that you are using is XP (the letters pop up when you turn on your computer)... then you next need to know whose camera you are using.
If you are not using windows XP.... windows 2000 Pro is almost exactly the same as XP so the same directions should work.
If you are using windows 98 or windows ME I can't help you and disregard everything after this....Sorry I have never used windows before 2000 Pro.

After you figured out what camera maker you have... type the name of it in the internet search bar on the top left of your screen.

Look at the results carefully and find the manufacturer's website and then look on that site for the "driver".... Be sure the model number of the "driver" matches up with your camera.
Install it and see what the driver has to say when you plug the camera into the computer.... At this point the camera software will tell you what to do next, much better than I can tell you since I don't know the brand of the camera or the type of computer you have.
If any of this worked for your situation, make sure you restart the computer before trying to actually download pictures and movies. Even if the program doesn't say to restart, it is always a good idea to help avoid future problems.

Answer 3

If your pc has a firewire IEEE1394 port, you'll only need to get a firewire cable which is the same as what is shown in the link. Otherwise, you'll need to get both the firewire interface card (which will be inserted into the PCI slot of your PC) and firewire cable.

Do the following steps once you settled the above requirements.
1. Connect one end (smaller connector with 4 pins) of firewire cable to cam's firewire port and the other end (bigger connector with 6 pins) to firewire port of pc.
2. Switch on the cam and enable playback or vcr mode.
3. XP should recognize you cam at this point. But if it didn't, you would have to load the driver from the driver CD that came with you cam.
4. Run moviemaker, click on capture video , select your cam as video source and start capturing. Adjust the parameters or settings in option under tool menu in accordance with your preferences before you start capturing.

Hope this helps you.

Answer 4

to transfer video files from vcam to computer.
- connect vcam to computer via firewire cable (4 or 6 pin) for good transfer (USB may drop frames, but can do transfer)
- open (free w/XP) Windows Movie Maker in computer (for starters). **see/click WMMaker help ...it is very detailed.

a. Set the camera mode to play recorded video.
b. In the Movie Maker Tasks pane/Capture Video, click Capture from video device.
c. the video files from vcam will then be put into WMM collection (usually there are several video files from vcam although you will not notice on vcam playback.
d. drag & drop video files from collection to video chart below
d. save the video files one by one (video/Audio) from the same collection if you need to enhance your muvee later or drag all video files just to re-create the vcam files
Transfer of the video files is now complete

Answer 5

of direction it relies upon on the digicam- however the mini DV camcorder will grant extra effective video. a minimum of mine does- and that i've got a three 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous sony mini DV and an 8Mp digicam.