Help with getting footage of a video camera onto computer...

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Starplay

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Topic # 70811 31-Oct-2010 14:12
I have been asked by a friend if I could get their video off a Sony DCR-HC40E video camera and put it onto DVD. The only one problem I have is... How to get the footage of the video camera? Im fine with editing it etc... I just need to know how to pull it off... I know that the software can pull the footage of a DV compliant device... I just dont know how to connect the camera. The camera has a DV port... Well I think it is... But my computer only has USB... So would a cable like this work? - I dont know much about the camera. ... If anyone has any ideas about how to get the footage off please let me know... Thanks

richms

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Reply # 398263 31-Oct-2010 22:13
That appears to be another one of the asian sourced "lets put anything on a wire" type cables, like the plethora of VGA to composite and HDMI to USB and similar ones. Unless the camera has the smarts inside it to talk USB over that socket, then no, that cable will not work. At best nothing happens, at worst one end gets blowed up. Check the manual, and if they talk about connecting to USB thru the dvlink port then it may work with that cable, if it is wired up the same. If you have a desktop PC, get a PCI firewire card, if a laptop then a expresscard firewire card will do. Both are really cheap. Richard rich.ms

Jaxson

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Reply # 398357 1-Nov-2010 09:10
DV is normally firewire only. You'll need a firewire cable and port as mentioned above by richms. Laptops often have these, and some desktops do. The ports come in different sizes, one big fat end and a small rectangular type one on the camera end. Laptops typically have the little one each end. Premiere or something like that will let you control the device and start the download.

SepticSceptic

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Reply # 398420 1-Nov-2010 11:02
How about a USB - Memory Stick adapter ?

wreck90

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Reply # 398436 1-Nov-2010 11:24
Yes, you need firewire. I actually doubt it would work, since it requires the camera to support transferring firewire over a usb plug, i don't even know if there is a standard for doing this. And, you risk damaging the camera. If you don't want to spend money, maybe your local computer store would let you do this for free? It is a one-off anyway. Or, you could buy this? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Components/Other-PCI-cards/auction-327338916.htm

Oldhat

170 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 398483 1-Nov-2010 12:27
Looking at the spec sheet for the UK model suggests that the camcorder was sold with a usb cable and software precisely for use when copying/streaming to a PC. Obviously the site does advise about not all accessories are supplied in all countries, but ......... Perhaps ask your friend to check for the cables and other sundry accessories supplied with the camcorder.

scuwp

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Reply # 398487 1-Nov-2010 12:33
I haven't had a decent look, but assume like most cameras it has video/sound outputs so you can plug it straight into the TV and watch? In that case why not forgo the PC and plug it in to the AV inputs of a DVD recorder (if you have access to one). Just push play on the camera and record on the DVD recorder and there you go. Artificial intelligence is no match, for natural stupidity!

Starplay

265 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 398545 1-Nov-2010 14:26
richms: if a laptop then a expresscard firewire card will do. Both are really cheap. Awesome - Thanks for your help... What is the best sort to get? - Would be for my laptop.... Maybe you could find an example on TradeMe... Sorry to be a hastle - Have never used one before and dont really know what I should be looking for.

Jaxson

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Reply # 398556 1-Nov-2010 14:52
Starplay: Would be for my laptop.... Seriously, have a look on the side of your laptop. Does it have a firewire port? Both sizes are illustrated on the right hand side of this picture. (The four on the left are standard usb ports) If you don't have any firewire port you'll need to get a card for your laptop, or get access to a PC that does have the port. You then just buy a firewire cable for the sizes you need. Typically you want two small firewire plugs if you are connecting laptop to camera, or one small and one big if connecting desktop pc to camera. Example of firewire plugs/cable is: Once connected I believe you can use even something like windows movie maker to extract the content.

richms

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Reply # 398568 1-Nov-2010 15:06
They are all much of a muchness. There are only a handful of chips to do it, and then the reference design from the chip makers. IMO try to get one that doesnt stick out of the computer so you can leave it in there. See if you can hit the seller up for a deal on a cable too if you need one. Richard rich.ms

Starplay

265 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 399101 2-Nov-2010 13:51
richms: They are all much of a muchness. See if you can hit the seller up for a deal on a cable too if you need one. So would this be all I need? - It also comes with a 4-pin to 6-pin cable which I would need.

richms

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Reply # 399117 2-Nov-2010 14:07
Yes, you put that in, you let it install reference drivers, plug in the cable to the camera and fire up windows movie maker. Just check you have an expresscard slot on the laptop since some dont have it now. Richard rich.ms

Starplay

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Ultimate Geek

Reply # 399444 3-Nov-2010 07:35
richms: Just check you have an expresscard slot on the laptop since some dont have it now. Umm... I have a slot 'thing' on my laptop... I just dont know what it is as I have never used it. I have a Toshiba M50. I also found this PCMCIA adapter if it is a PCMCIA slot but im not sure which it is. Is there any way to tell which sort of slot it is?