anyone here have a Mini-DV camera?

[purbeast0]

I have a mini-DV camera however I do not have a firewire cable in my computer. It is an older sony model.

I just recorded a video and need to get it onto my PC. I know there is a way it can be done via USB because I used to do it on my PC years ago, however I haven't used this in years and have no clue what software I used.

I was wondering if anyone has any clue what the software may be? I'm PRETTY SURE but not positive that it was basically software that let me capture the video as I played it in the app off of the camera, and that in turn saved to an AVI.

oh man it just hit me out of nowhere to look up my motherboard online...

turns out i have firewire on my mobo lol. i think i can just borrow a cable from work tonight and get my stuff off my camera then bring it back heh.

EDIT:

do most cameras take the 4pin side of a firewire cable and pc's take the 6pin side of the firewire cable?

EDIT2 :

This is the mobo I have...

I'm assuming that the top 3rd and 4th (from the left) are the firewire connectors, and it looks like the mobo can take either the 4pin or 6pin in? but do the cameras typically take the smaller ones?

 

[RKS]

I have an older Sony mini-dv but I alwas used fw to connect to my pc. was it software that came with the camera? Would it be MS Movie Maker?

 

[Shawn]

pretty sure you have to use firewire

 

[Soundmanred]

I have a Canon miniDV with firewire and USB connectors, but the maunal explicitly states that what you're wanting to do can ONLY be done over firewire, NOT USB.
I tried doing it before reading the manual, and wondered why it wouldn't "connect"

 

[purbeast0]

im 200% sure you don't have to use firewire because i've never had firewire before and i took a video for my wife when she went to court and put it on a DVD for her to bring to court, and it was done all via usb. i just wish i could remember the app..

 

[91TTZ]

The USB connection might only be for transferring data to/from the Memory Stick.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Soundmanred
I have a Canon miniDV with firewire and USB connectors, but the maunal explicitly states that what you're wanting to do can ONLY be done over firewire, NOT USB.
I tried doing it before reading the maunal, and wondered why it wouldn't "connect"

i remember the app i had would basically let me play the video off my camera and it would show it playing on my PC, and the app would then capture it as it was playing.

 

[sdifox]

Depending on your machine really. My Panny transfers through USB on top of Firewire. What is the model?

 

[purbeast0]

It is a sony DCR-TRV18

I'm goign to actually put my old HDD from my old PC in this one and see if I can get the app off of there and grab it that way. i tihnk that is the hdd i did it from before.

 

[sdifox]

get the software off sony website, it should work with older machines too. And if you have done it before, it means it can be done

 

[Red Squirrel]

You'll need a capture card with RCA connectors and just plug it in and use the software that comes with it. The issue with capture cards usualy is the software, sometimes it sucks so bad. I have a bungee dvd capture device (it's a box that plugs into the usb) but the software is so flaky it's hardly usable.

I think lot of the cameras now actually record straight to flash or other media and you can just drag and drop.

 

[Shawn]

well the program i use is Pinnacle Studio

 

[Soundmanred]

I know the Sony model my parents owned had a webcam type feature over USB where you could use it as a webcam or capture video, but it wasn't as good quality wise. It reminded me of my old TV tuner card and the videos it captured.
I have NO idea what the recording app they used was and they have since moved on to FW, sorry.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
You'll need a capture card with RCA connectors and just plug it in and use the software that comes with it. The issue with capture cards usualy is the software, sometimes it sucks so bad. I have a bungee dvd capture device (it's a box that plugs into the usb) but the software is so flaky it's hardly usable.

I think lot of the cameras now actually record straight to flash or other media and you can just drag and drop.

why would you use a capture card? You can do digital transfer off minidv.


Damn timewarp!!!

Shake fist angrily.

 

[purbeast0]

well i found the app on my old HDD and it is pixela imagemixer, however i have yet to get it to work on my new hardware heh. i'm using my old hdd w/all the old drivers and stuff but trying to figure this out, hpefully i can.

 

[guyver01]

i have a Sony Mini-DV player, and use my USB cable connected to my pc.

Windows built in MovieMaker will detect the camera and allow you to 'record' off the camera to a digital video.

 

[biggestmuff]

I just finished transferring a few old MiniDV tapes to my Mac. The camera is a Sony DCR-TRV27; pretty much the same as yours. You can transfer via both USB and Firewire.

I initially used USB into my PC and MS Movie Maker, but was unsatisfied with the video quality. I ended up running to Best Buy that morning and picking up an inexpensive Firewire cable and importing everything into my Mac and iMovie.

Another great feature with the camer and Firewire is the ability to use the camera as a Digital Intermidiate. I Hooked my VCR up to the camera via cables that were packaged with the camera and then the camera to my Mac with Firewire. The camera will then digitize the video and push it to the Mac. Great feature, that's why I still keep it around even though I've moved on to a HD harddrive based camera.

 

[purbeast0]

oh man it just hit me out of nowhere to look up my motherboard online...

turns out i have firewire on my mobo lol. i think i can just borrow a cable from work tonight and get my stuff off my camera then bring it back heh.

EDIT:

do most cameras take the 4pin side of a firewire cable and pc's take the 6pin side of the firewire cable?

EDIT2 :

This is the mobo I have...

I'm assuming that the top 3rd and 4th (from the left) are the firewire connectors, and it looks like the mobo can take either the 4pin or 6pin in? but do the cameras typically take the smaller ones?