DV Card, Cable, and Software?

[xxxInfidelxxx]

I thought I could use a DV-to-USB cable I use for my regular camera/phone, but the instructions seem to suggesat that this doesn't work. I need a DV to DV cable. I found some cheap, so now wondering if there is a PCI card I need that may have some software for working with the recordings once I get them to the computer?

I would like to get the recordings on DVDs, so perhaps I just need to buy a DV-DV cable, a card with the DV jack for the computer, then some stand alone software to do the transfer and create DVDs?

You can probably tell from jargon and lack of knowledge that I am a total movie/DV rookie, so all help/comments/advice is welcome! I've had this cam in the box for almost a year, so it's time to figure this out...baby's 1st feeding is today.

Thanks, guys.

 

[MichaelD]

Hi there,

I happen to have an Elura 100 myself, and love it. The USB output on the camera is only for transferring still images you've taken to the SD card.

To transfer video from the camera to the PC you need:

1. A Firewire cable (4-pin to 4-pin or 4-pin to 6-pin, depending on what input(s) your PC has) 4-pin-->6-pin cable 4-pin-->4-pin cable
2. A Firewire card (or onboard Firewire) in your PC
3. A video capture/editing program

Windows XP comes with Windows Movie Maker, which is really nice (IMO) for a freebie and what I use to make movies from my DV tapes.

With the camera OFF, hook up the cable. Turn camera on to playback mode. Let PC recognize camera. Open Windows Movie Maker. Follow the popup prompts. Very easy.


ps
Just in case you don't know; the small 4-pin FW cable is NOT the same thing as a mini-USB cable (like you'd use for an MP3 player or digital still camera)

pps
If you don't have WinXP (and MovieMaker) the camera comes with a CD with a capture/editing program on it, though I've not used it. I'm sure it provides basic functionality, at least.

 

[Slugbait]

The needed PCI card may already be installed...got a SoundBlaster? The newer models (since the original Audigy) have FireWire.

 

[xxxInfidelxxx]

Originally posted by: Slugbait
The needed PCI card may already be installed...got a SoundBlaster? The newer models (since the original Audigy) have FireWire.

...got the original Audigy. Since the move, the bambino, the job change, I haven't upgraded the PC in what seems like years.

 

[xxxInfidelxxx]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
Hi there,

I happen to have an Elura 100 myself, and love it. The USB output on the camera is only for transferring still images you've taken to the SD card.

To transfer video from the camera to the PC you need:

1. A Firewire cable (4-pin to 4-pin or 4-pin to 6-pin, depending on what input(s) your PC has) 4-pin-->6-pin cable 4-pin-->4-pin cable
2. A Firewire card (or onboard Firewire) in your PC
3. A video capture/editing program

Windows XP comes with Windows Movie Maker, which is really nice (IMO) for a freebie and what I use to make movies from my DV tapes.

With the camera OFF, hook up the cable. Turn camera on to playback mode. Let PC recognize camera. Open Windows Movie Maker. Follow the popup prompts. Very easy.


ps
Just in case you don't know; the small 4-pin FW cable is NOT the same thing as a mini-USB cable (like you'd use for an MP3 player or digital still camera)

pps
If you don't have WinXP (and MovieMaker) the camera comes with a CD with a capture/editing program on it, though I've not used it. I'm sure it provides basic functionality, at least.

Great info; thanks a lot!

I assume a 4-pin to 4-pin is all I need, or is there an advantage going into a 6-pin? Given that the camera has a 4-pin output, I would guess going to 6-pin on the PC card is overkill and won't decrease the transfer time...sound right?

I do have XP, so I'll play around with Movie Maker...good deal.

Would I sacrifice quality going to a SD card? It seems like it would be easier (and cheaper, as I would only have to buy a reader), and then I would be able to take stills, too.

I sat done this morning and went page-by-page and found the cam to be quit easy to use...very nice. The portrait mode wasn't blurring the background like I thought it would, but perhaps I was too close, or zoomed to much, or something to that effect. I'll play around with it tomorrow.

 

[xxxInfidelxxx]

PS...if I do go with an add-on card, are there one or two brands that stick out as superior? If I don't lose quality with a SD card, I would just by a reader instead, but not if it means I sacrifice quality...time wouldn't be a factor, as I'll grab a couple 2-4G sticks.

Along those lines, I see many speeds on SD cards. x150 or > is what one should use with a camcorder, minimum?

Thanks again, guys. You AT'rs are always so helpful. :beer:

 

[MichaelD]

No advantage in using either a 6-pin or 4-pin cable. DV is DV.

You can record video onto the SD card; digital is digital and the 1's and 0's dont' care what medium they are stored on. The problem is transferring it to your PC, as well as capacity.

AFAIK, the largest SD cards these days are 4GB (and they're expensive). You'll get much more storage space with a tape.

Transferring video over the USB connection will be problematic and have crappy results at best. USB2.0 has a faster transfer rate on paper then FW, but that's deceiving b/c that rate is not CONSTANT; it fluctuates and that messes up DV transfer/capture.

When you transfer video to your PC and your editing program, timestamps for each frame and other info is in the stream. USB can get everything out of sync and you can wind up with "late audio" like in the bad karate movies where the mouth moves and the words come out 3 seconds later. USB was never meant for transferring video. FW was developed FOR transferring video. You can control the camera (play/ff/rw/pause) over the FW connection from your keyboard. You can't do that with USB.

I'm using a $15 no-name FW card that has a Via chipset. Didn't even need drivers for it; WinXP has them already for all basic functionality FW cards. My camera works perfectly.

$15 card, $5 cable; no reason not to use FW!! Just get a 1GB regular SD card; the camera can't take still images bigger than 1152x864 (and that's in Still Camera mode). Normally,while the cam is recording, if you press the Still Photo button on the top, next to the light button, you get an 800x640 picture, which is iffy quality at best. You can store hundreds of pics at that size on a 1GB card.


ps
Make sure you're running WinXP service pack 2; it's known that SP1 can be a little buggy with video sometimes. Right click My Computer/click Properties to see what SP level you're running.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: xxxInfidelxxx

Originally posted by: Slugbait
The needed PCI card may already be installed...got a SoundBlaster? The newer models (since the original Audigy) have FireWire.

...got the original Audigy. Since the move, the bambino, the job change, I haven't upgraded the PC in what seems like years.

Then all you need now is this 4-pin/6-pin cable. Hook it up to the Audigy and Elura, power up, and XP will see the Elura. Windows Movie Maker will automatically rewind the tape (if necessary) and capture. You'll be asked what quality: select DVI-AV (NTSC) so that you can capture max quality, which enables you to manipulate the video, and then compress as you see fit.

It will be a sad day if all camcorders go mini-DVD...

 

[xxxInfidelxxx]

Thanks for all the great info, Messrs. I'll pull the cover on my old beast, ensure I have a free PCI slot, then order a card/cable combo and get to work.

Edit: And wil check out the soundcard to see if I have a slot. Now that I think of it, I believe I scrapped the Sb card I was using back then and went for a Santa Cruz that was hyped back in the day, so I suspect there I am firewire-less.

 

[xxxInfidelxxx]

Okay, I think I am going with Tis bad mamma jamma It comes with the card, cable, and some software to play around with, though I'll start with the MS Movie Maker as advised.

Thanks again. THis is exactly what I need, right?