Canon MiniDV Camcorder Help

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 03:08 PM

hello. i need some help in hookin up my camcorder to my computer. i was just wondering if you needed a certain cable to do this. thank you.

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 03:18 PM

You need a firewire cable, there should have been one that came with the camcorder. Of course, your computer needs to have firewire as well. If it doesn't have firewire on board (almost all modern MBs do have it), you can generally find a "plug and play" PCI one on-line or in computer shops for about $30 or so. The cable will have one tiny end, and the other end will be roughly rectangular with one side having a rounded "v" shape. The small end connects to the camcorder, the large one to your computer. Firewire is also called IEEE1394, and may be referred to as that in your manuals.

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 03:21 PM

ok, thank you, but, how do you know if the cable is compatible to your computer and where do you plug in the other end (like to which part of the computer)? And how do you know if you have firewire or not?

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skater Boi

ok, thank you, but, how do you know if the cable is compatible to your computer and where do you plug in the other end (like to which part of the computer)? And how do you know if you have firewire or not?

If you have firewire on your motherboard, there generally will be a matching plug in the same area as all your other connections - USB, keyboard, mouse, sound, serial port, parallel port, etc. Also it should say so in your MB manual, and there generally is a bios control to turn the on-board firewire controller on and off. If there is a bios setting, obviously you need to turn it on. You do not need any drivers for firewire, support for that is native in XP.

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 03:30 PM

ok, but i was lookin on teh internet for a cable and i came across 2. one says "4-pin to 4-pin" and one says "6-pin to 4-pin". how do i know which one to use to hook up my camcorder to teh computer?

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 03:40 PM

Take a look at the socket on your MB, that should be about the same size as a USB socket. That would be a 6 pin plug. The socket on the camcorder should be small - tiny in fact, that would require a 4 pin plug. So, most likely you will need a 4 pin to 6 pin male/male cable for the connection. They are readily available - CompUSA has them I know. So should Best Buys, Fry's, Circuit City, etc. Really any place that sells either cameras or computers. They are common.

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 03:45 PM

ok thanks for teh help PCBruiser. but one more question. Do you need software to be able to transfer recordings from teh tape to a computer?

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 03:49 PM

Yes. You need video "capture" software. You can use a freeware one called VirtualDub from here:

http://www.virtualdub.org

Use the stable version 1.5.8 I think it is, the new version 1.6.3 is a beta and still has a few problems with the capture part of the software. BTW, the camera should have come with some software for capture as well.

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 03:51 PM

kk thanks very much for your help. and "capture" software is wat??!!!

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 04:02 PM

Just that - it "captures" the video from the tape. It also provides control for the camera via the firewire link - forward, back, play, etc.

Remember, when it does capture, the file is in native digital audio/video format, and that file will be BIG, very big. There are quite a few threads here that explain how to convert native digital AV formats to CD/SVCD or DVD formats. VirtualDub cn do that for you as well, but it is not as easy to use as some commercial software you can buy for that purpose. I suggest something like Ulead's Video Studio 8 for a beginner (it also handles the capture for you):

http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 04:04 PM

alright. thankk you very much PCBruiser!

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 04:07 PM

BTW, when I say BIG, I do mean BIG. An hour's worth of video in native format may be about 20GB of data. So, you need a lot of hard drive space to do this kind of stuff.

Skater Boi · 01-15-2005, 04:10 PM

wow! ok. and i can't find a thread on how to convert native digital AV formats to CD/SVCD or DVD formats. lol

JCNiest5 · 01-15-2005, 04:13 PM

Just like to add something to this thread. My Camcorder didn't come with the firewire cable, only the USB cable (if my memory serves me correctly). And I think most (if not all companies) don't include the firewire cable as it is not considered a necessary part of your purchase (or package). So, you will need to see what kind of connector is on your camcorder then go and buy one that will work. Firewire cables in any local stores will cost a lot. Best place to get is through Ebay, which will like have them for .99 cents. Good luck!

PCBruiser · 01-15-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skater Boi

wow! ok. and i can't find a thread on how to convert native digital AV formats to CD/SVCD or DVD formats. lol

They are here, but frankly, if you are a beginner in this they will probably just confuse you completely anyway. If I were you, I would get a commercial package like the one I suggested (there are others as well) designed with wizards that make it simple for those just starting out with video encoding. It is a fairly complex subject and sometimes it is just easier to use one of these all in one products that make your life simple the first few times until you get familar with what goes into doing all this.

01-15-2005, 03:08 PM	#1
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	Canon MiniDV Camcorder Help hello. i need some help in hookin up my camcorder to my computer. i was just wondering if you needed a certain cable to do this. thank you. __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:18 PM	#2
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	You need a firewire cable, there should have been one that came with the camcorder. Of course, your computer needs to have firewire as well. If it doesn't have firewire on board (almost all modern MBs do have it), you can generally find a "plug and play" PCI one on-line or in computer shops for about $30 or so. The cable will have one tiny end, and the other end will be roughly rectangular with one side having a rounded "v" shape. The small end connects to the camcorder, the large one to your computer. Firewire is also called IEEE1394, and may be referred to as that in your manuals.
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:21 PM	#3
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	ok, thank you, but, how do you know if the cable is compatible to your computer and where do you plug in the other end (like to which part of the computer)? And how do you know if you have firewire or not? __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:30 PM	#5
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	ok, but i was lookin on teh internet for a cable and i came across 2. one says "4-pin to 4-pin" and one says "6-pin to 4-pin". how do i know which one to use to hook up my camcorder to teh computer? __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:40 PM	#6
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	Take a look at the socket on your MB, that should be about the same size as a USB socket. That would be a 6 pin plug. The socket on the camcorder should be small - tiny in fact, that would require a 4 pin plug. So, most likely you will need a 4 pin to 6 pin male/male cable for the connection. They are readily available - CompUSA has them I know. So should Best Buys, Fry's, Circuit City, etc. Really any place that sells either cameras or computers. They are common.
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:45 PM	#7
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	ok thanks for teh help PCBruiser. but one more question. Do you need software to be able to transfer recordings from teh tape to a computer? __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:49 PM	#8
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	Yes. You need video "capture" software. You can use a freeware one called VirtualDub from here: http://www.virtualdub.org Use the stable version 1.5.8 I think it is, the new version 1.6.3 is a beta and still has a few problems with the capture part of the software. BTW, the camera should have come with some software for capture as well.
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 03:51 PM	#9
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	kk thanks very much for your help. and "capture" software is wat??!!! __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 04:02 PM	#10
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	Just that - it "captures" the video from the tape. It also provides control for the camera via the firewire link - forward, back, play, etc. Remember, when it does capture, the file is in native digital audio/video format, and that file will be BIG, very big. There are quite a few threads here that explain how to convert native digital AV formats to CD/SVCD or DVD formats. VirtualDub cn do that for you as well, but it is not as easy to use as some commercial software you can buy for that purpose. I suggest something like Ulead's Video Studio 8 for a beginner (it also handles the capture for you): http://www.ulead.com/vs/runme.htm
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 04:04 PM	#11
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	alright. thankk you very much PCBruiser! __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 04:07 PM	#12
PCBruiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 13,497	BTW, when I say BIG, I do mean BIG. An hour's worth of video in native format may be about 20GB of data. So, you need a lot of hard drive space to do this kind of stuff.
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 04:10 PM	#13
Skater Boi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Posts: 260	wow! ok. and i can't find a thread on how to convert native digital AV formats to CD/SVCD or DVD formats. lol __________________ ~sKaTeR bOi~
(Offline)

01-15-2005, 04:13 PM	#14
JCNiest5 Computer Maniac Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The Twin Boys, MN. Posts: 1,391	Just like to add something to this thread. My Camcorder didn't come with the firewire cable, only the USB cable (if my memory serves me correctly). And I think most (if not all companies) don't include the firewire cable as it is not considered a necessary part of your purchase (or package). So, you will need to see what kind of connector is on your camcorder then go and buy one that will work. Firewire cables in any local stores will cost a lot. Best place to get is through Ebay, which will like have them for .99 cents. Good luck! __________________ MSI X58 Platinum SLI, Intel i7 920, 6GB (3x2GB) OCZ Platinum DDR3-1600, EVGA GTX285 SC 1GB DDR3 Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe, A64 4000+, BFG 9600GT OC Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe, A64 3200+, EVGA 7600GT 256MB DDR3 Gigabyte GA-945GCM-S2C, Dual Core E5200, 4GB OCZ Gold PC2-8500 (2x2GB), PNY 8600GT 256MB ECS 945GCT-M/13333, Dual Core E2160, Kingston 1x1GB, EVGA 8400GS Abit KN8 Rev. 1.1, A64 3200+, 1GB Samsung PC-3700 (2x512MB), MSI 8500GT 256MB DDR3 Gigabyte P4M900-M4 Rev. 6.1, P4 3Ghz Prescott, 2GB OCZ Gold (2x1GB), EVGA 8500GT 1GB DDR2
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode