How to Connect an HDV, MiniDV, or Digital8 Camcorder to a Computer and Perform Video Capture
Connecting your tape based digital video camera to your computer is a very simple process. After you have made this connection a couple of times, you will feel confident and know how to do it over again. The process is virtually the same regardless of the camera, computer, or editing software being used.
A Cable by any other name is still the Same
Camcorders that record to digital video tape use a universal IEEE 1394 connection for video capture. Every digital tape camera has a single IEEE 1394 port. The same is true for almost every computer manufactured since the year 2000. Locating and identifying the port can be difficult since IEEE 1394 is known by several names and identifications. Apple prefers the name Firewire and has included the technology on almost every Mac model. The only exceptions are the older Macintosh and Apple named models as well as the new Macbook Air and Aluminum Macbooks. Sony uses the term i.Link and identifies the port with the word i.Link or a small icon of the lowercase letter i. Other manufacturers refer to Firewire as a DV port and label these connections with DV port, IEEE 1394, 1394, or with another name or Firewire icon that is usually identified in the device owners manual. Most people use the term Firewire.
1. Location – Location – Location
A computer may have USB ports on more than one side, but the IEEE 1394 port is normally found on only one side of the computer near one of the groups of USB ports. A couple of manufacturers are nice enough to include Firewire ports in 2 separate locations on their computers. Sometimes, more than one type of Firewire port is also included. On Mac desktops, Firewire ports can be located on both the front and the back of the tower near each of the USB ports, and Apple sometimes includes both Firewire 400 and Firewire 800 ports on their Mac Pro Desktop, Macbook, and Macbook Pro systems. The Firewire ports on a Macbook are on the left side. On a Macbook Pro, the Firewire ports are on the right. The new aluminum unibody Macbook and the Macbook Air do not have any Firewire ports. Older PC desktops normally have a single IEEE 1394 port on the back of the tower, and some newer systems now place it on the front for easier access. PC laptops will normally have a single port on only the left or right side or on the back. Locating the port on PCs takes longer since the it may be identified as IEEE 1394, 1394, i.Link, DV, or Firewire.
Take your time and search carefully. Consult your owners manual, search engine, or online forum. Most users never realize they have a Firewire port. If you do not have an IEEE 1394 port on your computer, you can add it by purchasing and installing a PC card on a desktop, a PCMCIA card on an older laptop and a few adapted desktops, an ExpressCard/32 on a newer laptop, or an ExpressCard/54 on the newest advanced and professional laptops. Be sure to also find the port on your camera. It will usually be a single port on the back, right, or left of the camcorder.
Sizing Things Up
The connection for IEEE 1394 comes in 3 sizes. The most common connection ports are the 4-pin and 6-pin which are used in Firewire 400. Once you locate both of the ports (one on the camera and one on the desktop), you need to identify which sizes you have. Most camcorders and some laptops will have a small 4-pin connection . Most desktops including all Mac computers have a large 6-pin connection. The third connection size is a larger 9-pin connection for Firewire 800. It is mostly used for external hard drives, but you can also use it for video capture. This mostly applies to Macbook Pro and Mac Pro owners.
You will need to obtain the appropriate cable. One end should have a plug that matches the port on your camcorder, and the other end should match the port on your computer. The most common Firewire cable is the Firewire Cable, IEEE 1394, 4 pin to 6 pin, 400Mbps
2. Reboot
Now that the difficult first step is over, you can move on to the easier second step. Start by turning off your camcorder and computer. Connect the cable between your camcorder and computer. Turn on your camera, and set it to the VCR or Play mode. Insert the tape you want to capture and rewind it. Now, open the LCD screen, and set your video camera down in a position where you can see the screen. You will not need to touch the camera again until need to change tape or turn off the camera.
Turn on your computer, and let it boot. Log in if necessary, and turn off all non-essential programs while editing. This includes disconnecting your internet connection, and deactivating all unnecessary applications and processes in the dock in OS X and in the start bar in Windows. This also includes disabling or turning off your anti-virus software. You probably did not film a computer virus.
3. Capture
You have now reached the third step. Start your video capture program. Since IEEE 1394 video capture is the original standard for digital video transfer, almost all video editing programs include the capability for video capture from digital video tape over Firewire. This includes the free video editing software that came with your computer, such as: Windows Movie Maker in Windows and iMovie in iLife on a Mac. Be aware that a few programs, such as VideoSpin from Pinnacle (Avid), may not include the ability to handle this type of video capture. The command to start video capture may be different from program to program, but it normally includes the word “Capture”; such as “Log and Capture” in Final Cut. Once the capture command is activated, the process is automatic.
*** Additional Info ***
This is where the external hard drive is important. You need to have a place to store the captured video while you edit as well as a place to store your new movie once it is rendered. Most desktops will allow the addition of one or more additional hard drives, but the easiest solution for both desktops and laptops is the addition of an external hard drive.
There are two basic options: a central “public” installation over Ethernet such as a NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive or a direct “private” connection via USB, Firewire, or eSATA . Both options can be secured for private use or shared for public use, but the NAS is built for more sharing and the other connections are built for more private secured use. The minimum size you want to add for normal home video use is 500GB, but most professional and tapeless applications (such as AVCHD, HDD, and Flash Memory) will require a minimum of 1TB. 1 Hour of SD video requires up to 13gb of storage space, and 1 hour of HD video can require up to 26gb of space in uncompressed formats.
4. The Capture
Video Capture is a real time process. This means that a 1 hour tape will require 1 hour to capture. You do not need to stay at the computer for the entire time; however, you do want to check on the system from time to time. Once the video is captured to the computer, the process is complete. You may change tapes and capture more video, edit the video you have captured, or you may disconnect.
To disconnect your camcorder from your computer, turn off the computer first, and then turn off the camcorder. You may then disconnect the cable. Some newer computers and camcorders may allow you to simply turn off the camcorder and disconnect the cable, but almost every system will lock up either the camcorder or the computer (or both) if you disconnect the cable while both the computer and the camera are on especially during capture and editing.
Practice this process a few times. Once you have it memorized, you can use it on any digital tape camcorder on any computer with a firewire port.
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Motion Picture Central
How to Connect an HDV, MiniDV, or Digital8 Camcorder to a Computer http://motionpicturecentral.com/61
How to Connect an HDV, MiniDV, or Digital8 Camcorder to a Computer and Perform Video Capture http://cli.gs/SSGWS
How to Connect an HDV, MiniDV, or Digital8 Camcorder to a Computer and Perform Video Capture http://cli.gs/SSGWS
How to Connect an HDV, MiniDV, or Digital8 Camcorder to a Computer and Perform Video Capture http://cli.gs/SSGWS
So by connecting the camera to the computer, will I be able to save the footage directly to my hard drive or will I still have to transfer it from the card or tape?
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Mathew Farney – Web Hosting