HELP!?!!? Transfering video from digital camera
 

Ok I just have got a sony digital camera (about $1000) so its of good quality, i have no probs acceing the memory stick on it and can easily get them to my computers.

However I have 60 minutes of footage on the tape and although i can play it back on the digital camera I cant for the life of me figure out how to get it onto the computer

I have a USB connector from camera to the computer, also my computer as a S-Video port as does the Digital camera (i dont have a lead to connect though)

I gather i might need more hardware? if so what? is it not possible to do it over USB?

Thankz

Daz

Has the camera got firewire (IE1394)?

If so get a firewire interface for your computer.

Then use Adobe Premeire or some other edit software to import video in DV format....

If it doesnt have firewire u will still need software like premiere to digitise but the quality is not great

hope this helps

Darren,

what model camera is it? I have a Sony digital that cost me about the same. Hit me up on icq. I might be able to help.

Sony TRV725E

Damn, good thing I said "might" and not "can for sure".

I have the DSC-F707.

sorry. :(

LOL, what made you think that he had an hour of video tape from a digital still camera?


Oh well, at least you offer to try and help. :)

Do I get multiple choice? :helpme

You are lucky I like you. I would not leave myself open like that in the future. If you were on my shit list then I would have exploited you at this point. :winkwink:

sony site is a pile of shit.

I gather I need some hardware to transfer the TAPE to the computer?

whats this firewire?

all I have is a USB connector which seems to transfer just the stuff off the menory card.

what do you use? surely most Sony models are similiar in their use.

the tape is

a Sony Digitital 8

and Aaron mate it is MiniDV

Put down the crackpipe Darren. If it is Digital8 then it is NOT MiniDV.

but i like the crackpipe, do ireally have to put it down :(

Where is this 'shit list' you speak of and how can I get my enemies on it?:glugglug

I didn't look up your model Sony but I am pretty sure Dig 8's do not have firewire. But no worries, you should have s video and a composite video out and L and R audio out on your video camera. You will need a video capture card for your computer now. ATI makes decent cards for decent prices, the ALl In Wonder series. There are many more out there too choose from. Once installed you will be able to hook your camera outputs to the inputs on your new card and capture video to your drive. I suggest installing another 7200 rpm drive just for your video work and not capturing to the same drive as your OS. Once you get the raw footage on your drive you can use the software programs that come packaged with your new card to edit and render your final production in pretty much any format and even back to tape if you like.

Good Luck,
BV

i would also like to take this opportunity to express interest in said shit list.

Your camera should have iLink which is Sony trademark for apples firewire.

iLink is pretty much interchangeable with firewire

firewire is a high speed interface... a lot faster the usb... check out the apple site for more info

all depends on how serious you are...

Almost correct, except for the word "not" in there. All Digital8 camcorders have firewire connectors, no exceptions. I mean, the main point of recording the signal in digital format is the advantage you gain by keeping it digital through the production process, there would be no sense in a digicorder outputing solely analog.

Keep in mind that the signal being processed and recorded onto a Digital8 tape is the same data stream as found on a DV, DVCAM or MiniDV tape. The only difference is in the way the tracks are physically laid down. See http://www.videouniversity.com/dvformat.htm for a clarification of this point of confusion for many. DVCAM does affer the advantage of "locked audio", but that's really only of concern for professional applications.

Anyway, Darren, you'll find the firewire port near the analog connections and labelled with "DV". (Note: since you have a European model, both DV-in and analog-in have been disabled. However, if you do wish to use your camcorder as a portable VCR, the work around is available at http://www.datavision.co.uk/widgetlist.htm#digi8).

You'll need a capture card for your computer, do a search on Google for "pal firewire capture card" (pal=secam if you're french, no offense intended if you're not :) ), software drivers to interface with your capture program (which will usually ship with the capture card) and a cord to connect the camcorder to your computer. Your camcorder has a 4 pin connector and your capture card most likely will too (I've yet to encounter a six pin connector, though I'm sure they're out there, since I've encountered cords with such a plug), so you'll need a "4Px4P IEEE 1394 Firewire Cable". This may have come with your camcorder or be supplied with the capture card, otherwise, you'll have to order it seperately.

Once that's set up, you may well have to start upgrading your computer's components to record the video stream without any dropouts. A half gig of ram or better, a seperate disk drive spinning at 7200 rpm and 60+ gigs in size (60 gigs will hold a bit over 4 hours of video in DV format), and an OS that has been optimized for video performance will be needed. In fact, because of the inherent driver conflicts that almost always arise with NLE systems, I'd recommend a standalone machine that is used for nothing else. And, even then, one that was configured from the gitgo for video capture, as opposed to cobbling a system together as you go.

format c:

my bad 5eyes
and BTW Pinnacle's Firewire card has 2 - 6pin connectors.

"I gather I need some hardware to transfer the TAPE to the computer?

whats this firewire?

all I have is a USB connector which seems to transfer just the stuff off the menory card. "

memory card: stores your photos
tape: stores your movie

getting tape to harddisc: you need firewire (almost every sony pc/laptop - mac computer comes with that). and remember it get´s recorded uncompressed (720x480 TV standart), so you better get a big fucking harddisk too (1min can easily go up to 1GB). and yes, you have to sit there for one hour to record all that stuff, and yes you´ll be having a lot of fun editing a 60GB avi file ...

i have a Pansonic DV camcorder...and a firewire card
50 min of video is 10GB...but the quality is really great