capture from camcorder

[keith123]

i have just bought a panasonic NV DS65 digital camcorder. I have made a small movie with the cam and i just want to know how i can upload the movie to my computer.

do i need special software to do this? i was supplied with a usb lead when i bought the cam so i would like to upload via the usb connection if possible.

thanks

[Tommyknocker]

Dude, you need a firewire card and cable. You own a digital camera, and you restrict your camera's ability to give you quality captures when you use the USB cable.

So, I suggest you get firewire card and 4-pin to 6-pin cable, and download a capture program like DVIO (it is freeware).

Remember to read the newbie articles first, and we will be here if you have any questions.

Oh, and if you insist on using the USB cable, download Virtual Dub for your USB captures. 8)

[yg1968]

1- You need a firewire port and cable (under $40)
2- You can use DVIO or DVapp (freewares) to capture
3- Just remember that DV takes 13 gig per hour

[keith123]

seen as i have the usb cable at the minute could you please tell me hoe to configure virtual dub in order to get the movie from my camcorder, or point me to a good guide.

if i am not happy with the results using the usb i will try your suggestions.

thanks again

keith

[Innershield]

Does your camcorder have a memory stick for still captures? If so that is what your USB connection is for, not video capture. Indeed you need a firewire card.

[Tommyknocker]

Actually, you can capture with a USB cable. It is better to use fire wire though.

[Innershield]

You can capture mpeg movies that were written to the memory card but you cannot capture DV from the tape using your USB cable

[keith123]

i have just captured DV movie from my tape via a usb with virtual dub ao it can be done.

is the quality better with firewire as it looked a bit amatureish with the usb.

[MpegEncoder]

So, I suggest you get firewire card and 4-pin to 6-pin cable, and download a capture program like DVIO (it is freeware).

Be careful, if it's a laptop it will be a 4-pin to 4-pin.

[Innershield]

Your camera must be better than mine as I am not able to use USB

[Tommyknocker]

You have to select the USB function on the camera menu.

[keith123]

i dont have any option to select that, i just stuck the usb cable in turned vcr mode on and hit play.

back to my other question, is it better quality to use fire wire than usb?

[henk schuifkaas]

Usually USB is to take short clips, or use your camcorder as a webcam. Firewire is the best you can get from your camcorder, as it's not a capture, but a transfer. It copies the video straight from the tape to your harddisk. No extra compression or whatever.

[onetrueday]

MOST miniDV camcorders will NOT allow you to transfer the movie via usb. Some will, but it's more common that you cant.

You can transfer a movie that you stored on your memory via usb though.

[yg1968]

To answer your question, yes firewire will look better than the USB. Your firewire card and cable will be the best $40 that you will ever spend. The ADS Pyro card comes with a cable and Ulead Video Studio (useful for editing DV).

[keith123]

i have just checked and i actually have a fire wire card installed, it doubles as a usb connection as well, so it has 3 usb ports and 3 fire wire ports.

i am in the process of capturing the film using windows movie maker, is that a good program to use?

also i have been recommend using usb 2, whats that like?

[Tommyknocker]

Well, once you see the results from a firewire capture (DV), you will not use USB again unless someone forces you to.

[keith123]

fire wire is ok, the quality of the video looks a bit blurry though, on full screen. when i captured the video i captured it firectly from the camera, as it played on the camera, are there any prgrams i can use to upload the data from the camera?

tommyknocker, usb 2 is faster than fire wire, i have been told so i will have to try that as well.

[kazzer]

fire wire is ok, the quality of the video looks a bit blurry though, on full screen.

Don't make the mistake of judging video quality using a PC monitor alone, monitor all your video work on a TV.

[g_shocker182]

Don't make the mistake of judging video quality using a PC monitor alone, monitor all your video work on a TV.

I find this very true. VCD DAT files look horrible on my computer, btu played on an even bigger TV they look great.

[Pulak]

i have just checked and i actually have a fire wire card installed, it doubles as a usb connection as well, so it has 3 usb ports and 3 fire wire ports.

i am in the process of capturing the film using windows movie maker, is that a good program to use?

also i have been recommend using usb 2, whats that like?

Hi Everyone,

I too have the Panasonic DS65. For over a month I have been serching for an answer to the exact question Keith123 started with. I finally found this question in the forum by Keith123 & was happy to read that he found a FireWire card for downloading movies from his tape to the PC.

I had got a Fire Wire Card of Pinnacle. I was told it was one of the best in the market. But this was unable to detect the camera, and so I could not download any movie. The USB download is real poor, frame by frame, and I am still hunting for the right Fire Wire Card.

Will anyone (Keith123 in particular) please tell me the information of Fire Wire card that works well with the DS65

Thanks,

Pulak