Direct usb download without capture card

[Guest]

is it possible to download video files to a hdd from a digital camcorder using a usb connection without a capture card? My video card appears to only have output devices. radeon 9600 is my video card

[MrMungus]

is it possible to download video files to a hdd from a digital camcorder using a usb connection without a capture card? My video card appears to only have output devices. radeon 9600 is my video card

There are devices that let you connect your camera to them and then send video to the computer via USB (see the Capture Cards section). But I think you're asking how to do it without having to get additional equipment. If so, can't you just use your firewire connection and a cheap firewire card (or a firewire connection on your motherboard if you already have it)?

[SLICK RICK]

I'm with mrmungus on this one. You should try to transfer your video using firewire. Speaking from past experiences, USB is terrible for video transfers.

SLICK RICK

[MrMungus]

I'm with mrmungus on this one. You should try to transfer your video using firewire. Speaking from past experiences, USB is terrible for video transfers.

SLICK RICK

You talking about USB 1.1 or 2.0? 2.0 is 480Mbps...and I was thinking it would be a good way to get video into the computer (if you wanted a portable device that you could use on any computer with USB 2.0).

[SLICK RICK]

You talking about USB 1.1 or 2.0? 2.0 is 480Mbps...and I was thinking it would be a good way to get video into the computer (if you wanted a portable device that you could use on any computer with USB 2.0).

It's been quite a while since I tranfered video with USB but I am pretty sure it was 2.0. I know the transfer rate for USB 1.0 is to slow for video.

SLICK RICK

[saurabh_fzr]

I think the difference in USB and firewire is not just the transfer speed but other things as well. I tried to capture (using SONY TRV 33e) using USB and 10 minutes of video file was app 4 GB. This makes me believe that USB does not have speed limitations.
USB capturing generally does not allow DV quality capturing (some cams may allow that but I have not come across any), the frame size of the captured video is smaller and hense the video quality is degraded. The firewire on the other hand directly transfers the file from tape as it is to the disk, without any compression or alteration.

[tito13kfm]

I think the difference in USB and firewire is not just the transfer speed but other things as well. I tried to capture (using SONY TRV 33e) using USB and 10 minutes of video file was app 4 GB. This makes me believe that USB does not have speed limitations.
USB capturing generally does not allow DV quality capturing (some cams may allow that but I have not come across any), the frame size of the captured video is smaller and hense the video quality is degraded. The firewire on the other hand directly transfers the file from tape as it is to the disk, without any compression or alteration.

No, the difference is truly just transfer speed. (and a different cable)

it all depends if your camcorder supports full DV transfer over usb 2.0. I don't know of a single one that can, but it's definately possible. For camcorders that support transfer of video over usb 1.1 they usually limit the transfer to 320x240 mpeg files, I think the TRV 33e is one that does this, sort of like a on the fly mpeg1 encoder... don't quote me on that though..

[Richard_G]

Tito13kfm has hit it on the head. If a camcorder supported USB 2, it would be possible, but I don't know of any that do yet. That's why they have Firewire ports as well. USB for webcam type video and stills, Firewire for full frame DV video.