question about firewire (canon 750I)

[mohen]

i got laptop pent 2.6ghz celeron with 702 RAM and 4.5 GB free (30 GB hdd) . runnin on win XP pro SP2.
now i got the Grand video USB 2.0 to capture from my dv but i got a problem cause my Hdd speed is 4200 and it can't copy it from the DV ( to slow - every 1 frame 60 frames dropped ).
anyway , my question is about the firewire.
is the firewire plug to my mini DV , depends on the Hard disk ? or is it copy it as a file ... ?
cause i'm afraid it's gonna be slow again and it will be a waste of money ... thnx for the answer

[MOVIEGEEK]

Firewire transfers data and is HDD intensive,capturing analog is CPU intensive.Since you only have a 30GB HDD I recommend capturing MPEG-2.

[edDV]

"now i got the Grand video USB 2.0 to capture from my dv "

USB 2.0 is also very CPU intensive so you have multiple problems.

- DV is 13.5GB per hour. You need to make space.
- A celeron 2.6 is not enough to do MPeg2 direct encoding while also supporting USB 2.0 or is at best just on the edge. For best shot, set MPEG2 encoder to 8,000 Kbps CBR and LPCM audio.
- 4200 RPM can work for DV transfer but only if all backgrond tasks (e.g. anti virus etc.) are shut down. You would have a better chance with a IEEE-1394 input rather than USB 2.0.

PS. Is this what you have?
http://grandtec.com/TVusb.htm

That has no ability to capture DV. Try DVD Mpeg2.

[mohen]

i only want to capture 3 mintues from my mini DV .
so i guess i'm fine with the memory .
and i got something smilier with what is on the link .
i don't got the remote controller , and my box is smaller but still the same system .
i really can't capture with that USB 2.0 . the preview is really sucks , is like the motion is so slow and all the picture is twisted - i tried to do it through S-video and AV cables .
so how that firewire works ?
is it capture the same as USB ? like live capture ?
and should i put alot of money in my firewire (it's for laptop through that card) , i mean what is the different between a firewire card 1394 that cost 40$ and to one that cost 120 $ ?
and what software should i use to capture from firewire ?
hope it ain't too many questions , but it's really getting my intereted .

[edDV]

Get something like this in PC card format
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/ieee-1394_cardbus-card.html

Most OHCI (open host controller interface) cards will work fine for Windows XP.

[mohen]

okay this is what i can get
PCMCIA FIREWIRE 1394IEEE

Features :-
* Supports all common camcorders, disk drives, printers and scanners with 1394a interface
* Supports up to 63 devices
* Supports devices hot swap
* Supports maximum transfer rate at 400Mbps
* MS Windows compatible including DV and SBP-2 drivers
* Supports Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP & MAC OS 8.6 or higher using FireWire 2.2.2 or higher

Specification :-
* Data Transfer rate: IEEE1394a 100/200/400Mbps, OHCI 1.1
* 32-bit 33Mhz CardBus Type II
* 3 external 1394a 6-pin ports

is that okay ? and it's cost only 35 $ ... pretty cheap .

[edDV]

Looks OK