Sony DCR-HC42 MiniDV USB Transfer

[Dr. DOS]

Dear ole Dad bought a new camcorder the other day.... We have not picked him up a Fwire card yet so we thought we would try the USB Streaming / Video Transfer feature of the unit.

When we used the software that came with this thing to xfer the 30 second test video over to his computer it dumped a 200meg avi which is at 320x240, 30fps, pcm audio. I was expecting DV resolution with this xfer. (720x480).... we scoured VH and sony sites and we are still looking for a good forum to search posts. Sony.com has a limited knowledge base (basics)

Has anyone come across this before with this USB transfer function?

Can you even use a 320x240 video for DVD production? (conversion via Mainconcept or other utility to DVD resolution)

TIA, Tim

[thecoalman]

When we used the software that came with this thing to xfer the 30 second test video over to his computer it dumped a 200meg avi which is at 320x240, 30fps, pcm audio.

That's standard, that or some other low resolution web quality video. The USB on nearly every cam is not for full quality DV. For 1 they are USB1 and can't sustain the datarate.....

You need firewire.

Can you even use a 320x240 video for DVD production? (conversion via Mainconcept or other utility to DVD resolution)

Not as is, you would need to reencode and scale it up which is going to further reduce the quality.... Get a firewre card.

[Dr. DOS]

Heading out to store today ... will pick it up along with card and cable.

Thanks