Captured video is very pixelated.

[otnpabka]

I am brand new to the video capturing world. I successfully moved one 30" video from my Sony DCR-HC21 Handycam to my computer. I used Windows Movie Maker on that attempt and everything turned out fine. When I attempted a second video a few months later I noticed on the preview screen of the Microsoft software that the video is severely pixelated. I attempted to capture the same video using Nero and I had the same result. I taped some more video, thinking maybe I had done something wrong with my camera and still I had the same result in the preview screen. When I replay the videos on my camera's flip out screen everything looks normal. Is there a setting I've mistakenly changed on my camera or in the editing software that would cause the pixelation?

Thanks for the help,
otnpabka

[jagabo]

Be sure you're capturing from the Firewire (IEEE 1394) port, not a USB port (camcorders usually only transfer low resolution via USB).

When capturing with WMM always capture as DV AVI.

Better yet use a dedicated DV capture program like WinDV.

[otnpabka]

I'm off to buy a Firewire cable and I'll use WinDV when I return. I'll post my results later today. Thanks for the help.

[otnpabka]

The Firewire + WinDV solved our problem. Everything is working great now.

Thanks again for all of the help,
otnpabka

[jagabo]

Glad to hear it worked out.