Trying to transfer camcorder tapes to computer via easycap *RAAAHH!*

[BostonJas]

OK So I downloaded Easycap and everything's fine up till the part where I plug in my camcorder. The computer doesnt recognized it and automatically goes to my webcam, the camcord isnt even a option. Its plugged in but just doesnt read it

HELP

i have windows 7 HP laptop and the camcorder is a samsung hi8 scl610

What am i doing wrong?

[jagabo]

What kind of camcorder? What kind of cable?

[BostonJas]

camcorder - samsung scl610 hi8 8mm

cable - easycap plugs in to camcorder and usb to my computer

[usually_quiet]

A few more questions...

Which EasyCap device are we talking about? A link would be helpful if it was purchased online, as I have seen several different makers selling products labeled "EasyCap".

What do you mean by "I downloaded Easycap"? Was it drivers, or something else?

Are you using it with the Windows 7 HP laptop in your profile? If so, do you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the OS?

What capture software are you using with it?

[BostonJas]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320574511408&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

I did everything it told me to do, put the cd in, the serial number. I get all the way to hooking up the easycap and thats where it shits out, boooo
the laptop is a 64
im using the software that came with it

[jagabo]

Note that ebay posting says the software only works with 32 bit versions of Windows. If you're lucky Windows 7 may come with a driver that will allow Windows Media Center to capture from the device.

[usually_quiet]

I can't really tell anything from the eBay listing. Many of the cheap "EasyCap Video capture adapters" sold for about $10 or less are not a good choice for Windows 7. Most are knockoffs of a discontinued genuine EzCAP model and only include drivers for windows XP. Manufacturer support for these is often non-existant and getting drivers for Windows 7 64-bit from the manufacturer may be impossible. Ulead Video Studio 8.0 SE DVD software is often bundled with them, and there are reports of problems getting that to work with Windows 7 as well.

Sabrent makes one of the devices that was sometimes sold as an "EasyCap". It is now called "USB 2.0 Video & Audio Capture DVD Maker", and currently sells for about $20 on Amazon. The manufacturer product page is: http://www.sabrent.com/product_USB-AVCPT.php Windows 7 364-bit drivers for the Sabrent devices are available here http://www.sabrent.com/drivers2/USB-AVCPT-64bit-Vista-Win7.zip. It has Ulead Video Studio 8.0 bundled with it, and you may need to find something else for Windows 7 64-bit. I'm not sure what to suggest. I have a 32-bit version of Windows 7.

If Windows 7 doesn't find the drivers for you and the Sabrent drivers don't work, you made an unwise purchase for your situation. Get something else, and be happy that learning the lesson of checking that your OS is supported before purchasing was this cheap. I can think of several relatively inexpensive capture device available that have Windows 7 drivers available.

Devices frequently recommended here at VideoHelp: The ATI TV Wonder HD 650 Combo USB: http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-HD-650-Combo-USB/dp/B0037A3MVE The ATI TV Wonder HD 600 USB PC TV Tuner: http://www.amazon.com/ATI-Wonder-600-USB-Tuner/dp/B00138EOH8 The Diamond TVW750USB ATI Theater HD 750 USB TV Tuner: http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-TVW750USB-ATI-Theater-Tuner/dp/B002UOUQ08/ref=sr_1_fkmr0...7&sr=8-3-fkmr0 All of these are very good choices for composite video captures.

If you want a real EzCAP, the latest model of the genuine device sells for about $32 on Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/EzCAP116-Camcorders-Recorder-Satellite-playstation3/dp/B003YGJLW...1033643&sr=8-1 The manufacturer website is http://www.ezcap.tv/ According to the information on the website, it comes with drivers and capture software that are suitable for Windows 7.

[usually_quiet]

Note that ebay posting says the software only works with 32 bit versions of Windows. If you're lucky Windows 7 may come with a driver that will allow Windows Media Center to capture from the device.

Windows 7's Media Center can capture video from a device with compatible drivers, but I don't think it will work for what the OP wants to do.
Without an IR blaster installed, it isn't posible to finish setting up a capture device within Media Center. I've tried and there was no way around it.

Windows 7's Media Center is designed just to record TV using a capture device or TV tuner. When a capture device is used, Media Center expects it to be connected to a cable box or satellite box, and requires a compatible IR blaster to be installed for the PC to change the channel on the cable box. (For the OP's benefit: An IR blaster is an special cable with an IR emitter on one end. The other end can be plugged into some Media Center compatible IR remote control receivers. IR blasters allow Media Center to control a cable box or satellite box.)

Windows Live Movie Maker might work, but produces .wmv files, which may not be ideal. If the OP wants to make a DVD from the capture, or post it on You Tube, something else would probably be better.

There must be some software other than these two programs, which is inexpensive or free, will work well with a variety of capture devices, and runs under Windows 7 64-bit. I just don't know enough about Windows 7 64-bit-compatible applications well enough to say what they are.

[jagabo]

If Win7 64 bit has a device driver for the capture device he might be able to capture with the 64 bit version of VirtualDub.

[usually_quiet]

If Win7 64 bit has a device driver for the capture device he might be able to capture with the 64 bit version of VirtualDub.

I thought of that too. I am not sure it is a good choice for beginners, but looking through the freeware programs that are for capturing video, but are not PVR software, there isn't much else that is 64-bit. It looks like 64-bit Windows 7 is presently not a great environment for doing video work on the cheap.