Incompatible hardware ports

[gt6]

Hi

I have an old laptop running WinXP. It has wifi, ethernet, usb and a firewire port. It also has a PCMCIA slot. I have a Panasonic HDC-SD60 camera with HDMI, usb and AV (component & composite) ports.

How do I capture video (say using VLC)?

I tried the usb-to-usb option but that is playback only. There don't appear to be any form of firewire-to-HDMI adapters or HDMI-over-IP (wifi or ethernet) adapters. I'm stuck!

Thanks
Andy

[Bjs]

Grass Valley ADVC110 ... about $179.00 would be best considering aging xp system ... 720 capture max

Pcmcia ... anything above 480 via this connection is limited by data bandwidth, then frames lower.

And welcome to the forum

[pippas]

How do I capture video...

I can't see why you would want to try and 'capture' video from this camera, (as in 're-record' it onto your computer)...I'm guessing you probably mean you want to 'transfer' the video to your computer ?

Simply remove the SD card that contains your footage, and fit it into a card reader (something like THIS for example).
Then you can copy the .MTS files directly from the card - (those are the actual video files)

You can find the .MTS files in the card folder structure by following this sequence: "PRIVATE - AVCHD - BDMV - STREAM'.

Or - you can use HD Writer software to copy the complete file structure from the card, and then use HD Writer to view your clips and carry out simple edits. That lets you keep all the metadata in the files as well as the video itself.

Either way, you won't lose any quality by doing that.. which you will do, if you try and 'capture' your video by playing it in camera, and recording it again onto the computer.

If you don't have a copy of HD Writer, you can find one HERE (You will need version AE 2.0 )

[gt6]

@Bjs - Thanks. Just need to find a UK supplier . . .

@pippas - I should have explained that I am using it in a sports club to provide time-delayed live feedback of their performance by setting the VLC cache to 30 seconds.

[pippas]

@pippas - I should have explained that I am using it in a sports club to provide time-delayed live feedback of their performance by setting the VLC cache to 30 seconds.

Ahhh.. so a card reader is not really suitable then !

With regard to the Grass Valley converters, you might like to check out the cheaper ADVC55, which has only just been discontinued within the past couple of months (Grass Valley are 'rationalising' their DV converter range)
It's the same quality as the ADVC110, but doesn't include the (little used) digital to analogue output option

There's a new one for sale HERE: for example. About £80 cheaper than an ADVC110 from Amazon

Don't forget that the ADVC converters produce 720x576 DV images, so you'll need to ensure you can display the original aspect ratio of the 16x9 footage from your Panasonic camera, and that your chosen player can also 'stream' DV.....

Or, if the budget is a bit tight, maybe take a look at one of THESE instead?. Beware of fakes though... probably best to buy direct I'm thinking...

[gt6]

About £80 cheaper than an ADVC110 from Amazon

At £152 it's a bit steep . . . but thanks for the pointer to the ezcap.tv people. I'll email them to see if they can help.

[jagabo]

Isn't that a high definition camcorder? Why would you want to capture standard definition with an ADVC110? Get a USB HD HDMI capture device suitable for use with VLC. Verify the camcorder puts out a live HDMI signal.

[gt6]

Isn't that a high definition camcorder? Why would you want to capture standard definition with an ADVC110? Get a USB HD HDMI capture device suitable for use with VLC. Verify the camcorder puts out a live HDMI signal.

I don't care about SD or HD . . . I am struggling to find anything that works.

I can't see how what you suggest might work? I googled "USB HD HDMI capture device" but it was either usb-in / HDMI-out or HDMI-to-component/composite. I need HDMI/component/composite-to-firewire/usb don't I?

[jagabo]

There are many HDMI capture devices. Like the Hauppauge HD PVR series. But I don't know if they work with VLC.

Be careful with the "EasyCap" devices. There are many poor quality clones.

[smrpix]

Try something like the blackmagic intensity shuttle. Though if the ADVC is beyond your budget this probably is too.

[gt6]

Though if the ADVC is beyond your budget this probably is too.

This also looks good but at the price it would be cheaper and better to buy a secondhand laptop with HDMI built-in.

[pippas]

Verify the camcorder puts out a live HDMI signal.

I don't think those earlier model Panasonic camcorders have a 'live' HDMI output... some of the more recent ones do..

[jagabo]

Though if the ADVC is beyond your budget this probably is too.

This also looks good but at the price it would be cheaper and better to buy a secondhand laptop with HDMI built-in.

And you'd still have no way of getting video from the camcorder to the laptop. HDMI on a laptop is output only.

[gt6]

HDMI on a laptop is output only.

Oh wow. Thanks for that heads up!

So what ports are input?

[jagabo]

On a laptop the typical inputs that can be used to capture video are USB and firewire. The latter is very rare these days. Oh, and the Thunderbolt port on a Mac.

[gt6]

On a laptop the typical inputs that can be used to capture video are USB and firewire. The latter is very rare these days. Oh, and the Thunderbolt port on a Mac.

Well I seem knackered then as the only ports on the camera are HDMI, component and composite.

[jagabo]

On a laptop the typical inputs that can be used to capture video are USB and firewire. The latter is very rare these days. Oh, and the Thunderbolt port on a Mac.

Well I seem knackered then as the only ports on the camera are HDMI, component and composite.

As was pointed out you need a video capture device that supports HDMI, component, or composite input and outputs to USB for your laptop.

[gt6]

Thanks very much to everyone.

I got a reply from the Ezcap people:
"Our 116 EzCAPTURE product will do this for you. You connect the unit to your camcorders av composite cable.
You can use the capture software included on the install disc or VLC.
http://www.ezcap.tv/usb-video-capture/ezcap116-capture-card"

Hopefully this will work!