Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Not sure this is the best place for this question but ..... :)

.... I want to purchase a cheap MiniDV camcorder for occasional use but would like to be able to transfer the footage obtained to my PC and onto discs. I am a novice in this area but believe that this is not necessarily a straightforward task (easier with Hard Drive & Flash Memory Camorders). The Camcorder I want to buy is a JVC GRD820 (c. £140) and my PC (spec as shown below) has both 4 pole and 6 pole firewire connections plus Nero Vision Express 3 and Windows Moviemaker. Am I set to go with this PC setup
and camcorder?

I'm not into complicated editing but just want to be able to produce simple home video footage on disc. I believe that copying from Mini DV to PC has to be done in real time (bit slow but hey...) but one question which does intrigue me is whether several short clips recorded on a given tape later be identified, separated and labelled via the PC so that when they are on disc they can be stored and/or accessed individually by the viewer?

I'm sure there are many other considerations I haven't thought of yet so any other feedback on this subject would be most welcome.

TVM!! :tu:

Oh... I also have a Panasonic DMRE55EB DVD recorder which has audio/video and S Video inputs for a camcorder so would using these be a simpler alternative to get the stuff on DVD and then into the PC for possible editing at a later date?

cheers

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

It should come with basic PC editing software (my Canon mv800 had a SE verion of ULEAD Videostudio). Using the DV output > Firewire connection you can control the camera from within the software (FF, rewind etc). It does allow for faster than real time but I'm not sure if your Celeron is up to that, my P4 3gig Shuttle box was only marginally faster. I use VideoReDo http://www.videoredo.com/en/index.htm to edit the resulting .mpg, it allows me to top and tail and edit out unwanted footage also you can save out individual sections for later reconstruction in something like Videostudio if you want titles and fades etc.

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Pretty much same set up as me Osem, including camera!
Yeah, you'll be right with WMM. I wanted to do a bit more so went for Adobe Premiere Elements which also makes the chapters, converts and burns, but for basic transfer and editing, WMM will do you. Just make the separate clips yourself and save each of them. They'll become the DVD chapters then Nero will (presumably) burn for you with chapters (sorry, never used it).

Best way - trial and error! Make a few coasters and have a play about.
The real time grab is easy, it's the conversion and whatnot that takes the time.

HTH

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Cheers guys !

What do you think of the camera btw?

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

It's not *exactly* the same model mate, but not far off - yeah, it's great.
:)
More than capable of the job.

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Using a mini DV and tranfering to Pc is not copmlicated at all.
Juatp lug a firewire cable from the camcorder to the Pc and switch on the camera to play mode.
It should auto find the device and ask you what you want to do.
If you have already got an editing program installed it will prompt you to open it up and capture the video on to the H.D.
You can also use Movie Maker to capture video footage and that is bundled with Windows.

You'l end up with one big video file on your hard drive. Most software will organise it and break it down into clips (eg, everytime you pressed stop when you were filming).
You then drag your clips onto a timeline and arrange them as you wish.
Follow the programs instructions and click burn and you have yourself a DVD.
You can do all of that within MovieMaker.

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Thanks for that. I have downloaded a copy of the camcorder's manual and it appears to have av and firewire out connections but doesn't come supplied with a firewire cable. Can I just buy one of these or do I need to get a specific cable from JVC?

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Just buy one mate. They're universal, just get the connections right.
From memory, it needs to be a iLink connection (camera) to firewire (PC).

Like THIS

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

I note that the leads shown in the JVC manual have 'core filters' at both ends whereas many I've seen since your post don't - is this important?

Thanks

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

I just use firewire capture as avi and convert to vob with winavi thats it. I will be using more sophisticated software when the bothered occurs in me ;)

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Mine doesn't have filters & I've never had any probs with interference.

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

TVM!

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Firewire cables are also known as Ilink or IEE1394 cables.

You most likely need a firewire cable with these 4 pin and 6 pin ends:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/05/33.jpg

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Hi guys - I'm new to this so please be gentle :dunce:

I am having nothing but problems transfering mini dv to my pc. :mad:

I thought it was meant to be easy :confused::confused:

Can anyone help;):shrug:

I have a Sony DCR-PC1E camcorder and I believe the correct firewire cable and card installed within my pc. I am fairly pc literate but I cannot get my head round this problem.

Whenever I try to transfer the data from the camcorder to my pc the end result is that the machines performance is reduced to a crawling pace. It seems completely random if the machine will "See" the camcorder at all. Even if it does any transfer programme that I use (Windows Movie Maker or Studio 12) slow, then die, and I then have the program not responding window.

I've tried updating the drivers, through a third party website as the Sony support pages were painfully inadequate, tried different programs and even tried two different pc's! :grind:

I am at the end of my patience to be honest.:bigcry:

Can anyone help or offer some advice PLEASE ??

I'm running Windows XP with 2GB of memory if that's any use

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

It could be a device conflict? check the properties of the card under device manager

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

if its a pci card try it in a different slot ( the firewire card obviously)

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

Hi to Scrubbs and Zing and thanks guys for your advice.

Zing - I have already tried swapping the pci card to a different free pci port on two different machines? Any other suggestions?

Scrubbs - I looked under the device manager and didnt find any yellow question marks which I guess is good! The device manager did "see" the camcorder which is encouraging. However other than that I still encounter the same problem.

The best result to date is that Studio 12 starts, appears ready to capture the data but then hangs indefinately showing the egg timer.

ANY HELP OR ADVICE GREATLY APPRECIATED :)

Re: Copying Mini DV to PC
 

things to try?

connect another firewire device to check the card, a friends camcorder? at the same time check your camera with the same friends pc if he/she uses it with the camcorder.
Also try some other editing software other than what you have already?