[Spafon]

Bought my first ever camcorder the other day (Canon MVX-450) and while I've figured out how to play the MiniDV tapes through the camera and onto the TV, I'm lost trying to get the recordings onto my computer for editing.
I was under the impression I could use a USB connection (I don't think my computer has Firewire) to transfer, but it seems I can only use USB to transfer from a memory card. Does anyone know if this is true, or have I misread the manual? Although I've loaded the Canon software provided (Zoombrowser) this seem to only be for stills an not AV, which seems a bit strange.
So, could I ask what the best thing I could do to get recordings onto my computer? Buy a Firewire card and cable? Or just a DV cable? Or, fingers crossed, will USB do it?
Thanks

[redsox_mark]

Hi,

This is a common question (there are some recent threads on this). For DV transfer, you need to use Firewire.

If your computer doesn't have Firewire, then you can buy a Firewire card and cable.

[MarkE19]

To find out for sure if your PC has or han't got a firewire port already:
Open 'Control Panel'
Double click the 'System' icon
Select the 'Hardware' tab
Click on 'Device Manager'
Now scroll through the listing of devices and see if you can find anything listed as 'IEEE1394'. If you find this then that is a firewire port, if not then you don't have firewire.

If you need to add firewire then you can get a PCI card & cable for approx £10 that is dead easy to add to the PC as long as you have a small amount of confidence or knowledge of PC's.
Once you have firewire then you can use the free Movie Maker 2 software that is part of Windows XP (if you have XP that is). It can do a lot for a freebie, and help on how it works can be found Here.

Mark.

[Spafon]

Originally Posted by MarkE19

To find out for sure if your PC has or han't got a firewire port already:
Open 'Control Panel'
Double click the 'System' icon
Select the 'Hardware' tab
Click on 'Device Manager'
Now scroll through the listing of devices and see if you can find anything listed as 'IEEE1394'. If you find this then that is a firewire port, if not then you don't have firewire.

If you need to add firewire then you can get a PCI card & cable for approx £10 that is dead easy to add to the PC as long as you have a small amount of confidence or knowledge of PC's.
Once you have firewire then you can use the free Movie Maker 2 software that is part of Windows XP (if you have XP that is). It can do a lot for a freebie, and help on how it works can be found Here.

Mark.

Many thanks for this, it does actually say:
IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers>
VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller

So I guess I must have it . Best I move it away from the wall and have a good look :-)
Thanks again