How can I connect my HD camcorder to a PC which has no firewire port?

Tremolo Arm · 12-05-2008, 10:32 AM

Hi

I recently bought a new Sony HD DV camcorder, but being a complete newbie in the editing field I am having some issues in connecting it to my PC.

From what I can understand the connections can be made via either USB or i.Link, but the software does not seem to recognise the USB. Furthermore I've heard that USB is not the best option to carry HD signal to the PC.

My issue is that my PC does not have a firewire slot/port, hence I cannot use my i.Link cable.

Are there any cards that can be purchased and slotted to create the i.Link interface? If so, is it a relatively easy thing to do. I am not very technically minded...

Thanks in advance

TEKNICOLOURFOX · 12-05-2008, 10:58 AM

hi you can get FIREWIRE PCI cards to add firewire input to your pc

TEKNICOLOURFOX · 12-05-2008, 10:59 AM

plenty about, like these

http://www.ebuyer.com/search/?qfind=...re+PCI&x=0&y=0

redsox_mark · 12-05-2008, 11:59 AM

To capture from a HDV cam, you need to use Firewire. The USB is just for stills (or in some cases low quality webcam type video).

MarkE19 · 12-05-2008, 1:16 PM

Fitting a firewire port via a PCI card is very simple. Just open the case and remove the blanking plate from the back of the case. Push the card into the slot until it is held firmly in place. Lock in place with the screw you removed when taking out the blanking plate. Put the case back together. Connect all the cables back into the PC and boot it up.
That is all there is to it. There is no software to load as Windos (from 98se on) has all the required drivers built in. The port will show in device manager as an ieee1394 port.

Mark.

Tremolo Arm · 12-05-2008, 2:30 PM

Thanks, everyone!

T-Fox, thanks for the link. There seem to be quite a few different models, ranging from £7to £44. What are the minimum specs I need? As said, I only want to hook up my camcorder, so I doubt I would need all the other ports...

Slightly off topic, but what programme would you recommend for uploading footage onto the PC and burning DVDs (for friends and family) with the minimum of fuss / editing skills?

Many thanks

glesgaguyav · 12-05-2008, 3:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tremolo Arm

Slightly off topic, but what programme would you recommend for uploading footage onto the PC and burning DVDs (for friends and family) with the minimum of fuss / editing skills?

Many thanks

Pinnacle Studio and Ulead Video Studio (both ver 11) offer "wizards" so it's fairly easy to capture, edit and burn to DVD with or without menus.

IMO Ulead is a bit less stable than Pinnacle although I preffer it

MarkE19 · 12-05-2008, 4:03 PM

For capture of (H)DV footage you only need the basic firewire - ie firewire400. The faster versions such as firewire800 will not make any difference as the camcorder will only have a firewire400 port.

If you don't really want to do too much editing then you may find Ulead DVD MovieFactory does enough for you. It should be a bit easier to learn as it doesn't offer all the whistles & bells of a full blown editing program (but does offer better DVD authoring).
As for glesgaguyav finding Pinnacle Studio more stable then Ulead Video Studio - well that must be the one exception to the normal rule

(Pinnicle Studio is well know for beig unstable (in the past at least) for many users - but not all)

Mark.

TEKNICOLOURFOX · 13-05-2008, 12:29 PM

i'd go with the first one in the link (the one at £8.99) as its also got usb 2.0 which is a bonus, i use a mac for connecting camcorder via firewire and they come already with, but fitted firewire card to pc for external hds etc, easy as...