[niki_n]

I bought this video camera new about 4 years ago, its been great but not had much use.
I've just tried to download footage to my PC for the first time (using the USB cable supplied), all camera settings are correct as far as I can see, driver was downloaded from the CD supplied with the camera. The movie footage downloads to my PC no problems, but it has come across with no sound.
I have a laptop using W2K and a Desktop using Windows XP, and I have the same problem on both. I've checked the manual but can't see what I'm doing wrong, anyone have any ideas?
Someone suggested to me that I might need a video capture card - not sure what this is, or if I do?
Thanks.

[senu]

No you need firewire not USB
It is a mini DV camcorder and it is rare to capture the DV AVI footage on the tape to PC via USB
You do not need any drivers for this and only need a firewire card ( not video capture as such) if your PC does not have one
You most definitely need a firewire cable too

[niki_n]

Thanks very much for your response.
The manual supplied with the camera indicated I should be able to download via the USB cable without any issues, but with Windows 98 there would be no sound, W2K and WXP were compatible.
And like I said - the movie downloads to my PC as per the instructions - but no sound.

I've not heard of a Firewire card before, I'm in NZ, do I just talk to my local PC store about this?

[blakemere]

i have the same camera, i run xp and had the same problem, firewire is definitely the way to go,also i use roxio 10 media creator and put it directly onto dvd ,no messing about

[senu]

Originally Posted by niki_n

Thanks very much for your response.
The manual supplied with the camera indicated I should be able to download via the USB cable without any issues, but with Windows 98 there would be no sound, W2K and WXP were compatible.
And like I said - the movie downloads to my PC as per the instructions - but no sound.

I've not heard of a Firewire card before, I'm in NZ, do I just talk to my local PC store about this?

Yes ,
You may already have firewire socket on your PC and just need a cable. It is not a UK or US specific thing and has been around for a long time . Im sure it is alive and well In New Zealand
The card only comes into play if you need to add firewire capability to the PC
It is also called I-link, IEEE1934, DV link all meaning the same thing
The socket on the camcorder will be labelled i-link ( means the same thing)
Some MiniDV camcorders have the capability to download, stills, lower quality video, and rarely DV video with USB, but the defacto standard is firewire.
The reasons are part historical , and partly because firewire is a better for DV Video transfer than USB 1. The data on the tape is not downloaded as such but is streamed ( there is a lot of data on that tape) and a steady throughput is needed for accurate capture to PC
Also many video editing software expect DV video to be "captured" by firewire and the protocol supports control of the camcorders transport , from the PC. You can also use it to return edited material back to tape as it happens

[niki_n]

Thank you again.
I've found a small connection port on the side of my laptop with 1394 written under it so I'm assuming thats the FireWire port?

On the camera it has 3 connection ports.
1) for the USB cable
2) DV
3) Audio/Video output and the cable that goes in there has the red, white yellow attachments on the end that plugs into the TV.

So, the DV port will be for the FireWire, and all I should need is to buy the cable that goes from the camera DV port to the 1394 port in my latptop?
I'm hoping it will be that easy

[senu]

Originally Posted by niki_n

Thank you again.
I've found a small connection port on the side of my laptop with 1394 written under it so I'm assuming thats the FireWire port?

Yes ,that is correct

So, the DV port will be for the FireWire, and all I should need is to buy the cable that goes from the camera DV port to the 1394 port in my latptop?
I'm hoping it will be that easy

It should be. For a lap top you would need a 4 pin to 4 pin cable like THIS
Note that
You should connect the cable to the PC first : It works either way but some incidents of "fried" camcorder firewire ports are preventable by using this order.
Also If you must use mains, ensure they are already both connected
Normally when you connect up, Windows will recognise and perhaps make a "ping" sound and then ask how you wish to download
You can do it with WMM ( ensuring DV (best quality) or any other editing software on your PC
You may find WIN DV handy
Note than a 1hr tape will use up 13Gb of space . You can of course delete this once you are done with it