Panasonic HDC-SD9 how do you transfer to HDD/DV?

[asprint]

I just have purchased the HDC-SD9 and need some help/advise on how to connect to a PC to transfer to HDD/DV or just to playback. (Can you record direct to the HDD on either pc?)

I have a desktop with XP +SP3 and a laptop with
Vista + SP1.

I have a HD Writer 2.5E for HDC disc provided but the operators manual advises that I also need a DirectX 9 compatible video card for use with XP and DirectX 10 compatible video card for use with Vista?

How do I find out if the video cards fitted to either the desktop or laptop are compatible?

It then advises that I will need the appropriate DirectX software installed 9 or 10?

(If I need it why the hell do they not supply it?)

What is the DirectX software and where do I get from?

Assuming I get all this installed is it srtaight forward from there?

Is DirectX software safe to install and easy to uninstall at a later time?

[jonchill]

Direct X is on he HDWriter install disk and provides drivers to allow proper graphics support in programs. As far as I'm aware if you install Direct X 10 it will install any appropriate drivers for the card you install, I would be surprised if you didn't have at least 9 installed already.

[asprint]

Originally Posted by jonchill

Direct X is on he HDWriter install disk and provides drivers to allow proper graphics support in programs. As far as I'm aware if you install Direct X 10 it will install any appropriate drivers for the card you install, I would be surprised if you didn't have at least 9 installed already.

If I do a search for either DirectX 9 or 10 it comes back with a blank?

[Mr Lazy]

Don't get too bogged down in DirectX, chances are you can already play your video - but it's not clear if you've even tried or not yet?

Have you worked out how to get the video off the SDHC card and onto your computer (ie. using a card reader) or do you need help with that?

Do you have software that can play the video? (does the Panasonic software have a player).

As you asked, DirectX is a Microsoft component of Windows - if you have trouble sleeping have a read of: DirectX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vista on the laptop will have DirectX 10 included, so it's likely that it's graphics card is compatible (if the laptop came with Vista installed, it's an almost-certainty).

Things may be less clear-cut with the desktop and it mind depend on it's age (and age of the graphics card). Chances are it's running DirectX 9 (and if you have Windows automatic updates turned on, it almost certainly will have). With regards to the graphics card, to find out which version of DirectX it's compatible with, best to either a) look in the manual/specs sheet or b) look on the manufacturer's website.

By the way, if you can't get your video to play, it's much more likely to be either a) a codec issue or b) graphics card firmware on the desktop needs updating, rather than a DirectX issue.

[PaulThorpe]

I am having a similar problem. Rather than get all the cables out and run the SD9 on mains power, connect USB etc., I thought that I should be able to remove the SD card and put it in my card reader and drag the movie file (once you can find it!) it onto the computer. I read the terrible instruction manual and it seems that they do not recommend Windows Explorer, stating that we should use the HD-Writer software provided with the camera. I tried this and whenever I select my card reader as the source of the movie file the computer literally shuts down! Could it be because I am using an old multi-card reader? (Maybe it isn't even USB-2 come to think of it!) Any ideas? I'm using Windows 2000.
Incidentally I did successfully manage to transfer a file from the camera via USB, but when I tried to play it with HD-Writer it would only play it at 2 FPS!!

[A n d r e w]

Originally Posted by PaulThorpe

whenever I select my card reader as the source of the movie file the computer literally shuts down! Could it be because I am using an old multi-card reader?

Make sure that your card reader is SDHC compatible (not just SD compatible).

Originally Posted by PaulThorpe

Incidentally I did successfully manage to transfer a file from the camera via USB, but when I tried to play it with HD-Writer it would only play it at 2 FPS!!

What are the specifications of your system - processor, RAM, etc.?

[PaulThorpe]

Andrew,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, I have my doubts about my 5 year old card reader ... just ordered an SDHC single card reader from Amazon for £3!
My system consists of Windows 2000 SP4, Pentium 4 (2Ghz) processor, 768 Mb Ram, Directx9, Radeon Video card.
Paul

[aet3]

Hi
I had a similar problem and eventually increased my Ram to 4GB. I now transfer the AVCHD video file direct from my Video Camera (Panasonic HDC-SD5) Card into my Video Editing Program (Pinnacle Studio Ultimate V12 + Patch) using the compuuter card reader. There is no need to convert the files from AVCHD to MPEG2. I use the Pansonic HD Writer 2.0E to view and edit the video files.
Hope this helps
Cheers

PS: I am trying to get a copy of the HD Writer 2.5E - are you interested to help ? Please do not feel under obligation, it is just a general (hopeful) question.
cheers