Firewire800 Card/Firewire400 Device and X2 Pro

[blplhp]

My new Dell computer did not come with a firewire adapter card (brain fart on my end). Now I have to buy a third party card and install one myself. My Sony camcorder (bought in the year 2000) has the Firewire400 (1394a) iLink 4-pin connector. If I buy a Firewire800 adapter card for my computer and I buy a 9-pin(1394b) to 4-pin(1394a) cable, are there any issues with VideoStudio X2 Pro as far as transferring the video from my Sony iLink camcorder to my computer? Firewire800 is suppose to be backwards compatible with Firewire400 devices.

Also, are there any manufacturers of firewire cards or specific card models or types to avoid that VideoStudio X2 Pro is not compatible with or has given problems with?

Thanks,

[erdna]

Different device speeds is no problem with firewire connections. The actual speed is determinated by the lowest one. Camcorders have generally firewire 400 with an S100 signalling. Battery operated devices (camcorders, laptops...) use 4 pin type connections. So you need 4 pin card (PCMCIA ?) and a 4 pin cable on both ends.

[Ken Berry]

My new Dell computer did not come with a firewire adapter card

I think Erdna may be assuming your Dell is a laptop and thus gave his device about 4-pin jacks at the computer end as well as the camcorder end. If your computer is, as I think it is, a Dell desktop, then yes, you would buy a 4 pin to 9 pin cable.

[erdna]

Indeed Ken, I wrongly supposed it was about a laptop. As you wrote, a desktop needs a 4/6 pin wire.

[tyamada]

You shouldn't have any problems using a 9 pin to 4 pin cable to connect your camera. I just don't see any reason to get a Firewire 800 card. Your camera only uses 100 mb capability of a firewire 400 card. Also there aren't may devices that use the full capability of a Firewire 800 card. Plus you can get a Firewire 400 card for around $15.00, where as the Firewire 800 cards start around $45.00.

I bought a Firewire 800 card when they were new and spent around $400.00 for the card and a external Firewire 800 case for a DVD writer. I always had problems getting the full capability from the card and device.

I think you would be better off getting a standard Firewire 400 card and use the standard 6 pin to 4 pin cable to connect your camera.

[blplhp]

Thanks for the confirmation guys. I just bought a TI Fire Wire Card that has 2 ports for 800 and 1 port for 400 for $35. I already realized that if I plug my Sony camcorder into the computer's Firewire800 port, using a 9-4 pin cable, that I'm only going to get fw400 speed, cuz of the camcorder. But I do need a Firewire 800 card, cuz my external hard drive is fw800 capable, and its great to have the extra speed for that device. Plus it gives me the flexibility for the future.

I guess there are no adapter cards that give VS X2 Pro any problems??? Cool!!

Thanks again,