Uploading minidv to my PC

[Woodstock]

I have amassed a small mountain of minidv tapes over the years with only recently switching to the SD cards. My PC does not have a firewire - could anyone recommend to me a very good solution to this problem please. I would like to start editing my old tapes shortly on videostudio.

Firewires adapters appear to be cheap enough, £12 or so, a simple case of inserting into a PC or must I take into account my PC specifications?

Thank you

[Terfyn]

Nothing really is better than fitting a FireWire card to your PC. I had this problem when I upgraded my PC and my Dealer included a FireWire card in the spec of the new machine. You will need to ensure that the "legacy" driver is used.

[Woodstock]

Always eager to learn more. When you say, 'legacy drive' what does that mean?

I will purchase a firewire card then for around £12, open up my PC, and insert. Would it be beneficial for me to check if my PC can take the firewire / or benefit from a better one? ( no doubt more expensive!! )

[Terfyn]

You will find the drivers in Device Manager. Under IEEE 1394 Host Controllers set the driver to (legacy) if possible. If not, try with the driver shown.

[lata]

Hi
There are lots of tutorials on line showing how to install the card, quite straight forward
First check you have a spare PCI slot

http://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-3-Port-IEEE-1394-Card

Firewire cards may not come with the cable, so you will need one of those, usually 4 port to 6 port
Check your camera connection is actually 4 port?

[asik1]

another major thing to remember is how to connect the cable. google on it.
I never in 13 years of capture DV's use mains power but only battery in order not to burn the DV port.

[Woodstock]

Thank you for your replies, will check and then hopefully purchase..so long as i know..no capture card is better than any other type thing. Would like the best one possible.

[Woodstock]

Curious to know why only Battery and not mains? would of thought other way around.

Looking at ( cheapish -sadly ) Firewire cards...some ancient etc...mentione 4 pin or 6 pin...would these specs be any good,


SEDNA - PCIe (PCI EXpress) 3+1 Ports 1394A (Firewire) Adapter card (VIA) (3E, 2x 6 Pin + 1 x 4 Pin internal port) with low profile bracket

• 1-Lane (x1) PCI-Express with transfer rate 2.5Gb/s full duplex channel
• 3 Ports Adaptor includes 3x External port
• Compliant with PCI-Express Revision 1.0a
• Compliant with IEEE 1394 OpenHCI Specifications V1.0 and V1.1
• Support 400/200/100Mbps data transfer rate

Any others you could recommend...around the £20 - £30 price mark max. Make a difference re quality etc..or settle with a £12 one..not fussed if just takes longer etc

[asik1]

You should check what PCI slot you have on your motherboard.
PCI-Express cards cost a bit more that the older PCI cards. function is the same.

[Woodstock]

Ok thanks for that advice, cant really see 'newish' firewire cards to be honest - old technology I suppose...but ok will check my motherboard setup.

[Woodstock]

..can I just add..how do I find info re my motherboard - spent ages trying to track it down..seems like I have all the info except motherboard - wanting to find out what PCI slot I have /express etc? as per recent reply.

[Ken Berry]

Have your tried the freeware Belarc Adviser which will give you more info than you will ever need about your computer...?

[Woodstock]

As it's a new PC Ken I'm reluctant to start downloading etc if I can help it. Would of thought I could find out motherboard via Start/systems menu on PC? Surely I can.

The only reason I need to know is because of getting the right Firewire card..assuming anyone should be ok though?

[asik1]

Then open the case and take a peek

[Woodstock]

Take a peek you say..at what? Will it be obvious what Im looking for..which to be honest I don't really know. Just after a firewire card and ideally one that will run on windows 10 and ideally one which is decent and good.