Downloading camcorder to video pro 10

[Al Marotta]

Hi,
I have video pro version 10. In the instructions it says I need an IEEE 1394 DV terminal or capture board to download from a camcorder.I don't have that
on my computer. The camera I have is a Canon vixia hv40 that uses tape to record, not a card. Is there any way with some gadget I can use a USB to
get my stuff downloaded to video pro? Would getting a camcorder that uses a memory card help me in any way?

Thanks,
Al Marotta

[laurentje]

I think the only solution is to add an extension card to the computer or buy a new camera. These card firewire-ports are missing now on modern pcs. I had a similar problem. I had to buy a new computer (because Vista was out of date). My old camera PanoGS500 was with firewire ports, so I have to buy a new camera Sony AX53. Needless to say that I have backed up my old tapes on disc.

[Ken Berry]

Your camcorder films in HDV/DV format, and I'm afraid the only way you can download video in that quality is via Firewire/IEEE1394. You would need either a Firewire card installed on your motherboard or a Firewire PCI Express card (which you might still find advertised on line). I have a Canon HV20 which I still use (as well as a GoPro Hero 3) as my main video camera. But I keep an old computer alive since it has a Firewire port.

You might also find on line advertisements for a device which accepts a Firewire cable at one end but plugs into a USB port. However, I have never used one of those and cannot comment on how it works or the quality of the captured video.

I think your HV40 has a USB port. My HV20 does, but that will only give you at best streaming video quality, and not the high definition HDV.

[Al Marotta]

Thanks to Laurentje and Ken for your responding. But I'm slightly confused. If I buy a new camera with a memory card, would that solve my problem? On those memory cards, do you download via of USB or am I totally out of luck because my computer does not have the ieee board?

Thanks,
Al

[Ken Berry]

Sorry. I thought your mention of buying another camcorder referred to future work, not dealing with your current problem. Camcorders which use memory cards transfer their video to the computer either via USB or by inserting the card itself into the computer either directly or via a card reader connected to the computer via USB. There is no way of connecting a Firewire camcorder to a card-type camcorder that I am aware of.

[Scubbie]

Hello Al,

I've just looked on Amazon and there are a number of Firewire to USB connectors and leads. I've no experience in using these, but I would suggest that this might be the way to address your immediate problem.

Another way would be to use an HDMI lead. With an HD video capture card/USB stick. This is more expensive but would be a good choice if the first doesn't work. Looking at Amazon there are some priced around £20 that have received bad reviews. I'd suggest getting something a little better.

Once you have copied all the unedited footage from your tapes I would consider retiring the camcorder. It's far easier using memory cards to transfer the footage from a modern digital camera for a start. I'm not sure what quality you're recording at, but many newer models will happily cope with full HD at 50 or 60fps and more if you're interested in Slow-mo. Image stabilisation and 4K support are also available with many others.

Canon Manual: http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0/030000219 ... nim-en.pdf

[Al Marotta]

Thanks again to Ken and Scrubbie. I'm confused by Ken's reply a bit. I now own a vixia that uses tape. If necessary I would buy a vixia that uses a memory card. What is not clear to me is whether without the ieee 1394 I would be able to download from a memory card camcorder to studio pro? Do the memory cards for camcorders work like the ones for still digital photos, that is, they go directly from the memory card via a USB connection directly and uncomplicatedly to a program (like Light Room) or in this case Corel video studio?

Scrubbie, thanks for your good words.I'm leery, as a complete electronic moron, of trying wires and gadgets for an outdated camcorder. BUT! If I try what you say, it mightprevent me from the aggravation of having to buy a new computer.

Al

[Davidk]

Recording made using a memory card in the camcorder are easily transferred to a PC by simply extracting the card and plugging it into a card slot (usually SD) in the PC, or plugging it into a card reader (which has slots for all manner of cards, and generally will cost about $A10) which in turn plugs to a PC USB2 port. Card readers can be used with a desktop or laptop - all it needs is a usb port and attaching cable. Have not seen one that is a USB3 device, and I use a few of these things as it's by far the fastest and easiest way of transferring recorded files to the PC where your editor is. To do that, plug the device in, open explorer and transfer/copy the files to a location in your PC file system.

A camcorder with this recording-on-card feature will at least enable you to salvage any media files if the camcorder dies with tape entrapment (happened to me) or in your case, you have recording on DV tape which can't be transferred because the firewire connection is not available on the PC. You may also find that getting new DV tapes is almost impossible these days - that technology is long superseded. In this case,
- if you have an older desktop, there may actually be a firewire port available on the back panel, or even the front one. Check the system specs - it will be listed as an IEEE 1394 connector. Note however that this connection faded from favour when the faster usb (2 or higher) devices became available. Technically, IEEE1394 is faster than usb2, but not by a whole lot, and with data control it may not matter; try and see.
- if there's no firewire connector then that firewire-to-USB (must be at least 2 and if usb3 is available, get it) cable may be a cheaper option.
- check the availability of the expansion slot card Ken suggested. Bear in mind that if you now have a camcorder which records to memory card these investments - cable or expansion card - will be one-time investments.
- if your editor PC is in fact a laptop, an expansion slot card is just out of the question - laptops don't have those.
- as a last resort, take the tapes you want to get files from to a specialist video store and ask/pay them to transfer them to ether disk or memory card.

[Ken Berry]

- as a last resort, take the tapes you want to get files from to a specialist video store and ask/pay them to transfer them to ether disk or memory card.

... or search second hand shops for an old computer which works and has a Firewire port; or find a friend with one...

[Scubbie]

Hello Al,

Thanks again to Ken and Scrubbie. I'm confused by Ken's reply a bit. I now own a vixia that uses tape. If necessary I would buy a vixia that uses a memory card. What is not clear to me is whether without the ieee 1394 I would be able to download from a memory card camcorder to studio pro? Do the memory cards for camcorders work like the ones for still digital photos, that is, they go directly from the memory card via a USB connection directly and uncomplicatedly to a program (like Light Room) or in this case Corel video studio?

The model of camcorder you have is an old one. Canon have updated their range and it appears that it is now called 'Leigra'.

As Davidk and everyone has mentioned, it would be a good idea to consider purchasing a new camcorder which has memory cards. The new camcorder won't have any system for accessing the tapes you have previously recorded.

The suggestion is to transfer all the footage onto your new computer. This may take up a lot of space on the computer so I would recommend that you consider getting an external drive as well.

Once you have copied the footage from your Canon vixia hv40 to your computer you can then edit together any videos that you want to make using VideoStudio for the video and software such as Paintshop Pro or Lightroom for the stills.

Scrubbie, thanks for your good words.I'm leery, as a complete electronic moron, of trying wires and gadgets for an outdated camcorder. BUT! If I try what you say, it mightprevent me from the aggravation of having to buy a new computer.

Al

Don't worry about how much you know for now. We all start somewhere. What I would suggest is that you speak with someone you know who is more familiar with computers and ask if they will give you a hand. The right person should be able to help show you how to do things at first and then watch as you do a few more.

I have suggested something to let you connect the two together, but it sounds very likely that you'll need some help initially to transfer things across. This is why I would suggest that you speak with someone you know who is more familiar with computers.

All the new camcorders use memory cards. The most popular type is an SD Card (SDXC for the larger memory) and many computers, especially laptops, have a suitable slot for you to insert the card into. If your computer doesn't have such a slot, then it's possible to purchase a plug-in device which uses a USB port.

[lata]

Hi Guys

The last time I used my Pana GS 400 tape based Mini Dv-Avi I connected via USB
Continued to capture the tape as normal to Dv-Avi, no dropped frames, the captured footage looked good, very old tapes and did show their age but that was to be expected.

I can only assume that the faster usb’s now used on pc’s was capable to capture DV-AVI.
I think it was USB2
Whilst writing this reply I have just captured footage from my pana 400 using USB, no problems as far as I can see.
For intents and purposes it looks like capturing using firewire other than the source name being Video Edit when normally the camera name would be used.

Certainly worth a try, if it does not work you have not lost anything except a little time.

Al
Camcorders recording to internal hard drives or SD memory cards are similar to any still image camera.
The files are saved to SD card and can be transferred to pc using Copy and Paste in the same way we would import our still images.
Most cameras/camcorders will show as a removable drive when connected to the computer, or simply remove the card and insert to a card reader.

[Al Marotta]

I would like to thank the darling angels who so kindly helped me with my issue (I still say Ken Berry never sleeps; I don't care if he's on New Zealand time)

I have what I hope is one final question: If I use a camera with a memory card and download it via of a card reader, where in windows 10 will that file show up
so I can import it into studio pro x10? I'm asking because A)it might seem simple but I've never done it before and B)reading the vixia hf r800 manual, it seems to indicate you have to install some Canon software before you can download.

Thank you,
Al

[Ken Berry]

I have what I hope is one final question: If I use a camera with a memory card and download it via of a card reader, where in windows 10 will that file show up so I can import it into studio pro x10?

Well I am awake again in New Zealand, though admittedly it is only 6:25 in the morning!

But anyway, when you either connect the camcorder to the computer via USB or plug the SD card into a slot in the computer or via a card reader connected via USB, your computer will see the camera or card as a new drive. It will have its own letter (e.g. G:\) in Windows File Manager, and you should be able to see the file and folder structure on it the same as you would any other drive on the computer.

And this also means you can select files or folders on that drive to simply Copy and Paste onto your computer. Nothing happens by magic. You choose where you paste them to. I, for instance, normally don't copy them to my C:\ drive but to another drive (D:\) where I have a Video folder, and sub-folders in that which I create to hold all the clips, titles, music and voiceovers of a particular project. Others will have different workflows. But you are the master of where things copied from the camcorder or card are transferred to.

And yes, the new camcorder will probably have an installation disc of its own, and it is usually advisable to install that software. Sometimes it will contain a codec or codecs for the camera if the manufacturer has tweaked a standard codec a little. And often it may contain software to aid in the transfer of the video from camera to computer -- though Windows File Manager will still do the same job as I have described above. But even with the camera software, you will still be in charge of where the video is transferred to.

[Scubbie]

Where the files show up depends where you copy them to. I'll often copy mine to a folder such as \Videos\(date) (Subject title)

Certainly if you record AVCHD or MP4 videos at 1920x1080 at 25fps, or up to 240fps, VS is going to be fine.

Most new formats are supported within VideoStudio. Some of the formats used in professional cameras may not be supported.

[Al Marotta]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful help! Signing off.

Al Marotta