Call me stupid, but........

Trillionaire

I have quite a few video mini dv cassettes that I want to transer onto my Dell Dimension 3000 computer but I only have usb ports.:eek: My camcorder is old but has a dv in/out connection, so I'm assuming that I can use a firewire to transfer the videos, though I do not have any video editing software with my Panasonic NV-DS30B camcorder. Could you please help me get my video footage onto my computer so that I can burn them onto dvd?

I know someone out there can help me cos, from other posts I've read, some of you are really clever.:D

PLEASE, PLEASE HELP ME

shadowdragon

easy

use the firewire cable from the camcorder to the PC, use windows movie maker (comes with xp) to do everything (including transfering the movies fromt he camcorder to the harddrive).

Movie maker is under

Start> all programs >accessories>entertainment. Well it is on mine but i move them around a bit not sure if i moved that program.

Trillionaire

Thanks Shadowdragon.

Sorry to sound thick, but.....

I don't have a firewire cable!!!!! I have no computer cables with my camcorder. I have a dv in'out thingy on the computer, so, I'm assuming, that's where I should insert a firewire cable? Would I then insert it into my usb ports on my computer? Would it fit? How will I know which one to buy?

Thick as sausages I am.

Trillionaire

Opps! I mean I have a dv in/out thingy on my camcorder:rolleyes:

shadowdragon

Im not 100% i have a DV camcorder and it comes with all kinds of leads, but I just use the firewire cable and it works fine, I suppose you could use a USB if it had the right connection with it. I dont know if you can hook up the camcorder to the PC using DV in/out cables, as its for displaying data not transfering it, if that makes sense.

I think you need to goto jessops (take your camcorder with you) and ask them for the firewire kit (i bought mine as a firewire card adn lead and pinnicle movie maker software) and relevant leads suitable for your camcorder.

Firewire is what you want because its got massive data transfer speeds. If your using a laptop and it has a firewire connection its slightly different to the PCI ones that go in Tower PCs (well my laptop is anyway "Compaq presario"

Sput2001

You can connect with USB but firewire is better.

If your PC doesn't have a firewire port, they're fairly straightforward to fit, assuming you've got a spare PCI slot on your PC. You should be able to pick the card and a cable up for about a tenner.

Trillionaire

MiKe that sounds lovely - but it's me you're talking to:D

I have a Dell Dimension 3000 pc. I've heard, somewhere, that it is notoriously difficult to add other peoples hardware to a Dell pc. Plus, I would need someone to talk me through how to do what you suggest (now I'm a poet):rolleyes:

Trillionaire

Ok. Let me see if I've got this right Mark.

Check if I have a PCI slot (whatever this is) on my pc. Buy a firewire port and firewire cable and Bob's my uncle? Do I insert the firewire cable into the dv in/out thingy on my camcorder?

shadowdragon

Trillionaire wrote: »

Ok. Let me see if I've got this right Mark.

Check if I have a PCI slot (whatever this is) on my pc. Buy a firewire port and firewire cable and Bob's my uncle? Do I insert the firewire cable into the dv in/out thingy on my camcorder?

What make is your camcorder on mine theres a set of inputs at the back of it, one is like a sideways D, the firewire plugs into that then into the firewire card that is fitted into your PC in the PCI slot (the PCI slot should be a white strip about 5inches long)

Trillionaire

My camcorder is a Panasonci NV-DS30 and is about 6 years old!

Thanks for your replys folks. It looks like I'm going to have to do a crash course on adding a pci slot to my computer.

Trillionaire

SHADOWDRAGON, can I just ask? Do you insert the firewire into the dv in/out hole on your camcorder and then plug it into your pc?