how to you transfer footage off a video camera

jamminjamaica

i know this is probably straight forward but....

i have never used a video camera. my sister has footage on her jvc video camera which takes mini dv tapes. she is giving away the camera but wants to transfer the footage onto a cd or something. the camera comes with software so i guess what i am asking is if i put it on my lap top can i transfer it to a cd. my laptop has a cd rw or do a need a dvd rw the dvd drive i have on my computer is a MAT!!!!A UJDA 750 F DVD/CR RW and it says the type is DVD/CDROM

i would appreciate all help

mondayuk

Usually you need to connect it to your computer via a firewire port and use the bundled software to record it onto your computer.

In terms of burning to a disc you could you either CD or DVD, but depending on how much footage you have you might lose a lot of quality if you have to try and squeeze it onto a CD.

Rover

I had a similar dilemma. After meshing about using various software titles, connectors, etc - I managed to transfer my tapes to my PC. Then there was more messing about writing them to DVD - very time consuming with variable results.

If you have a farily new/good spec'd PC or laptop then you can burn straight to DVD via firewire using the appropriate software.

However my recommendation, if you are not a PC guru, is to pop to Tescos and pick up a cheap DVD recorder designed for recording TV - ~£80-£100.

I got a Goodman's for £80. Simply plug your camera into the front sockets, play the tape and press record on the DVD recorder. Simplicity and the quality of the recording is just as good as the original tape.

brummybloke

a firewire card is only about £10, windows xp movie maker will do them job of transferring it to your pc and burning it to a disk is just as easy through windows xp software.

£10 is all it cost me ( although when i 1st got the firewire card i was seriously looking at buying named movie making software, but then realised windows xp has it already.

i have made loads of home movies this way, and the benefits over doing it on a dvd recorder is you can edit and make titles, credits and add effects to the finished film.