Help with video camcorder - getting things onto disc.

elsien

We've been given at work a old Panasonic camcorder which saves onto a digital video cassette. I'm trying to get it onto my computer so I can edit it and save it to disc. The booklet says to use MotionDV studio 5.3E LE, which we don't have. Is there a free version, or anything else I could use which might to the trick.
We're trying to show the parents of the the people I work with (residential home for people with learning disabilities) some of the things they do for themselves.
Thanks

Edit - or would it just be cheaper and easier to get a digital camcorder bearing in mind we don't have a budget for this sort of thing unless it's very cheap indeed. And it needs to be idiot proof - my staff are technophobes.

paddyrg

You can get a perfectly decent memory card camcorder for £40 or less, save yourself the frustrations if you don't need the quality to be amazing (and it probably won't be amazing with that camera anyway!)

Or, of course, most phones have pretty decent cameras built in these days!!

elsien

I didn't know you could get them that cheap - it's really so that people who are non-verbal and do !!!!!! all when they do go home for visits can show families that they can do lots of things if they need to, and it's not the staff telling fibs! Plus social activities and holidays - it's nicer for families to see what their relatives have been doing when they can't say for themselves.
I clearly don't have a decent phone - mine is a camera free zone.


Although we do have some film we've already taped that would be good to use if possible?

stilltheone

Model of camcorder. Model of PC you intend to use. Which leads were supplied with the camcorder...

elsien

The camcorder is a panasonic NV GS17. I've found a usb lead that fits it that can link to the computer, otherwise there's an rca red white and yellow connector to plug it into the tv. I was hoping initially to be able to save it onto disc on my dvd recorder but it doesn't seem to have the rca fittings on it. The PC will be the works one that runs windows xp, or my laptop which is vista.

stilltheone

You need Panasonic DV Studio Limited Edition unless you have a FireWire connection on one of the computers.

elsien

Thanks - no idea what a firewire connection is, so I'm guessing that means I don't have it. Having done a quick google, it's not looking familiar.

stilltheone

That's why I asked for the details of your computers...but you overlooked that.... So.... model numbers please.

asbokid

looks like you can use USB for transferring video from the Panasonic DV cameras to a PC.

Since you can do all the video editing with tools like virtualdub, you only really need the USB peripheral driver for the camera..

according to this thread.. you can download the driver for nothing from the panasonic ftp site

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/289882-Capturing-from-a-Panasonic-NV-GS230?p=1967860&viewfull=1#post1967860

elsien

Works computer, I don't know the model number of, it's an absolutely ancient hp thing. You can't even burn discs on it so I'm guessing that's a no for firewire, the laptop is sony vaio vgn bx51vn.

stilltheone

I wouldn't use the USB connection for a Mini-DV camera. The OP can try it, but I recommend going the FireWire route.