Transferring videos from a SONY HANDYCAM to PC
olive_combustible
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Hello,
I have a Sony Handycam DCR-HC44E camcorder that is already 10 years old.
I would like to transfer some videos that I filmed with this camcorder to my PC.
When I bought this camcorder, my old PC was running Windows XP.
At that time, I simply had to run the driver disc provided with the camcorder to install the software "Picture Package" that allowed me to transfer the videos from the camcorder to my computer.
The problem is: it's been a long time since I changed PCs, and the one I have now runs on Windows 8. Of course, the driver disc that came with my camcorder is completely outdated and not compatible with Windows 8. It recognizes the CD, but when I try to run the installation of the software, I get a message saying that it's impossible due to incompatibility.
So I downloaded the free software "PlayMemories Home" (supposed to replace the old software "Picture Package") but the installation consistently fails. I get the error message: "Installation was cancelled because the connection to the network was lost. Please check the network connection. 0101-1007-4032."
Anyway, a quick glance on the internet about this software made me realize that it wouldn't be suitable for what I want to do at all.
As a result, I have no idea how to recover the videos from my camcorder. I tried using Windows Movie Maker, but it doesn't recognize the camcorder (even though the USB connection works). I should also mention that the videos aren't recorded directly on the camcorder but on Mini-DV tapes.
My current PC is a laptop, and I only have USB, SVGA, and HDMI connections. So the only way to connect my camcorder and my PC seems to be via USB cable. The problem is that I don't have any software that could act as the "link" once the two devices are connected.
If anyone has an idea on this matter, I would appreciate the help.
Thank you!
I have a Sony Handycam DCR-HC44E camcorder that is already 10 years old.
I would like to transfer some videos that I filmed with this camcorder to my PC.
When I bought this camcorder, my old PC was running Windows XP.
At that time, I simply had to run the driver disc provided with the camcorder to install the software "Picture Package" that allowed me to transfer the videos from the camcorder to my computer.
The problem is: it's been a long time since I changed PCs, and the one I have now runs on Windows 8. Of course, the driver disc that came with my camcorder is completely outdated and not compatible with Windows 8. It recognizes the CD, but when I try to run the installation of the software, I get a message saying that it's impossible due to incompatibility.
So I downloaded the free software "PlayMemories Home" (supposed to replace the old software "Picture Package") but the installation consistently fails. I get the error message: "Installation was cancelled because the connection to the network was lost. Please check the network connection. 0101-1007-4032."
Anyway, a quick glance on the internet about this software made me realize that it wouldn't be suitable for what I want to do at all.
As a result, I have no idea how to recover the videos from my camcorder. I tried using Windows Movie Maker, but it doesn't recognize the camcorder (even though the USB connection works). I should also mention that the videos aren't recorded directly on the camcorder but on Mini-DV tapes.
My current PC is a laptop, and I only have USB, SVGA, and HDMI connections. So the only way to connect my camcorder and my PC seems to be via USB cable. The problem is that I don't have any software that could act as the "link" once the two devices are connected.
If anyone has an idea on this matter, I would appreciate the help.
Thank you!
4 réponses
Hello, how many times on the forum can we see my tutorial on the subject for a miniDV camcorder? It requires a FireWire IEEE1394 connection; a USB connection does not work.
The initial request: "I recorded a mini DV or DVCAM tape and I am looking to transfer the video from the camcorder to my computer (PC or MAC) for editing. How do I set up the computer for capturing the video to a hard drive?"
- 1. Prerequisite. The computer must be equipped with a FireWire connector (or ilink or IEEE1394 or DV, it's the same thing). Two scenarios: either the computer has it and everything is fine, or it does not, in which case, you need to add this connector to the computer. On PCs, recent quality motherboards always have at least one. However, if necessary, installing one is actually simple and inexpensive (10 to 20 €). You open the case and insert the card equipped with a FireWire connector into one of the available PCI slots on the motherboard.
On a laptop without FireWire, buy an adapter for the ExpressCard (PCMCIA), the small slot on the side of the laptop protected by a dummy card
(FireWire-ExpressCard adapter on the web)
Attention: do not use the USB cable supplied with the device to capture video to the computer. The USB connection should only be used for transferring photos or low definition video. To achieve good definition without loss, you should only use the FireWire connectors (or ilink or IEEE1394 or DV).
- 2. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the appropriate FireWire cable. Depending on the case, this cable will be a 4/4 or 6/4, meaning it has a connector that adapts on one side to that of the camcorder and on the other side to the computer (the camcorder equipped with DV IN uses the same DV connector to transfer videos (OUT) and receive them (IN)).
- 3. The computer recognizes the camcorder when it is connected or when it is switched to VCR mode. At this point, what should you reply to the Windows prompt on PC? Answer: nothing. Why? Because sometimes you need to configure the software the first time you use it. Therefore, if this has not already been done, open a video editing software, e.g., Windows Live Movie Maker included with Windows or downloadable, or iMovie on Mac, and look for its capture interface. If the capture software has not already been configured or has already been used for capturing via USB connectors, you need to set it up to capture in DV or HDV. The appropriate settings in Europe, with a DV camcorder in PAL, are: DV PAL, 720 X 576, 25 frames (or frames).
And for HDV 1440, 1920 x 1080
- 4. Then, either you start the capture and let the computer transfer the captured file to a directory set by default, or you prefer to make other adjustments to send the video to a hard drive different from the one intended by the OS (Windows XP on PC). In any case, you are now able to control the capture of the video from the camcorder. You can further fine-tune the settings (capture the tape all at once, or in pieces, or by performing a rough cut with scene detection). Avoid capturing in low definition, because today hard drives are large enough that you don’t need to redo the work and capture in full definition.
And the ultimate solution is transfer and conversion with the Dazzle box. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/fr/products/dazzle/dvd-recorder-hd/
"The donkeys change their minds, not the fools."
Remember to mark your message as "resolved" if that is the case.
The initial request: "I recorded a mini DV or DVCAM tape and I am looking to transfer the video from the camcorder to my computer (PC or MAC) for editing. How do I set up the computer for capturing the video to a hard drive?"
- 1. Prerequisite. The computer must be equipped with a FireWire connector (or ilink or IEEE1394 or DV, it's the same thing). Two scenarios: either the computer has it and everything is fine, or it does not, in which case, you need to add this connector to the computer. On PCs, recent quality motherboards always have at least one. However, if necessary, installing one is actually simple and inexpensive (10 to 20 €). You open the case and insert the card equipped with a FireWire connector into one of the available PCI slots on the motherboard.
On a laptop without FireWire, buy an adapter for the ExpressCard (PCMCIA), the small slot on the side of the laptop protected by a dummy card
(FireWire-ExpressCard adapter on the web)
Attention: do not use the USB cable supplied with the device to capture video to the computer. The USB connection should only be used for transferring photos or low definition video. To achieve good definition without loss, you should only use the FireWire connectors (or ilink or IEEE1394 or DV).
- 2. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the appropriate FireWire cable. Depending on the case, this cable will be a 4/4 or 6/4, meaning it has a connector that adapts on one side to that of the camcorder and on the other side to the computer (the camcorder equipped with DV IN uses the same DV connector to transfer videos (OUT) and receive them (IN)).
- 3. The computer recognizes the camcorder when it is connected or when it is switched to VCR mode. At this point, what should you reply to the Windows prompt on PC? Answer: nothing. Why? Because sometimes you need to configure the software the first time you use it. Therefore, if this has not already been done, open a video editing software, e.g., Windows Live Movie Maker included with Windows or downloadable, or iMovie on Mac, and look for its capture interface. If the capture software has not already been configured or has already been used for capturing via USB connectors, you need to set it up to capture in DV or HDV. The appropriate settings in Europe, with a DV camcorder in PAL, are: DV PAL, 720 X 576, 25 frames (or frames).
And for HDV 1440, 1920 x 1080
- 4. Then, either you start the capture and let the computer transfer the captured file to a directory set by default, or you prefer to make other adjustments to send the video to a hard drive different from the one intended by the OS (Windows XP on PC). In any case, you are now able to control the capture of the video from the camcorder. You can further fine-tune the settings (capture the tape all at once, or in pieces, or by performing a rough cut with scene detection). Avoid capturing in low definition, because today hard drives are large enough that you don’t need to redo the work and capture in full definition.
And the ultimate solution is transfer and conversion with the Dazzle box. http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/fr/products/dazzle/dvd-recorder-hd/
"The donkeys change their minds, not the fools."
Remember to mark your message as "resolved" if that is the case.
The Dazzle box at €70 is not going to be possible for me, so I would like to try the FireWire connection.
The problem is that it seems my laptop is neither equipped with FireWire nor an ExpressCard port.
As for connections, here is what my PC offers: HDMI interfaces, VGA, LAN, headphone output, microphone input, USB 2.0 & USB 3.0 ports, as well as a "two-in-one" memory card reader (SD card + MultiMediaCard).
All the specifications of my PC can be seen here: http://www.fnac.com/mp20198330/ASUS-X55U-SX056H-15-6-E2-1800-4-Go-RAM-320-Go-HDD/w-4
So, is my "MultiMediaCard" port compatible with PCMCIA?
I looked a bit on the internet but I can't find much information.
As for ExpressCard readers/recorders, it seems that they are no longer being manufactured...
In short, this is looking complicated...