Downloading video from digital camcorder

[meilankev]

Hello everyone.

I am new, and I'm hoping someone here can help me.

This past Christmas, I bought my wife a digital camcorder (JVC). From this, I have successfully downloaded "snapshots" from the memory card of the camcorder onto my PC.

Now my wife is asking me to download "video" from this camcorder onto the PC. The instruction booklet implies this capability exists, but I'm at a loss (as well as pretty frustrated).

There is a switch on the camcorder ("video" vs "memory"). When I hook the camcorder to the PC, and select "memory" on this switch, my PC instantly recognizes the camcorder as a device, and allows me to download snapshots (into My Pictures).

However, if I switch from "memory" to "video", my PC no longer communicates with the camcorder. If this is normal, then I don't see how someone can possibly download video from this digital camcorder. Am I doing something wrong?

Please help if you can.

Thanks,
Kevin

[Lemon]

Welcome to TECHIMO......

First off we need to know what OS you are using and how you are connecting your Camcorder up to the PC... USB or Firewire or Video-in from the video card....

[meilankev]

Lemon,

Thanks for your welcome, your interest, as well as for showing Dexter under your name.

The OS is Windows XT. The JVC camcorder (GR-DVL820) came with some CD-ROM software for downloading - I think it is called "Presto - Mr Photo Gold". This is what gets invoked for downloading "snapshots" from the camcorder.

My connection is into a USB port.

I read somewhere about some XT software package called "MovieMaker", but I don't believe my PC has that. But mostly, it makes me pessimistic when my PC doesn't even recognize the camcorder unless that switch (on the camcorder) is set to "memory" (as opposed to "video").

Again, I appreciate any help you can give.

Kevin

[Lemon]

It looks like your Camcorder can only transfer the Digital Still images from the memory card to your PC via the supplied USB connection. To transfer video it looks like you will need a video card with video in capabilities along with capture software. What type of Video card do you have?


Note... To do video transfer via the USB port it would be nessassary to have USB version 2.0 on your PC.

[Droppyale]

I personaly transfer my videos through firewire, and use Adobe Premier to collect the video.

But you would need a firewire PCI card, firewire cable, and software to collecct the video.

[meilankev]

Lemon and Droppyale,

Thanks for your help. I'm pretty sure I bought a "firewire card" when I was assembling the PC.

I will do some more research on my own as to firewire cable, firewire software, and/or USB Version 2.0

Thanks again for your help. If I can get this working, perhaps I can stay out of my wife's doghouse for the rest of the week.

Kevin

[Droppyale]

U are much welcome


My camera (sony) came with a firewire cable... check ur box...

as for the software, I belive you could also use Windows Movie maker to collet the video...

Good luck!

[Lemon]

Here is a decent article on copying video to your PC.