Moving video off the camera onto the computer.

[beast_gts]

Moving video footage off the camera onto the computer...

How do you do it?

 

We're starting to teach Media Studies shortly and are looking into what we need to do it. The video cameras use MiniDV tapes and will be recording directly onto these, so how do we get it onto the computers?

 

Four methods have been suggested to us so far:

1) Plug the cameras into to the computers via firewire

2) Plug the cameras into to the computers via composite / s-video into a capture card

3) Plug a MiniDV tape player into to the computers via firewire

4) Plug a MiniDV tape player into to the computers via composite / s-video into a capture card

 

Obviously 3 & 4 are preferable as there is no cable swapping involved, and from what I’ve been quoted 4 would be cheaper than 3.

 

 

Are there any more options? How do other people do it?

[localzuk]

I would say just kit out the machines with a firewire cable each, leave it attached to the computer and use the video cameras. It only requires a single 'plug in' then.

[Domino]

I'd agree, its the simplest option, also faster and allows camera forward/rewind tools to be controlled from the software.

 

You'll also find most editing/capture software will default to looking for a firewire connection, so they'll be no faffing about

[mrforgetful]

We just plug ours in using Firewire and capture it using Windows Movie Maker.

[Disease]

I would box up the camera and take it back to the shop and tell them that Media are to stupid to be dealing with such hi-tec equipment. lol Soz could not resist.

[flyinghaggis]

I'd agree with everyone else that a firewire link is the only way to go. If your PCs don’t have firewire cards you can buy them for less than £10 these days.

The other options will be probably more expensive (as you'll likely need to buy a vid card with a video input), difficult to configure (as editing software generally expects firewire input) and will result in a loss of quality as the transfer over any kind of video cable will likely be analogue.

We use Ulead VideoStudio in our school because of it's functionality and ease of use. Windows Movie Maker itself is pretty good aswell though if you dont need anything too fancy.

[localzuk]

To all the comments about firewire - most MiniDV players have a firewire in/out port.

 

The reason I suggest cables only is because it is the cheapest and easiest option. If you go for miniDV players then you will be able to have people editing at the same time as filming, so you should take that into account when choosing.

[ConTheITGuy]

Easy choice - firewire! I would like to have a DV player in my suite just for the look of it - but that is very shallow! I'm sure you could spend less on a camera - and then you have an extra camera! You will find most modern DV cameras have DV In now also. One tip, thinking ahead, you can find DV cameras that have a AV in. This will let you record from Analogue sources, such as VHS tapes to DV - which you can then of course put into your creations!

 

 

Andy