Lisa, the Simpson!

Sorry to have to do this, but I'd rather ask a bunch of sensible, well manored and mature group of individuals, than an underqualified techie on the end of a very expensive phone call who's best answer is probably "Buy our premium package".

I've been having trouble getting footage from my miniDV video camera to the computer for well over 3 months. My guess is that the USB stream has become too slow for the video feed to keep up, therefore when its recorded to PC, its more like a picture slide-show with burbles of audio.

I've tried downloading different video capture software to no avail, so my last option was to skip the USB part all-together, and buy an S-Video cable which connects to the camera and the PC. Having gone out and bought one, I cant find the bloody thing on my various video capture softwares.

I know this isnt a 'video capture technical assistance forum' but, frankly I think if none of you brilliant people can help, the problem is unsolvable. :P


Note: Just to save any energy, I've checked for possible solutions online through Google etc, dont waste your time on me!

Note 2: This thread prolly doesnt belong in 'Forum Discussion' either, ack! :red:

Hi there.

USB on most DV camera is not designed for full quality video transfer. It is more designed for still pictures and video clips, most cameras offer a poor quality clip though, mine does same when i try USB, mostly due to other devices using USB. Also some cameras offer a software mode switch between USB 1.1 and USB2, make sure if you have this that you use USB2. Some DV Cameras (even now) still use the much slower USB1.1 as thier USB interface for transfering basic small clips and photos.

S-Video is low quality and you need a video capture card built in to the machine with S-Video. Most machines which have S-Video are only an output to display the PC screen (poorly) on a TV.

I personally would only use a DV cable AKA Firewire or i-Link to transfer onto the PC. USB is shared bandwidth whereas Firewire is much faster for sustained transfers. The video picture is much easily transferred and higher quality. All you need is video capture software (which it looks like you are using to capture via usb).

On the camera side is the small 4 pin "i-Link" firewire connector.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/I-Link.jpg)

On the PC you usually have the larger 6 pin connector:

(http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/windowsxp/images/using/setup/hwprograms/67411-ilink.jpg)

Although laptops commonly could have either 4 pin or 6 pin. Desktops are mostly 6 pin if fitted.

If you do not have firewire then cards to fit into PCs are usually very cheap. for example PC World (where i work) did a firewire PC Line PCI card + cable for ?14.99.

(http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuimages/large/U10-2824.jpg)

For laptops you would need either a PC Card (PCMCIA) or Express Card Firewire adapter. If you have one of these slots it is usually on the side of laptop.

PC Card:

(http://www.philex.com/assets/parts/2207/TFW-H2PC_full.jpg)

Express Card:

(http://www.computervideogear.com/digital_video_capture_card/images/siig-expresscard-firewire-800.jpg)
*Note this is a dual Firewire 400 (right) and firewire 800 (left) card, most cameras and cards are 400.

Boring side note. Even though USB2 is up to 480Mbps and Firewire is up to 400Mbps in real world firewire way outperforms USB2 in most cases due to the way USB allocates resources to the attached devices.

I am a geek btw :D - I repair computers for a living :>

Just another example of why Carl is the man! :D

Quoted for the truth. :)

Carl, you are LEGEND, thanks ever so much. Now I just need to get to PC World or somewhere similar. :) And your not a geek, just smarter than everyone else ;)

Pff, if I was smarter than anyone else I wouldnt be working where I am working lol!

The Techguys is the part I am working for. I deal with all the good questions like this one, and also the morons who come in:

"Excuse me, do you work here"
"Yes Sir :/"
"Can you tell me the system requirements for this please?"
"That is a book Sir"

:D I have had quite a few questions like that :D

I loved customer service at the grocery store I worked years ago.

Customer: Where's the bread?
Me (dying inside): You mean this? *points to a spot in the aisle less than 10 ft. away*
Customer (totally serious): Hey! Thanks!
Me: No trouble at all, sir! (Ya moron...*grumbles*)

Depressing but very entertaining. Money can't buy that kind of happiness.
:D

Empethree
CalculatedChaos
*sigh* What you say are exactly the reasons why I cannot work in the services sector. Heck, I hardly able to communicate even with my boss, what to say about poor customers :D So much easier to deal with computers... when they behave, of course...

Dag, to be honest I couldnt speak to anyone, I forced myself to get a job in a grocery store. 2 years later got my current job. It does help in a way.

Shame same cannot be said for other areas of my life lol.

The worst part is, I'm not exaggerating in the least. People in my city are really just that helpless. I think I averaged 3-4 questions on par or worse each and every week...
:D
I wanna move...

Heh...
Heh...

mebbe one day a stupid questions thread.

I have had so many I could write a very long book.

Some of the stuff would make even the most basic computer user fall over laughing :)