How to transfer files from a Video Cam to my computer

Hi...

At the outset, please bear with me since I a total n00b where all this is concerned.

Here is what I want to do:

I have a video cam (a Sony) on which I want to record some material. The cam saves the video on a small disc. I then want to transfer it to my computer such that I can email it.

How would I do this? What kind of cables would I need? Any thing else I would need to know about this?

Again, apologies for this totally n00b question.

Thanks

 

No problem. That's why this forum exists.

You can usually connect your video camera to your computer via USB or FireWire. The Sony Accessories website will have the cable you need, then you can look online and comparison shop to get it cheaper. It looks like it uses a cable that has Mini USB on one end and USB on the other. Your manual would be the best place to get this information.

From there, you should just be able to plug it in. Windows should detect the camera and ask you to open Windows Movie Maker if your on XP or Vista. If your running Windows 7, you'll need to grab Windows Live Movie Maker from the Windows Live website: Essentials - Windows Live

 

Thanks! Yes, I use Win7. I'll check in the cam's manual. I also have Win Live Movie Maker. Is that all that is required? No kind of processing of the video etc.? Am I understanding this correctly that at some point I would be prompted to save the file as a mpeg file?

+1 Rep. Thanks again!

Edit: OK. I checked my video cam and it has no usb outlet (mini or otherwise). I guess the only thing to do now is to use the DVD on which it uses and see if it works on my computer. Right? I find this so strange - though the cam is about 3-4 years old - but that should not really be a factor, should it?

 

my 11 year old sony digital video camera comes with a firewire connection which plugs straight from the camera output to firewire on laptop.the newer cameras dont always have this especially some that use a mini cd/dvd.
when you say a small disc,is it half the size of a normal cd/dvd. if so you can put that straight into your cd/dvd drive and copy it direct onto your computer.
windows movie maker is a great basic aid for editing video's where you can add titles and cut bits out that you dont want.
i dont think you will be able to send them by email though as the files will be way too big.
if you want to send them to friends or family the easiest way is to upload them to either you tube or open a Photobucket account and just sent the link to the video bu email.

 

Yeah...that's it...it records on a mini-dvd, which is half the size of a normal CD/DVD. Thanks for the photobucket link.

I have a relatively new machine (a R400 ThinkPad) and while it has a DVD R/W bay, I wonder if it will play the smaller discs. I remember having tried it a while back on my former Acer 5920, but it apparently did not play those small discs for some reason.

BTW, is Windows DVD Maker the same things as Movie Maker?

 

the disc should work even though its smaller.
dvd maker and movie maker are different bits of software.
dvd maker lets you add pictures and video which then burns direct to dvd.
movie maker lets you drag the whole file onto a time line and then you can cut bits out you dont like and add titles and transitions between clips.

heres a walkthrouh to guide you through making your first movie HERE and video HERE

 

Thanks. Does this mean that with Movie Maker, I can also embed PowerPoint files such that both work seamlesslessly? I mean while the movie (that I make) is playing, I could also have a few slides (would probably work as still photo shots) within the film. I do foresee a problem with the sound though...don't you think? If I can embed the slides (as photos) within the film, then necessarily, the soundtrack of the film (video) will also be interrupted where I insert the slides (pics)...no?

Thanks

Edit: The links you provided are very helpful. In part, them see to address the question I posed above. Thanks.

 

i know it has a time line for video and another one for audio but thats if you want to add music over the top of the video.
ive not actually put any pictures during the video. i normaly put them at the end after the video has finished.
i normally use pinnacle studio 12 which is a pro version of the basic movie maker and you can do anything in that but it costs quite a bit.

let me have a play with movie maker and ill get back to you.

 

right. using windows movie maker it will cut out the sound while it shows the picture added inbetween the video.
using pinnacle studio 12 the video plays with sound and when it comes to a picture it is overlayed in front of the video so the sound still plays but so does the video behind the picture.
hope that makes sence.heres a couple of pics.

cat picture on second time line


cat picture overlayed wile video plays in the background

 

Wow. Thanks. I should perhaps explain a bit more about what I am trying to do. I am supposed to be a few continents away giving a presentation (approximately 45 min.). Since I cannot travel at the moment, I have to make a recording of my talk and mail it over to the folks concerned. Originally, the plan was that I would just read off a prepared text. That plan still holds good. But I was wondering if I could do a small (not more than 8-10 slides) presentation interspersed with my talk.

Thus, my questions.

 

ahh i see. problem solved. download the trial of pinnacle 14 HERE
im still using 12 so i dont know what the difference is with 14.

 

Thanks so very much. I'll download the trial and check it out. Very helpful. Also, I repped you, did it register?

Cheers!

 

hope it helps.
got the rep thanks.
any more problems just holler