How do I get video from a camcorder to pc?

mcgavin27

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I recently purchased a Panasonic PV-Gs9 digital video camcorder and I was hoping I could connect to my pc to edit the video. I have the camcorder, a usb cable, and windows movie maker. I have downloaded all the available drivers but when I hit capture video in Windows movie maker, I get an error message. What am I doing wrong?
 
This might sound simple, but is your camcorder on? Also does it have to be playing for Windows to capture it? Just some simple solutions from the top of my head.
 
[quote name='vrs1650']This might sound simple, but is your camcorder on? Also does it have to be playing for Windows to capture it? Just some simple solutions from the top of my head.[/QUOTE]
Yes, it is on and I have tried it playing and not playing.
 
Get a mac...
But seriously umm maybe go to a specialized forum, what are the chances someone here would be able to troubleshoot that?

Lemme try-
Is the cam in VTR mode?
Is there adequte drive space?
 
I don't see a PV-GS9 on their site; do you mean PV-GS19?

I had to buy a whole Mac setup with Final Cut Studio for one of my classes, along with a Panasonic PV-GS35. I'm not sure whether or not it can upload video through USB 2.0, but I use Firewire/IEEE1394. (Perhaps the USB connection is just to upload pictures?) If you have one of those ports on your PC, maybe just buy that cable, and perhaps that's where WMM is looking for a camera. I put my camera into Play Mode and then have it play the movie for FCP to record.

While USB 2.0 has potentially higher bandwidth than Firewire, it fluctuates depending on other USB devices you are using at the same time, as well as your processor load; Firewire has a constant speed, which is essential in transferring large, high-quality DV videos.

In short, all I offer above is an alternate route, but I haven't tinkered with Windows Media Maker or its video capture process before.
 
Use Firewire. Most of the time, USB ports on cameras are used for either transfering pictures or streaming video. Windows movie maker will let you interact with the camera using firewire.
 
Here is a question when the camera is plugged in does windows recognize it as a camera or as a storage device. If it sees it as a storage device you have to go to my computer and into the storage drive and drag and drop the video into movie maker.
 
Windows movie maker is like Imovie on anti-steroids! I use Sony Vegas when on a PC. Sometimes Premiere. I HATE ...repeat, HATE Avid. It's about as non-user friendly as you can get.
I prefer to edit everything on FCP though. It's intuitive and interacts well with other programs.
 
[quote name='ultimatelex']Windows movie maker is like Imovie on anti-steroids! I use Sony Vegas when on a PC.[/QUOTE]
Agreed and same here. I really want to get a Mac now just for video editing alone.
 
[quote name='ultimatelex']BTW dafunkk12, what are you studying? I majored in Video Broadcasting and love FCP.[/QUOTE]
I'm doing Digital Media, specifically video games. But we have to do all sorts of things along the way; so far I've also had to learn Photoshop, Director, PHP, Flash, and make a comic book.
 
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