Help with my Panasonic PV-GS80?

Question

I have a camcorder that i know how to work quite well. My problem is that for so reason my computer doesn't recognize it when I hook it up. I have tried restarting the computer and I checked the connection an upwards of ten times. Does anyone have any ideas

Thank you so much

Answer 1

Are you using Firewire or USB?

The Panasonic PV-GS80 is a miniDV tape based camcorder. USB video transfer is not supported. Add a firewire 400 (IEEE1394a) port to yur computer and get a firewire 400 cable (i.Lin, IEEE1394a... all the same thing). Then connect the DV port on thye camcorder to the firewireport on the comuter. When the camera is in Play mode, you can import ("Capture") using Windows MovieMaker or WinDV.

USB won't work.

Answer 2

For tape vcams, video capture is done while vcam is on play. Of course the vcam should be connected to the pc via firewire and have a video capture or video editing app in pc.

Video  Editing  Process

for starters, free Windows Movie Maker (XP-wmm2 & Vista-wmm6) provides simple & easy way to learn the ropes < click help for details>. Venture into other video editing app ( http://video-editing-software-review.top... ) accdg. to need & skill level.

Steps:

CAPTURE VIDEO :  video stream from tape-based Vcam

a.) Connect miniDV or digi-8 vcam to pc via FIREWIRE cable (4 or 6 pin) for best transfer (USB w/quality concern)

b.) Set vcam mode to playback, set for capture, pause

c.) Open wmm and set to TASKS pane

d.) Click Capture from video device; wmm  controls vcam operations- on play, video stream is captured to wmm/COLLECTION

IMPORT FILES :  from pc folder

e.) Import video files*  

f.) Import other files: pics, music, narration

EDIT MOVIE:  create movie as a project

g.) Drag&drop video files from collection to TIMELINE chart below at the desired sequence

h.) Enhance video: drag&drop music, effects, transition, filter; create titles…re-edit as you wish

FINISH MOVIE: render muvee file

i.) Render/Save MUVEE to pc and/ or share- CD; Save PROJECT (work-in-progress) for future edits.

Finally, SHARE:

j.) Burn to DVD***   (wmm2 only on CD)

   ** Most video editing app include DVD authoring, otherwise, use DVD authoring programs, e.g.,  WinDVD, Nero, Encore, etc.