How do i get footage off my mini dvd camcorder onto computer?

Question

how do i like save it to the harddrive and then open it with pinnacle or movie maker. someone please help.

Answer 1

You transfer it via a USB cable, or a Firewire cable. Most mini dv cams are equipped with one or both. It then depends on which editing software you are using. Most of the consumer editing programs let you capture footage to your computer using either, or USB. Editing programs will allow you to connect your camera, and capture your footage. Just open the program, connect your camera via usb or firewire (firewire is 100 times better if you have the connection), make sure your camera is on and in playback mode, and find the capture footage option in your software. Whatever software you use should give you the option of where (which hard drive) you want it to save the footage to as you are capturing it.

If you have any further questions...just ask

Hope this helps

Answer 2

It should be in your manual. If you don't have one visit the manufacturers support site for your camera.

Answer 3

There should be a firewire output from the camcorder and, hopefully, a firewire input to your PC.  Of course, this requires you to have a firewire cable.

Another method would be to import the files from the DVD from one of the software titles you mentioned.  That can be a bit of a pain in the neck, I recommend trying the firewire cable first.  Good luck!