I uploaded Pinnacle 12 and have film ready to transfer but it won't let me?

Question

so about a 2 weeks ago i uploaded Pinnacle and everything with it. then i filmed about 5 minutes of my friend talking. i connected what i think is called the USB wire [it's the right one, whatever it's called], clicked CAPTURE and it keeps saying "studio is unable to connect to video device"

What's wrong? i have the wire, it's on the right setting.

Answer 1

Film? Is this a minidv camcorder. Are you using a firewire connection?

Answer 2

Pinnacle will not recognize the USB port for capturing DV from a miniDV based camcorder. You need a firewire port on your computer and use the DV port on the camcorder - and connect them together with a firewire cable. As you have discovered, USB will not work.

You have A wire (USB) - but not the RIGHT wire (firewire). The firewire cable is typically not included in the box with the camcorder. Since you have not told us which camcorder or which computer, it is difficult to really help.

It is possible that you are using a hard drive or flash memory based camcorder - and USB should be working if the camcorder is in "Play" mode. The camcorder should mount like any other external mass storage device - copy the video files from the camcorder to the computer, then drag them into the editor.

If is possible you are using a DVD based camcorder - you need a drawer loading DVD drive on your computer - take the disc out of the camcorder and put it in the drawer loader - if you do not have a drawer loading DVD drive on your computer (it does only CDs or is a slot loader), you need to but an external drawer loading DVD drive for your computer - or you need to get an Analog/Digital bridge like

http://pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Pro...

If it is an older analog camcorder, use the Pinnacle solution - the USB connection is ONLY for transferring stills off the memory card or web streaming.