The Back Alley Archives

I had an idea of putting a short video to a DVD and THEN trying to download it to my computer and use the Window Movie Maker to edit it and such. But I'm having trouble importing it to the Movie Player from my hard drive. I saved it to my videos and I can watch it but it won't save to the Movie Maker. Is that because I have other Media players on my computer (for work)? I just signed up for You Tube and I'm going to see if I can download the video as is in there...but it's over 5 minutes long and I want to cut it down. Oh well...let me know what you think.

Allison, what format is the video saved as on your computer?

The format could be a problem. It's not because you have other media players.

Yeah, I thought about that format thing..and I couldn't figure it out. I think it's .mov but I'm not sure.

I just checked...it says .VOB after the file name. I can't figure out how to reformat it. It doesn't even give me the option so "save as" anywhere. Very confusing.

OK. That tells me that it's a DVD format. You're gonna have to convert it somehow to one of the more common formats like wmv or mpg or avi.

The easiest thing to do, if you're so inclined, is to transfer it directly from your camera to your computer.

And thus my problem comes full circle. I'll see if I can somehow use this little USB/camera cord. [img]{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Try it. It'll probably work.

Allison, how big is the file? If you have a GMAIL account you could e-mail it to me and I could convert it for you if you are still having issues later tonight.

I say GMAIL because they have a 20mb limit on their file attachment size and if it is smaller than that you could e-mail it to me.

Nah...the file is too big Todd...I know I could never send it. I couldn't even download it on You Tube as it was.

I just hooked it up the little USB cord I use for my digital camera and it kept saying it couldn't read a devise was connected. I turned the video recorder on to the Play/Edit function and played the video but it just wasn't reading it. Maybe I'll be able to do it on my other computer.

When I go to work tomorrow I'll talk to our video production guy and I'm sure he'll figure it out for me. He'll likely be able to download it for me himself.

thanks!

It sounds like it detected the camera, but didn't have the right driver for it. Go to Sony.com and try to find it.

Are you sure? It looked like it didn't even read that there was any hardware hooked up...it didn't show up when I went to "My Computer" either. I need a DV cord I'm fairly sure.

What model is it?

It's a Sony Handycam MiniDV DCR-HC38

It should have come with a CD with a driver on it.

Sony's web site says that drivers should come preinstalled with Windows XP, but they don't.

I happened to find a driver, attached to this post, that might work for you.

Hey, did you ever get it working?

Did you try the driver I suggested?

No...I think I just need a different cord...our video producer talked to me about it...I need to go to Best Buy. Plus, I need to try this on my personal computer instead of my work one...who knows what sort of annoying protections my work computer has.

I'm tellin' ya, if the holes fit, they fit and it works.

Have you read your camera's manual?

The specs page, here, indicates that it has USB Streaming, just like mine does.


On my camera, you have to go to the menu to make sure that USB streaming is turned on.

The manual (PDF), which you should probably read, says the same thing (turn to page 40).

You can also transfer using a "Firewire" cable, which Sony calls the "i.Link" cable. These cables can be expensive (and I guarantee it'll be expensive at Worst Buy) and may not work. When I tried it with my camera, it didn't and Sony wouldn't help me with troubleshooting it.

The USB streaming, however, worked just great. Please, understand what I'm telling you: install the software on your computer and make sure you camera has USB streaming enabled before you plunk down your hard-earned money. All you need is the USB cable, which is probably the same one that works with your digital still camera (you know the one, it's got a USB connection on one side that you stick into your computer and a smaller plug on the other that sticks into your device). It's known as a "B Male to A Male" cable.

Here's one you can get for $9.99. Good luck getting one at Best Buy for that price.

Thanks Doc...the guy from work just brought me a cable and it was the same one I have (that works with my digital camera). Anyway, I will read my manual about "USB streaming" on my camera. I'm reluctant to download the driver thing because this is my work computer. But I will try to do so on our home computer.

I haven't done anything about this all week due to craziness at home and work. But thanks for the great advice. I promise I will NOT spend money until I try your suggestions first!

Good. Sorry to be so in your face about it, but I'm one of those folks who just has to be right about everything.

Sorry to be so in your face about it, but I'm one of those folks who just has to be right about everything.

Rad, is that you?

Ouch.

Doc, I can be the same way. At least when I know I'm right about something.

I DID IT!!![/size]

Video production will hopefully be posted soon! 1. I found the discs that came with my camera. 2. I figured out how to set my camera on USB drive 3. Windows Movie Worker was easy.

The video looks really dark...darker than it does on the camera. I tried lightening it up, but it's still dark. Oh well...now I will try to go and load it on You Tube...Lainie is going to freak out.