A problem! :(

[InCreator]

Problem is like this:
I got a video cam yesterday, neat one, Sony Handycam DCR-TRV14E but since it is used, I have no software to capture my video creations!

The program that was supposed to come with cam is named ImageMixer. There's no possible way to get it anywhere, unless I buy it!

Question is:
How could I get videos from cam to computer?
Is there any other programs (FREELY downloadable) to do the trick?
Or can I get ImageMixer from somewhere?

Adobe Premiere 6.5 doesn't support the cam and all I could get was insta-recording into machine but this needs cam to be connected all the time. With 1.5m cable, It isn't much fun. Especially since I don't have a laptop.

[Ben]

Not sure, but this works for me (I have a sony still camera, which should be similar):

Just plug in your camera with the USB cable, click on "My Computer" and select "Removable Disk," then your movies should be in one of the folders there, in MPG or AVI format..

[LGM]

If you have Windows XP, you can use Windows Movie Maker 2. If you have 2000 or ME, you can get WMM1.. But I dunno if it can capture. There's also STOIK Capturer that will capture from most firewire cameras.. And then you can use Videodub for simple editing procedures.. Perhaps VideoDub can capture aswell, dunno..

I'm too lazy to link all these, so get Googling!

Also, congratulations on your camera acquisition!

[dasjoe]

scenealizer does the trick.. but it's not freeware..

*cough* look for some tool to personalise your copy with your own number

[InCreator]

Thanks for replies so far!
But there's a problem...
...no firewire.

I can STREAM video directly via USB to comp with many progs, just can't get to the stuff recorded onto cassette (MiniDV).

I ALSO have this S-something video cable which connects cam to computer (video card), but this doesn't seem to do anything.

I have Win XP.

It doesn't show camera as removable device. It just detects it when plugged in by USB. I installed some sony USB drivers too, so it recognizes the cam. It does.

Just no way to browse the tape in camera.
Goddamn.

[Andail]

Ben, the computer still needs to capture the movie, as far as I know, movie files can't just be copied to some folder.

What I don't understand is why your programs don't recognise the camera. Both Windows Movie Maker and Premiere should detect the device.
Premiere usually takes control of the camera (at least via firewire, don't know about USB) and can browse the tape from the program.
In Movie Maker, I guess you should just need to play the camera, open the capture window in the program and start recording.

Video managing is always kind of tricky, and sometimes it can take time to find the proper settings, etc.

[InCreator]

Aye, Andail, It worked.

Recording from camera's preview to Movie maker WORKED!!!


I think that this IS really the case where I can act as n00b as I can.
Simply because I messed around for 14 hours to get damn thing to work.