I'm having horizontal pixelation issues with capturing HD video over my 1394 port. I've been through all the usual steps, IMing and on the phone wilh Dell, Sony, Adobe, etc etc. The software vendors say it's a hardware/driver problem, Dell says it's a software problem. I tend to think the software vendors have a point because I get the same exact horizontal pixelation in my captured HD video, regardless of the capture/movie/rendering software I use (Sony Vegas, Adobe CS3,4). Plus, using the same software suites, the HD Capture work with all my other PCs, including an 6 month old Dell Studio 1555 laptop that is configured almost identically to my new "video editing" laptop, and a 4 year old Dell Inspiron running XP. I found a few similar issues in these forums, but only in the Desktop groups. And the only resolution seemed to be to buy a new external firewire card. So here are the particulars. I just bought a Dell 1558 with 64-bit W7, an i3 processor, and 6 GB RAM to work with my Sony HVR A1 HD MiniDV camera and the resulting films. Everything works fine in all respects except the simple HD video capture over the 1394 port (SD capture works fine). I've even tried different firewire cables. When I capture HD video to my HDD or External Drives or wherever, the resulting HD video is shot through with horizontal pixelations. . I've uninstalled and reinstalled the 1394 controller drivers but there's been no change. I've looked for a later version of the Ricoh 1394 driver on the web (and one seems to exist) but can't find one that is downloadable. To make matters more confusing, on an almost identical Studio 1555 system (mentioned above) the HD capture works flawlessly. The only real difference between the two systems is the Intel processor (i3 vs Pentium Dual-core T4400) and the amount of memory (6GB vs 4GB). The laptop is brand new (about 30 days) and I bought for working exclusively with HD home video. Has anyone had similar problems and are there any suggestions? Thanks and regards. Carlos Espinoza

The USB streaming driver for the Camcorder is not available for Windows Vista OS from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible to transfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface to transfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows Vista Operating System.

Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).

IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.

NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.
2. 
   
3. i.LINK Cable.

4. 
   

   
   

   i.LINK port.
   

   
   

   
   

   1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

   NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.
   

   1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
   2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
   3. Turn on the computer.
   4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
   5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
   6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

   It should now be possible to copy the video using the video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.
   

The USB streaming driver for the Camcorder is not available for Windows 7 OS from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible to transfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface to transfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows 7 Operating System.

Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).

IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.

NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.

1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.

1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

It should now be possible to copy the video using the video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.

i.LINK Cable.

i.LINK port.

The USB streaming driver for the Camcorder is not available for Windows Vista OS from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible to transfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface to transfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows Vista Operating System.

Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).

IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.

NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.

i.LINK Cable.

i.LINK port.

1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.

1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

It should now be possible to capture videos using a video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.

Thanks for understanding. Please let me know if you require any clarifications.

The USB streaming driver for the Camcorder is not available from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible to transfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface to transfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows 7 Operating System.

Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).
IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.
NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.

i.LINK Cable.

i.LINK port.

1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.

1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

It should now be possible to copy the video using the video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.

The USB streaming driver for the Camcorder is not available for Windows 7 OS from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible to transfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface to transfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows 7 Operating System.

Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).

IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.

NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.

i.LINK Cable.

i.LINK port.

1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.

1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

It should now be possible to copy the video using the video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.

The USB streaming driver for the Camcorder is not available from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible to transfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface to transfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows 7 Operating System.



Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).
IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.
NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.

i.LINK Cable.




i.LINK port.

1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.

1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

It should now be possible to copy the video using the video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.

Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computer using an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).

IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card must be installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, various video capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, Microsoft Windows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on your computer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for further information.

NOTE: Many Sony VAIO computers are bundled with Sony DVgate Motion or DVgate Plus software for video capturing. Some VAIO computers also include Click To DVD software that will allow video capture to the computer hard drive or directly to a DVD.

1. Connect an i.LINK cable (also known as IEEE 1394) to the i.LINK port on the digital camcorder.

i.LINK Cable.

i.LINK port.

1. Connect the other end of the i.LINK cable to the computer.

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cards may have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINK ports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it will be necessary to use a 4-pin to 6-pin i.LINK cable.

1. Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
2. Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Start the video capture software on the computer.
5. Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
6. Begin importing the video with the capture software.

It should now be possible to copy the video using the video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configured correctly.

You got to check first if your camcorder has a digital video out (firewire / ieee 1394) or an analog video out (rca connector)
If it has a digital, your life will be a little easy. If its analog, you will need two important computer component namely a "video capture card" and " a "Software" that will record your video.
Assuming, your camcorder has a FIREWIRE output. Here are the steps for your setup.
1. Connect your firewire cable from your camcorder to your computer. There are different connectors for the firewire but the usual wire that comes with your camcorder are 1394-4p to 1394-6p. You can check the types on this site; http://www.tca-inc.net/firewirecables.html
2. After connecting your camcorder to your computer, launch your software that will record you video, For MAC users typically its FinalCut Pro and for PC its ADOBE Premiere. But any software will work.
3. Power-on your camcorder and let your computer detect your camcorder. If your camcorder comes with a software installer, then you will need to put it in now.
4.Your video capture software will give you a preview of your video and will probably give you a setting you need to customize. frame size or resolution - 320x240 pixels (this is a low resolution setting) - 720x480 pixels (this is the standard for DV and popular TV formats)
Audio setting - 16bit 44.1khz
5. After setting your video resolution, you are ready to go. Watch out for DRIVE SPACE cause video eats up alot of space, and it all depends on your settings. The higher you go the bigger you file is.

If your camcorder doesn't come with a firewire output, then it will be a little technical for you.
1. You got to buy a good video capture card. There's a lot of brands out there ranging from consumer (cheap) to professional (expensive). Quality always comes with a price.
2. Install your video capture card into your computer and install the software that comes with it. Consumer brands are typically easy to install but if you encounter a few snag on your installation, go to the brand's technical site or forum so you'll get first hand info from actual users. Never give up. alot of times the sequencing of installing the drivers is the key to success.
3. after installing your video capture card, launch the software that comes with your capture card to grab your video. set your video resolution and you're ready to go.
JS

Hello,
You can use RCA's coming out of the cam to a device like Dazzle which goes from your PC's USB port to RCAs. Works great. Hope this helps.

Your computer must be equipped with an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) interface and video capture software. Provided you have both of these, follow the directions below. To connect your digital camcorder to your computer using IEEE1394, follow these steps: 1. Connect the IEEE 1394 interface on your camcorder to the IEEE 1394 interface on your computer. 2. Turn on your computer. 3. Turn on your camcorder. 4. Start the video capture software on the computer. Image capture should begin provided the computer hardware and software are configured correctly. If image capture does not begin, you must consult the computer or capture card manufacturer for assistance. Note: If you don't have an IEEE 1394 interface on your computer, you can buy an IEEE 1394 pci card at your local computer store that will work with most current computers.