I'd like to use this camcorder as a web cam. I have XP on my lap top and the camera connected by usb. Please help. Thanks.
Video streaming is possible with DV camcorders thanks to the Firewire port (IEEE1394), which works very much like a digital video in/out connection. Basically, the camera just sends video, and if there's a computer attached, it receives the video and decides what to do with it on a computer.
USB doesn't work that way, normally. Most tapeless camcorders automatically set up the webcam as a storage device, which is a very distinct thing from a video streaming device. A storage device is just a disc of some kind... it will show up under some letter (eg, K:) in Windows, when you attach the camcorder.
Some USB camcorders allow for a "webcam" or "streaming" mode... I didn't find any specifics on your JVC, but I know some of the Panasonics support this. There are two ways. One is that, if you have the camera in record/standby mode, it may just go automatically into webcam mode when you attach USB.
The other way is that the camera will have something in the menus, like "Live mode" or "Webcam mode" that instructs it to configure USB for video streaming rather than storage-class attachement.
And of course, some of the tapeless camcorders have a Firewire port, just like a DV camcorder, which is there specifically to allow for streaming video, etc. You could use your camcorder as a web camera over Firewire, given the proper software... though you might find that's just as expensive as buying
a webcam.
And given the price of actual webcams, I would consider buying one
rather than adding wear and tear to my camcorders, just based on
price. This is the same reason I have a DV tape rewind device.. $20 device, $2000
camcorder... easy math.
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Hi Experts,
We are wedding planners. We perform over 100 weddings per month at various locations in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
We use Sony Camcorders, a Mini DVD and Tape. I think one has a firewire. However, it would be difficult if we had to be wired versus wireless.
We want to broadcast in one of our chapels weddings live so folks who cannot attend may witness the nuptials over the Internet. We want a quality video and audio. No one in our area is doing that. I ran across your website that provided expert support.
If you could be "our wizard: and give us step by step, hardware by hardware, software by software advice, we would be very grateful. I want to stress again, we want to produce a premier product.
We eagerly await your reply,
Pastor Buddy
Pastor Charles "Buddy" Kemner
www.smokeymountainwedding.org
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