VanMardigan
has calmed down a bit.
Quick Story: How can I transfer the files on my miniDV camcorder out to my home PC (Vista 64 bit) or my work PC (32 bit XP)? I don't have the software for my Sony Handycam and Sony wants money for the CD. Is there a free software alternative? I looked for drivers (my model is DCR-HC21) and I can get Windows movie maker to pull the files, but the quality is terrible. Would using firewire improve this, or is this a Windows movie maker software limitation.
Long Story: So I own an old Sony MiniDV camcorder. I had it all set up on my old PC, which died and I replaced with a Vista 64 bit. The camcorder is apparently not compatible with Vista, however, since none of the drivers I've downloaded work.
I don't have the software cd's, I looked all over my house. I did lengthy searches online and eventually downloaded versions of Sony's Picture Motion Browser software, which was not compatible with Vista and never installed correctly on my XP computer. I eventually got the camera recognized in my XP work machine, but the image quality is terrible.
Eventually (and rather soon) I'll be getting a new HD camcorder, but this experience has cooled me on using MiniDV tapes, so I'm looking at flash drives/sd card camcorders.
What would gaf suggest is my best alternative to getting the video off the miniDV tapes?
Long Story: So I own an old Sony MiniDV camcorder. I had it all set up on my old PC, which died and I replaced with a Vista 64 bit. The camcorder is apparently not compatible with Vista, however, since none of the drivers I've downloaded work.
I don't have the software cd's, I looked all over my house. I did lengthy searches online and eventually downloaded versions of Sony's Picture Motion Browser software, which was not compatible with Vista and never installed correctly on my XP computer. I eventually got the camera recognized in my XP work machine, but the image quality is terrible.
Eventually (and rather soon) I'll be getting a new HD camcorder, but this experience has cooled me on using MiniDV tapes, so I'm looking at flash drives/sd card camcorders.
What would gaf suggest is my best alternative to getting the video off the miniDV tapes?