Panasonic VHS-C camcorder: how to transfer video to my PC?

Oct 27, 2007

- Addendum: actual camcorder model is:  PV-L750D-K

Palmcorder with PalmSight LCD

Nov 09, 2008

- cross-posted from yahoo answers

This might help:

TRANSFERRING VIDEO FROM CAMCORDER TO COMPUTER

Camcorders usually come with connecting cables. Older camcorders have yellow, red and white RCA cables that connect the camcorder to your TV or a computer (note: the panasonic VHS-C PV-L750D-K connector cables are yellow and white only, called an "Audio/Video Cable")


FOR CAMCORDERS WITH RCA CONNECTORS & PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS

If you are using a camcorder with RCA connectors then your computer must have a Video Capture Card or some kind of video capturing device connected to your computer. A webcam is not a video capture device.

RCA connectors/cables come in 3 colors, yellow for video, red and white for left and right audio channel (note: the panasonic VHS-C PV-L750D-K Audio/Video connector cables are yellow and white only)

Make the connections on the camera and connect the RCA to the outlets of your Video Capture Card/device. Color codes on the RCA and the outlets are important. The yellow RCA is carries the video signal and should be connected to the "video in" outlet of the Video Capture Card/Device. The red and white RCA cables are the left and right audio signal. These can be swapped without any problems (note: the panasonic VHS-C PV-L750D-K connector cables are yellow and white only)

Once the connections are done you are now ready to capture the video on your computer. Video Capture Cards/Devices come with programs that allow you to capture video to a location in your computer. Captured video files are most of the times in .avi or .mpg format stored in your computer.

CAPTURE SETTINGS

Leave everything on default and you should be OK. Once you get the hang of it you can start tweaking some settings. Here are common settings that you might want to experiment:

Resolution - this refers to the number of pixel. A 320x240 resolution means 320 pixels horizontally and 240 pixels vertically. 320x240 is the advised capturing resolution for youtube videos. 352x240 is ideal for VCD. 640x480 is the ideal resolution for full screen computer videos. 720x480 is the ideal resolution for DVD.

Data Rate - refers to the amount of data allocated for capturing video(and audio). 300 kbps (kilobit per second) in mpeg-1 format is recommended for youtube. 1152 kbps in mpeg-1 format is for VCD. 2,000 kbps in mpeg-2 format is recommended for DVD. These numbers are here as reference. You will get a low quality DVD if you recorded in 300 kbps mpeg-1. Commercial DVD data rate is 4500 kbps in mpeg-2 format. Data rate also determines the file size of the captured video. The lower the data rate the smaller the file.

Compression - MPEG 4 is for ipod videos, MPEG 3 is for music, MPEG 2 is for DVD, MPEG 1 is for VCD. DV compression is the highest quality compression available to standard desktop/laptop computers. If you plan to capture a video for editing I suggest you capture in DV compression .avi file.

MAKING DVDs

You make DVDs by burning the DVDs in a DVD burner drive. DVD+R and DVD-R are now interchangeable types. Most commercial DVD players can handle both types. Open your DVD burning program. Most of the time DVD burners come with programs to make DVDs. Just follow the instructions on how to make DVDs and you're done!

Nov 15, 2008

- You will need to purchase Pinnacle Video Transfer.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/images/redesign/PVT/comp1.html?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=400&width=650

It's expensive, but it's the most convenient way to transfer analog video (via a USB flash stick or external hard drive) to view and edit on a PC.

I have used this device with my Panasonic PV-L750D-K Palmcorder (camcorder) with success.

A few things to keep in mind:

a.) The Pinnacle Video Transfer converts the the video into MPEG 4 format - so you will need the Apple QuickTime viewer to view the videos on your PC.

b.) You will need to purchase a USB flash stick, a min of 4GB (I use an 8 GB flash stick), unless you have one already.

c.) Your flash stick should be formatted to FAT 32

d.) You will need the Audio/Video cable that came with your Panasonic camcoder (the supplied A/V cables that come with the Pinnacle Video Transfer are incompatible with the Panasonic camcorder).

e.) You will need to update the Pinnacle Video Transfer with the latest firmware update (available from the Pinnacle Support Site) before you hook everything up.

The rest is a no brainer. Just follow the instructions in the booklet, or view the tutorial videos on the pinnacle web site for more info.

Nov 15, 2008

- You will need to purchase Pinnacle Video Transfer.

http://www.pinnaclesys.com/images/redesign/PVT/comp1.html?KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=400&width=650

It's expensive, but it's the most convenient way to transfer analog video (via a USB flash stick or external hard drive) to view and edit on a PC.

I have used this device with my Panasonic PV-L750D-K Palmcorder (camcorder) with success.

A few things to keep in mind:

a.) The Pinnacle Video Transfer converts the the video into MPEG 4 format - so you will need the Apple QuickTime viewer to view the videos on your PC.

b.) You will need to purchase a USB flash stick, a min of 4GB (I use an 8 GB flash stick), unless you have one already.

c.) Your flash stick should be formatted to FAT 32

d.) You will need the Audio/Video cable that came with your Panasonic camcoder (the supplied A/V cables that come with the Pinnacle Video Transfer are incompatible with the Panasonic camcorder).

e.) You will need to update the Pinnacle Video Transfer with the latest firmware update (available from the Pinnacle Support Site) before you hook everything up.

The rest is a no brainer. Just follow the instructions in the booklet, or view the tutorial videos on the pinnacle web site for more info.