Sony DCRHC30 I recently purchased the Sony DCRHC30 camcorder. Found out that you can only burn captured video to a dvd if you have a sony vaio computer. Is this standard with camcorders? Is there any way around this? I burned a video to a video cd but I wasn't thrilled with the video quality compared to the actual digital video tape. I would appreciate anyone's help.

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 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 7/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 7/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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Turn on the digital camcorder by moving the POWER switch to the VTR position.
• Cue the camcorder tape to the beginning of the video footage.
• Turn on the computer.
• Start the video capture software on the computer.
• Begin playing the recorded video in the camcorder.
• 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.

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 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.

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.

The USB streaming driver for theCamcorder is not available for Windows 7 OS from Sony at this point. Hence it is not possible totransfer videos using USB interface. You may use i.LINK or A/V interface totransfer videos from the Camcorder to the Computer which is running on Windows 7 Operating System. Please follow the steps to transfer video to a computerusing an i.LINK connection (IEEE 1394).
IMPORTANT: Video capture software and a compatible video capture card mustbe installed on the computer. Depending on the computer manufacturer, variousvideo capture cards and software (Adobe Premiere, Roxio Video Wave, MicrosoftWindows Movie Maker, etc.) may be available or already installed on yourcomputer. If necessary, contact the manufacturer of your computer for furtherinformation.

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

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

i.LINKCable.


i.LINKport.

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

NOTE: The computer i.LINK ports and capture cardsmay have either 4-pin or 6-pin connections. Sony digital camcorders use i.LINKports with 4 pins. If your computer only has a 6-pin i.LINK port, then it willbe 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 usingthe video capture software if the computer hardware and software are configuredcorrectly.

Don't worry about the manual. You just need to get a firewire cable (since you have a laptop, you probably need a 4 pin to 4 pin cable, but check the port in your laptop to make sure it is a 4 pin. If the port size is the same as it is in your camcorder, you need a 4pin to 4pin cable). For transferring video to your laptop and burning DVD, use the software which came with your DVD burner. If you do not have one, try Dazzle software, it works well.

The problem with Sony is that they're always trying to push something proprietary and lock in their own equipment as a standard. It is not likely that you are limited to a Sony computer. It looks like it has both firewire and usb 2.0 outputs. Provided you have one, or both, of these on your computer, there are many choices for software which will do the capture and subsequent processing. A lot depends on how much subsequent processing you want to do.