Cannot pass through to Premiere 6.5 from VCR via a firewire

hi,
you have to connect to your computer via FireWire cable, not USB !

To transfer camcorder video to computer, you need the following:-
1. Firewire cable (it looks similar to the USB cable, but has very high speed capability)
2. Appropriate software/application.
If a firewire cable did not come with your camcorder then see that purchase one right away, ‘cause you will always need it for this purpose. Then you should have a video editing software like Adobe Premiere or Ulead installed on your system. Adobe Premiere is recommended for its speed.
Once you have these in place, all you need do is connect the camcorder to your computer via firewire, have your video editing application/program open, and simply playback. You will observe that the playback on the camcorder is at the same time being shown on the computer screen within the application. While the mini DV tape is playing back click on capture on the video editing application you are doing the playback from, i.e. Adobe Premiere, Ulead etc.

You likely need a video capture card that will accept analog video (several makers like Pinnacle--not a recommend);
...alternatively, if you have a digital video camera, better ones have an analog video input jack by which you can use the digital camcorder as an interface (with analog to digital conversion), and thence to the computer via the firewire cable.
...This technique can also be used to transfer VHS from your old VHS player from its analog output, via the digital camcorder to the PC.
..This way you can transfer into a NLE (non-linear editor) like Adobe Premier, Final Cut, Sony Vegas, AVID, etc ; and edit your video now that it has been digitized. And the Hi8 as you know will have much better resolution potential than the VHS.

I think you are expecting camera to covert VCR analog video-audio signal into digital so it can be record in Macbook?

Camcorder will not do this job and you need to hookup VCR with DVD Recorder to burn DVD of VHS tape.

SO you actually got the S/VHS to capture via firewire into your computer? I can only get the DV side to work. I have the same unit with manual. I think your initial problem is a refresh rate, are you using Premiere? and can you make the viewing window smaller?

What is the camera model, actual powerbook and vcr? And you want to do this to convert from vhs to mini dv? Your camera should have a firewire port on it called 1394. Your VCR may or may not have S-video. If not you can purchase a s-video to coax adapter ( velloy video rca ). You may also need to locate a 4pin to 6 pin firewire cable. the 4 pin is for the cam, 6 pin is for the mac. The camera then goes s-video to rca to the vcr posssibly. Again I am only suggesting this at first, guess what is standard, and what I have seen. Any other variables or specifics that I am not aware of in your case, may change this configuration. If you have Ilife 05 or later or Imovie. Plug the camera to its power source. If the firewire cable is running to the mac, and the mac it on. Turning on the camrea will automatically open Imovie. From there you can load all of the video onto the Macintosh, and do what you like, watch , edit....what have you.





Keith

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OK. To transfer the movie to your computer you need the following.
A "firewire". It probably came with your camera, look up the manual to identify it. If not buy one, they are only a couple of $$$.

The firewire plugs into your camera (behind one of those "little doors" on the camera), then into your computer. You must have a firewire connection on your computer. If it is modern then you will find it there, if it is older then you may have to buy a firewire card. They are available for either PC or laptop (provided your lap top is reasonably modern).

You then need to install and start your NLE (Non Linear Editor) in other words a video editing programme. Panasonic usually includes one with the camera. If not then you will need to buy one as Windows Movie Maker, that comes with Windows, works OK but is a bit limiting, but if you want to use it.. go ahead it will work OK.

Failing that if you are a beginner the i would suggest Pinnacle Studio 11, it is easy to learn and until you get more advanced it will do everything you want it to do. Just don't "rush" the programme, if it wants to wait and work, then wait with it!.
Adobe Premiere Elements as a medium experienced user is good and sets you up for its big brother Premiere pro (which is what i use) Other than that, Sony Vegas or Edius. There are lots of very usable NLEs out there, just chose one and learn it.

With the camera and the computer connected via the firewire, Read the NLE manual and learn how to capture to your NLE. Then "voila" your video is in the NLE for you to edit it with. Make sure you have enough battery power to take you through the capture process, or hook up your camera to the power cable that came with the camera.(best)

Please forgive me if I have been too simple for your level of knowledge.

I wonder if this is a MacroVision problem. Try this; take a VCR tape that you have recorded from the tv, try to record a commercial and then play this tape through your setup, I bet you it works. (Now take what I say next in the sense that it is given and that is as advice)When you are trying to push signal that you get from an analog source from the VCR by law that signal has to be encoded with macrovision to ensure that the signal can not be copied. Now the funny thing is you can transfer tapes which have not been encoded this is normal, what you need is a piece of equipment that removes Macrovision, here is a link that might help: http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/copyeliminator.html also look up the company SIMA

Unfortunately, you cannot use the connectors at the same time. The S-Video connector overrides the standard video connector. This is why they share common audio left/right inputs. If you could use them separately, they would each have their own set of audio inputs. (S-Video does not carry audio signals on the cable.) I'm assuming that you are connecting your Satellite as an input to your VCR, and then your VCR to the TV via a video connection. The VCR passes the satellite signal through unless you are watching a tape, then it overrides the dish signal. You have a few choices here: 1. You can connect the coaxial (RF) output from the VCR to the TV, and watch the satellite and VCR on channel 3 (or 4). You can then connect the DVD via S-Video, and watch it on "video". This is the simplest solution, and provides the best picture quality for the DVD (with this TV), but lower quality for the dish and VCR. 2. You can connect the DVD player via RF (if it supports that), watch the DVD on channel 3, and connect the VCR via video. This will make the DVD picture quality terrible. 3. You can replace the VCR with a combo DVD/VCR unit. You can then connect the S-Video out from the combo unit to the TV. This is a more expensive solution. 4. You can replace the TV with a model that includes more inputs. This is the most expensive solution, but will allow you to watch your DVD over component cables (very high quality) and VCR and dish over S-Video. Ironically, the obvious choice, connecting the DVD as an input to the VCR (as a pass-through) simply WON'T WORK. The signal put out by the DVD player is "copy protected" (using a system called MacroVision) which the VCR will refuse to play, even as a pass-though. Best of luck with this. Given that you are trying to make this all work without replacing equipment, I recommend option #1, until you decide to break down and buy a shiny new HDTV. They are coming down in price every week, but only you can decide when the time is right.