Download a Camcorder to a Computer
If you want to edit your video after recording it with a camcorder you need to download the video content to a computer. Although there are a wide range of camcorders available on the market, you can download the content of all the cameras to your computer in roughly the same way. With a video editing program and a few extra cables, you can download the contents of your camera to a computer in no time.
Instructions
1. Connect the video camcorder to a computer. Plug either the USB or FireWire cable into the specified ports on the camera. Although most digital video camcorders have a FireWire port, not all computers do. Check your computer for a port that looks similar to a USB port, except one side is rounded and a "Y"-looking symbol is next to the port. You want to use FireWire if possible because it provides a faster data transfer speed.
2. Plug the other end of the cable into the port on the computer. If using a USB cable plug it into an available USB port. If using a FireWire cable plug it into the FireWire port on the computer.
3. Power on the video camcorder and set it to "VCR." This is the playback mode and you need it to be here in order to download the content to your computer.
4. Launch the video editing software on your computer. Most computers come pre-installed with some sort of editing software, such as Windows Movie Maker on Windows-based computers and iMovie on Macs.
5. Select the "Capture" function on the video editor. The computer now scans for any video camera connected to the system. Select the video camcorder you have connected to the computer and momentarily the content on the video camera appears on the capture screen.
6. Click the "Record" button on the editor and the video content begins to download directly to the computer. When you want it to stop, either click the "Record" button again or click the "Stop" button.
Tags: your computer, video camcorder, cable into, cable plug, cable plug into, Camcorder Computer