transfering dv tapes to pc

[sleeksteve]

Hi

I have an old PC350E camcorder with lots of old holiday movies on DV tapes. It still plays ok and I can view the movies on the screen on the camera.

I want to download them to my PC but have not had any success.

I have downloaded PlayMemories Home and connected the camcorder to my computer with an S video lead to a USB port.

I can’t get the software to recognise the camcorder or transfer any movies to my computer. Do I need a special lead or other software?

Thanks,

Steve

[Peter_S.]

Hi,

If you would like to transfer your videos to your PC you need to connect the camcorder via iLINK (IEEE1394).

Most likely you need an adapter to achieve this.

Cheers

Peter

[sleeksteve]

Thanks for your help Peter. Unfortunately, the only iLINK (IEEE1394) connection is located in the handycam docking station which I don’t have.

The only output sockets on the camera body are an A/V jack and an S Video port. I have used an adapter to convert each of these outputs to a USB cable but my computer does not recognise the camera and nothing shows on my computer when I play back the video to it.

[Win_88]

Hi

Using adapters isn't recommended since they don't work most of the time. A direct USB connection is most optimal. I found the supplied USB cable being sold separately by EET: https://www.eetgroup.com/en-gb/182957941-sony-connection-cable-usb-wid-w125181091

Win_88

[sleeksteve]

Hi, Win_88 Thanks for your response. The problem I have is there are only two outlet sockets on the camera which are an A/V jack and an S Video port. The cables I used to connect to my win 10 computer are:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Female-Adapter-Ancable-6-Inch-Splitter/dp/B07SR1HH87/ref=pd_lpo_23_img_0/25...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coomoors-S-Video-Component-Adapter-Mini-DIN-Black/dp/B072QDCG1H/ref=sr_1_6?...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-iGreely-Splitter-Composite-Adapter-USB-3RCA/dp/B0722KNZRB/ref=sr_1_3?...

The first two were connected to the usb cable.

I would be grateful for any other ideas you have as I have lots of mini dv tapes of holidays dating back to 1999.

Steve

[Blencogo]

The signal out of your camcorder using an AV Cable is an analogue signal and your computer’s USB input requires a digital signal. This means these adapter cables will not work.

Unless you have a digital iLink connection, you cannot transfer direct to your computer’s USB and you need additional hardware to convert the analogue output to a digital signal your computer can record.

Search Amazon for ‘USB Video Capture Device’. Here is an example:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/External-USB-Video-Capture-Card/dp/B008F0SARC

These used to be about £10 but they seem to have gone up - try another supplier.

You will need a 3.5mm male jack to 3X RCA male from the camera to the capture device.

[Blencogo]

Here’s a cheaper one:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08FTK7TVM

[sleeksteve]

Thanks for your response Blencogo. I have just got one of these from Amazon. I have successfully installed the usb driver and VHS software but cannot get it to work. I do get sound but only see a blue flashing screen

https://www.amazon.co.uk/External-USB-Video-Capture-Card/dp/B008F0SARC

Not sure if its faulty or not installed correctly or not compatible with the camcorder output.

I would be grateful for any other ideas.

[Blencogo]

Hi Steve

That’s strange. Have you tried both video connections separately - s-video or the yellow composite video?

What video editing software comes with this device?

[sleeksteve]

I have tried both video connectors separately, the s video and the yellow av jack.

The software is:

honestech VHS to DVD 4.0 SE

version 4.0.45

The camcorder is working ok as it plays on the small lcd screen.

I did get a video USB converter from ebay previously and it did not work either. But as it only cost £5.99, I thought it may have been poor quality / probably faulty and I returned it. It was :

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VHS-to-Digital-Converter-USB-2-0-Video-Capture-Card-for-XP-Vista-Win-7-8-...

Is it possible that this is a digital camera?  If you go to this Amazon page:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DCR-PC350-DCR-PC350E-Digital-Camcorder/dp/B0002K78NK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_p...

and click on the available from these sellers button there is one for sale described as a Digital Camcorder. If so I don't know if the output would be digital or analoge.