I have an older panasonic PV-GS70 digital video camera and, while the
camera has worked fine for us, we've never been able to transfer video
from it to our PC. I'd like to start editing some of our video.

I've installed the drivers multiple times but my PC (XP Pro) doesn't
recognize the device.

Is anyone aware of some sort of 'tape-reader' device, like a flash
card reader, that would allow me to insert a mini-DV tape and transfer
the data to my hard drive?

Thanks.

AFAIK that camera does not need drivers except perhaps to transfer still images by USB. From what I could see online, when the camera ships there is only a USB cable supplied. You have connected it by way of firewire, correct? And are running XP Service Pack 2, which included a firewire patch? Once connected to a firewire port, you still need software to do the capture, either Windows MovieMaker, another NLE program, or a stand-alone capture program such as Scenalyzer.

Gary T
"engwar" <engwar1@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:430bbeba-74a5-4b0f-93ba-128570ddae9a@a22g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
I have an older panasonic PV-GS70 digital video camera and, while the
camera has worked fine for us, we've never been able to transfer video
from it to our PC. I'd like to start editing some of our video.

I've installed the drivers multiple times but my PC (XP Pro) doesn't
recognize the device.

Is anyone aware of some sort of 'tape-reader' device, like a flash
card reader, that would allow me to insert a mini-DV tape and transfer
the data to my hard drive?

Thanks.

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:10:39 -0700 (PDT), in 'rec.video.desktop',
in article <MiniDV tape reader?>,
engwar <engwar1@yahoo.com> wrote:

I'm not familiar with the Panasonic PV-GS70 and don't have the time
right now to look it up, but if it's a DV (Digital Video) camcorder,
chances are that it's equipped with an IEEE 1394a (FireWire 400)
connector. If so, all that you need to do in order to transfer the
data from a tape being played back in the camcorder to your computer
is to connect the camcorder's FireWire port to your computer's
FireWire port with an appropriate FireWire cable.

Then start up your favorite DV transfer program and let it write the
data to your computer's hard disk drive.

If your computer doesn't presently have a FireWire card, you can pick
one up for well under $40. Just make certain that there's a spare
expansion slot (either PCI or PCIe) in your computer into which to
place the card.

You mention installing drivers. Please note that all versions of
Windows since at least Windows 98 Second Edition, and perhaps earlier,
include all of the necessary drivers. There are no additional drivers
for you to install when dealing with DV.

And for ingesting the data and writing it to disk (in the form of an
..avi file), you can use the bundled Windows Movie Maker program for
that purpose.

If you wish to try another program for DV ingest, I can recommend
ScenalyzerLive. It's $34, but a downloadable free trial version is
offered.

http://www.scenalyzer.com/

One last point. If your camcorder happens to have a USB port, please
be aware that its purpose in life is for the transfer of still images,
and perhaps Webcam video. For transfer of full frame size, full frame
rate video, with audio, you must use the FireWire connector and *not*
the USB port.

Hope this helps.

--
Frank, Independent Consultant, New York, NY
[Please remove 'nojunkmail.' from address to reply via e-mail.]
Read Frank's thoughts on HDV at http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/
(also covers AVCHD and XDCAM EX).

I don't believe this camera has firewire, just USB. I'll check.

Again, I'd prefer to not transfer directly from my camera as I've had
about enough of trying to get it to work.

Any DV tape-readers out there? Or is the only way to get my camera to
connect?

Thanks.

"engwar" <engwar1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1a57ad14-f67f-47e4-b96d-9223704aea60@u3g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
|I don't believe this camera has firewire, just USB. I'll check.
|
| Again, I'd prefer to not transfer directly from my camera as I've had
| about enough of trying to get it to work.
|
| Any DV tape-readers out there? Or is the only way to get my camera to
| connect?
|
| Thanks.

In a word, no. No tape reader thingys. DV tape is captured by a computer
by playing the tape either in a camera or in a playback VTR deck. (DV tape
VTRs are not common except in professional applications.) Captures are real
time through a Firewire port with a Firewire cable. Your camera has a
Firewire port. Sorry you are having trouble getting your computer to
recognize your camera. You are using capture software, correct? If not,
Windows Media Producer is free software that can be downloaded from
Microsoft. Using this software, when the camera is recognized as a Firewire
attached device, controls in the software actually operate the camera deck,
all the normal functions: PB, REC, FF, FR, etc.

Steve King

"engwar" <engwar1@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1a57ad14-f67f-47e4-b96d-9223704aea60@u3g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
It would be the rare (if any) Mini-DV that doesn't have Firewire output, and
according to the specs here
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-PVGS.../dp/B00008RUES
your does.

If you don't want to transfer using that camera, buy a used Mini-DV just for
transferring. That would almost certainly be way cheaper than any DV tape
readers you might find.

The reason you have "had about enough" is because you have been trying to
use USB. If you get a Firewire cable it is pretty much plug and play. It is
time for you to take some responsibility for apparantly failing to read the
instruction manual and going in circles with USB. Why bother to come here
for advice if you are just going to kick against it?

GaryT

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:59:57 -0700, in 'rec.video.desktop',
in article <Re: MiniDV tape reader?>,
"GaryT" <gtemplemanPAINT@proaxis.com> wrote:

Google Groups poster.

--
Frank, Independent Consultant, New York, NY
[Please remove 'nojunkmail.' from address to reply via e-mail.]
Read Frank's thoughts on HDV at http://www.humanvalues.net/hdv/
(also covers AVCHD and XDCAM EX).

"engwar" wrote ...
How did you try? How did it fail?

What drivers?
Most DV camcorders don't need any extra
drivers for transferring via Firewire.

What does "doesn't recognize" mean? Exactly?
Note that the operating system itself doesn't
necessarily "recognize" the device. It is more likely
that the video capture application is what needs
to recognize the device.

Your your camcorder is the most likely candidate.

Note that there are many appliations that will grab
DV video from a camcorder via firewire. Some are
free (DVIO, Microsoft MovieMaker, etc.) Some are
very inexpensive (Scenalyzer Live, etc.) And most
video editing apliaitns (Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas,
etc.) also perform capture.

What did you intend to do with your video once you
had captured it? Are you editing it online? What
application are you using to edit video? Does it
not contain a video capture function?

"engwar" wrote ...
According to the info available on the internet,
that model DOES have Firewire.

If you have not been connecting it via Firewire,
then that completely explains why you have not
been able to capture from it.

Get a Firewire cable and connect it, then call
us back.

You haven't even started trying it if you weren't using
Firewire.

Sure, but they likely cost more than your camcorder?
And even if you get one, you will still need a Firewire
cable. Since you have not yet even tried Firewire to
your existing camcorder, it seems silly to go out and
buy something else.

Get a Firewire cable and try it. Then call us back.

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xp7rt.net> wrote in message
news:N9-dnRg2o8tc4ZzVnZ2dnUVZ_uqvnZ2d@pcez
Then that is the way to go.

Does his PC have a firewire port?

If not, they are a cheap PCI card that almost never needs special drivers -
the basic ones in the OS simply load and work automagically.

Yes that's got to be exactly it.

It is well known that trying to use the USB ports on DV video cameras that
have them is futile.

In contrast, the firewire ports are usually slam dunks.

If you got $$$, there's always a Firestore

--

Dave Jones
The VideoGuy



"Steve King" <steveSPAMBLOCK@stevekingSPAMBLOCK.net> wrote in message
news:ndCdnZmP9qsay5zVnZ2dnUVZ_vumnZ2d@comcast.com. ..

Thanks for the advice. My camera does indeed have a firewire port and
transfer is working just fine.

On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:19:13 -0700, "Richard Crowley"
<rcrowley@xp7rt.net> wrote:

mini-DV was the big deal and the typical home use camera was
in the US$500 to US$2000 price range the decks started at
US$1500.

Try putting the tapes in a current model mini-DV camcorder
with IEEE-1394a, install any drivers if needed, and use your
editing of the editing software that came with the camera.

You could probably get by for less money by buying a used
camera that is known to work for the purpose.

The point is the mini-DV decks have always been expensive
relative to mini-DV camcorders, so getting a camcorder is
likely to cost less than getting a tape deck.

"Mark F" <mark49607@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ki7k04hruam8o7js349qvcpc8e8pns2c1v@4ax.com...
| On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:19:13 -0700, "Richard Crowley"
| <rcrowley@xp7rt.net> wrote:
|
| > "engwar" wrote ...
| > > I have an older panasonic PV-GS70 digital video camera
| > > and, while the camera has worked fine for us, we've never
| > > been able to transfer video from it to our PC.
| >
| > How did you try? How did it fail?
| >
| > > I'd like to start editing some of our video.
| >
| > > I've installed the drivers multiple times
| Chances are that a tape deck will cost more than a camera. When
| mini-DV was the big deal and the typical home use camera was
| in the US$500 to US$2000 price range the decks started at
| US$1500.
|
| Try putting the tapes in a current model mini-DV camcorder
| with IEEE-1394a, install any drivers if needed, and use your
| editing of the editing software that came with the camera.
|
| You could probably get by for less money by buying a used
| camera that is known to work for the purpose.
|
| The point is the mini-DV decks have always been expensive
| relative to mini-DV camcorders, so getting a camcorder is
| likely to cost less than getting a tape deck.
| >
| > What drivers?
| > Most DV camcorders don't need any extra
| > drivers for transferring via Firewire.
| >
| > > but my PC (XP Pro) doesn't recognize the device.
| >
| > What does "doesn't recognize" mean? Exactly?
| > Note that the operating system itself doesn't
| > necessarily "recognize" the device. It is more likely
| > that the video capture application is what needs
| > to recognize the device.
| >
| > > Is anyone aware of some sort of 'tape-reader' device,
| > > like a flash card reader, that would allow me to insert
| > > a mini-DV tape and transfer the data to my hard drive?
| >
| > Your your camcorder is the most likely candidate.
| >
| > Note that there are many appliations that will grab
| > DV video from a camcorder via firewire. Some are
| > free (DVIO, Microsoft MovieMaker, etc.) Some are
| > very inexpensive (Scenalyzer Live, etc.) And most
| > video editing apliaitns (Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas,
| > etc.) also perform capture.
| >
| > What did you intend to do with your video once you
| > had captured it? Are you editing it online? What
| > application are you using to edit video? Does it
| > not contain a video capture function?

I love my Sony DSR-11 deck. It is a shame they have discontinued the model.
It doesn't have a few features that the higher end pro units do, but it is
robust. The rewind/fast forward time is very quick. Of course, I wouldn't
recommend spending the $1500+ for a home use.

Steve King

"Steve King" <steveSPAMBLOCK@stevekingSPAMBLOCK.net> wrote in message
news:n_OdnZVVo8jrs5fVnZ2dnUVZ_sOrnZ2d@comcast.com. ..

| > > Is anyone aware of some sort of 'tape-reader' device,
http://www.geeks.com:80/pix/2008/JVC.html

Luck;
Ken