How to Copy Videos To My Computer

Level of difficulty: Easy

Analog videos can be saved on the computer using the Microsoft Windows Movie Maker feature called digital video or DV pass-through. The said feature allows users to transfer videos from analog video cameras or VCRs to the computer by means of a DV camera to connect the devices to the computer. The DV-pass through is the best way to transfer the older footages from analog videotapes to a computer without having to install analog video capture cards or devices on the computer. Analog video formats include Hi-8, S-VHS and 8mm.

Materials Needed:
- Analog video camera or a VCR
- DV camera
- IEEE 1394 port
- Windows Movie Maker 2.1
- S-video cable
Step 1
The usage of Windows Movie Maker’s DV pass-through involves playing back videos from videotapes using a VCR or an analog video camera connected to a digital video camera that in turn is connected to the computer via an IEEE 1394 connection. This configuration enables the DV camera to convert videos from an analog to a digital format transferring digital videos to the computer. The video passing through the digital video camera to the computer is then captured using the Windows Movie Maker.
Step 2
In copying analog videos to the computer, make sure that the DV camera is capable of supporting the DV pass-through so that analog videos could be passed through the digital video camera and onto the computer. The manual of the DV camera would have to be consulted to check whether the model of the DV camera can support the DV pass-through.
Step 3
Upon verifying whether the DV pass-through is supported by the DV camera, the analog video to DV-out would have to be enabled. Capturing videos using the DV pass-through requires a connection between the analog and the DV camera. The DV camera is then connected to the computer using the port IEEE 1394.There are a number of configurations to choose from when connecting the analog video camera to the DV camera. The type of configuration employed may depend on whether a VCR or an analog video camera is utilized and the type of jacks on the analog camera.
Step 4
When the VCR or analog video camera being used has the S-video jack, the S-video connection is used to establish a connection between the DV camera and the VCR or analog video camera. The S-video cable is employed in the transfer of videos and the stereo RCA cable is utilized in the transfer of the video’s audio. In terms of the quality of the video captured, the S-video connection is better than the composite connection. When the analog VCR or video camera has stereo RCA and composite video type jacks, a composite video connection is employed in connecting the analog VCR or video camera to the DV camera.
Step 5
Upon establishing a connection between the appropriate video sources to the computer, videos can now be captured by means of the Video Capture Wizard in the application Windows Movie Maker.