Transfer your video footage onto a computer for editing.
Use a FireWire cable or USB 2.0 port on your computer to transfer video footage from your digital camcorder. Before getting started, check your digital camcorder to make certain that it also has a FireWire or USB 2.0 port on it. Additionally, your computer should have an internal video capture device installed on the motherboard. If not, you can use an external video capture device that connects to the USB port on your computer.
Instructions
1. Follow the installation instructions that came with your video capture device for connecting your digital camcorder to a FireWire or USB port on your computer. If the device came with a CD when you purchased it, make sure that the drivers are installed on your computer.
2. Press the power on button on your digital camcorder. Locate the beginning of the video footage that you want to transfer to your computer.
3. Open the video editing software program that you want to use to edit your video footage. If you have Windows Movie Maker installed on your computer, you can use the software's basic functions to edit your video. Press the "Start" button on your taskbar. Select "All Programs" and scroll down the menu listing until you see "Windows Movie Maker" and click on it to start the program.
4. Click the hyperlink "Capture from video device." Type a file name for your video footage in the "Enter a file name for your captured video" field. Click the "Next" button.
5. Tick the radio button next to the option "Digital device format (DV-AVI)" under "Select the settings you want to use to capture your video" pop-up window. Click the "Next" button.
6. Tick the radio button next to the option "Capture parts of the tape manually" under the "Capture Method" pop-up window. Make sure the check box for "Show preview during capture" is unchecked. Click the "Next" button.
7. Click the "Start Capture" button. When Windows Media Maker is finished capturing your video footage, click the "Stop Capture" button. Click the "Finish" button. You will see a progress bar showing that the video is being imported.
8. Disconnect the video capture device cable from your digital camcorder and computer after you are finished editing the video footage. If you have a firewall installed on your computer, you will need to shut down first before unplugging the cable.
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