Connect your video camera to your computer

Published: August 8, 2006 Microsoft

You've shot some video with your new digital video camera, and you want to import it into Windows Movie Maker so that you can edit it into a movie to share with your friends. Or, you've got hours of footage on old Hi-8 or VHS tapes that you want to edit and burn to a DVD for an upcoming family reunion. Either way, your first step is to connect your video camera to your computer.

The best way to connect your video camera to your computer depends on the type of camera you have. This list starts with the best option, so choose the first one that your video camera supports:

Tip

Tip: If you have an older video camera, such as a Hi-8, VHS, or VHS-C camera, you will need to connect using analog video (described near the bottom of this page).

i.Link (also known as FireWire or IEEE 1394). The easiest way to connect your digital video camera to your computer is by using an i.Link (also known as FireWire or IEEE 1394) cable. If you use an i.Link cable, Movie Maker can do all the work of rewinding your video tape and transferring it to your computer. If you don't have a FireWire port on your computer, and you plan to do a lot of video editing, then you should consider adding one. It's an easy and fast way to download video. You (or a professional at an electronics store) can install an i.Link adapter. To connect your camera to your computer, simply plug one end of the i.Link cable (included with your camera) into your video camera, and plug the other end into your computer.

iLink connection

iLink connection

USB. While more difficult and time-consuming to use than an i.Link connection, USB 2.0 will work with many digital video cameras. If you use a USB connection, you will need to manually rewind your tape using your camera, press the play button, and then begin capturing the video from Movie Maker. You can also use a USB connection to record live video from a webcam. To connect your camera to your computer, simply plug one end of the USB cable (included with your camera) into your video camera, and plug the other end into your computer. 

USB connection from camera

USB connection to computer

Memory Cards. Many digital video cameras can capture video and still images to memory cards. The easiest way to connect a memory card to your computer is to remove the memory card from your camera and insert it into a memory card reader attached to your computer. This is similar to transferring a file between two computers using a floppy disk.

Memory card

Memory card reader

Analog video. Older video cameras, such as Hi-8, VHS, or VHS-C video cameras, were not designed to connect to a computer. However, they can connect to a VCR or TV using analog video connections. Typically, these connections are with S-video or composite video cables. To connect this type of camera to your computer, use a video input adapter. USB video input adapters are the most convenient, but you can also buy internal cards for desktop computers. Then connect both the video and audio feeds from your camera to the video input adapter. If the video input adapter does not have an audio input port, connect the audio feed from your camera to your computer's line-in or microphone input. 

Video camera

Video input card

You can now store your videos on your computer so they will be ready for whatever you want to do with them. As with any important files, it's a good idea to make backup copies of your videos to keep them safe in case anything happens to your computer.

 

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