Firewire card for capturing HDV

[triftis]

I received my HV20 last week and I am really excited.

I intend to use my HV20 for video editing but my PC has no firewire port.

I intend to buy a firewire expansion card. After a small investigation I realised that I can buy ports operating at various transfer rates (50, 100, 200, 400, 800 Mb/s)

What is the minimum transfer rate that the firewire port must support in order to transfer HDV video?

Does higher transfer rate port on the PC means less time to transfer the video from the HV20 to the hard drive?

[bluegrass]

I received my HV20 last week and I am really excited.

I intend to use my HV20 for video editing but my PC has no firewire port.

I intend to buy a firewire expansion card. After a small investigation I realised that I can buy ports operating at various transfer rates (50, 100, 200, 400, 800 Mb/s)

What is the minimum transfer rate that the firewire port must support in order to transfer HDV video?

Does higher transfer rate port on the PC means less time to transfer the video from the HV20 to the hard drive?

You bet. Higher transfer rate means less time in the capture mode. I can't answer whether the speed question but I would guess it's 400. I personally would get the 800. It will still work for the 400 firewire. I never heard of anything slower than 400. I thought that was the original speed when firewire first came out. If you have XP SP2, it's a piece of cake. Nothing to do but plug the card into you PC and your ready to go. You'll get a CD with the card but you most likely won't need it.

[triftis]

You bet. Higher transfer rate means less time in the capture mode. I can't answer whether the speed question but I would guess it's 400. I personally would get the 800. It will still work for the 400 firewire. I never heard of anything slower than 400. I thought that was the original speed when firewire first came out. If you have XP SP2, it's a piece of cake. Nothing to do but plug the card into you PC and your ready to go. You'll get a CD with the card but you most likely won't need it.

Thanks Bluegrass

[white_2kgt]

You bet. Higher transfer rate means less time in the capture mode.

How does that work? All I've ever been able to capture in is real time, I have 60min to capture, it takes 60 minutes, Firewire or USB. Can the HV20 capture faster than real time? If so HOW?

[Lunchbox]

There are two IEEE 1394 Firewire standards, 1394-A and 1394-B. A is 400mbps and B is 800mbps. The jacks are different shape and not compatible.

If you only need it for capturing video, that will be 1394-A. You can get 1394-B card but make sure the card has both types of port. The only reason to get 1394-B card is you want to connect to external storage device that has 1394-B connection. There're some external RAID enclosure drives that provide the B port connection.

For HDV or DV capturing, it takes only 25mbps connection. At that time that standard was invented, USB is still in it's infancy running at 11mbps. These days USB 2.0 runs at 480mbps (theorectically) but the DV standard is already established with firewire.

[Stefan_hv20]

...Higher transfer rate means less time in the capture mode. ...

Am I wrong here but isn't it real time capture? I mean, doesn't it take 60 minutes of capturing for 60 minutes of video on the camera?
I don't think this depends on the speed of the firewire card, wich is indeed 400mbps for most commonly used one's. (Type-A)

I have a HV20 (What else would I be here right???:hv20-smilie84:) and have the very cheapest Firewire card available (thought it cost me about 14 euro's) and the cam works more than fine with it. So why would I need a much more expensive one, or one with both type A and B plugs?

[Mal]

So why would I need a much more expensive one, or one with both type A and B plugs?

You don't.

[Domenico C]

I want to know, if there is any difference between capturing recorded footage form firewire or HDMI? I wont be capturing live streams. Does HDMI upconvert the recorded video from from HDV 1440×1080 to HD 1920 X 1080?
Would be much obliged for an answer.
DC.

[JoeInBH]

Everything I've seen suggests that if you are capturing a live stream over HDMI (something that very few people have the capability and/or inclination to do at this point), you will get HD 1920x1080.

[white_2kgt]

I received my HV20 last week and I am really excited.

I intend to use my HV20 for video editing but my PC has no firewire port.

I intend to buy a firewire expansion card. After a small investigation I realised that I can buy ports operating at various transfer rates (50, 100, 200, 400, 800 Mb/s)

What is the minimum transfer rate that the firewire port must support in order to transfer HDV video?

Does higher transfer rate port on the PC means less time to transfer the video from the HV20 to the hard drive?

Most 'modern' PC's have firewire built onto the mobo. What proc do you have? Editing HDV isn't something you are going to enjoy on a PC 2yrs or older...

[BarnOwl]

Well, not all modern pc's: It wasn't present in my Dell Dimension 9200.......
Fixed that with a 10 dollar firewire PCI card, works like a charm.

[Lunchbox]

I capture video with my laptop that has a built-in firewire port. It's a lengthy process to capture so it won't hold up my main computer.

[24Peter]

It's a lengthy process to capture so it won't hold up my main computer. This is true. For me, it's a time to review my footage. Makes editing quicker when I know what I've got.

[white_2kgt]

Well, not all modern pc's: It wasn't present in my Dell Dimension 9200.......
Fixed that with a 10 dollar firewire PCI card, works like a charm.

lol, looks like you came out ahead. That's a $26 (USD) option on the 9200. :hv20-smilie01: I bet there's a 1394 header on the mobo if you ever need that PCI slot back, just get an adapter for it. Then again, knowing dell they probably disable the jack if you don't pay them upfront.

I'm use to custom built PC's so I apologize.

[Morpheus]

Taky,

Does 1394-B transfer and edit video faster than A?
When you say both types of port on the PCI card, you meant both A and B ports?

Thanks in advance


There are two IEEE 1394 Firewire standards, 1394-A and 1394-B. A is 400mbps and B is 800mbps. The jacks are different shape and not compatible.

If you only need it for capturing video, that will be 1394-A. You can get 1394-B card but make sure the card has both types of port. The only reason to get 1394-B card is you want to connect to external storage device that has 1394-B connection. There're some external RAID enclosure drives that provide the B port connection.

For HDV or DV capturing, it takes only 25mbps connection. At that time that standard was invented, USB is still in it's infancy running at 11mbps. These days USB 2.0 runs at 480mbps (theorectically) but the DV standard is already established with firewire.

[Lunchbox]

It depends on which firewire card you get. The data transfer rate is faster for the B protocol BUT your tape hast or run faster to deliver the speed. Your camcorder is not equip to play in a faster speed so it's useless that way. Besides, the plug shape is different so there's no way you can capture with 1394-B.

If you have an external enclosure using 1394-B connection, with a RAID-1 set up, editing time is smoother.

Anyway, if you don't have any 1394-B device, stay away with it. Or you can get a B card since it will have the 1394-A port on it too. It's up to you.

[Halo]

Real time is real time :)