Totally beginning level -- Firewire Question

debbie wrote on 10/25/2006, 8:12 AM
Hi,
This is so embarassing, but I need to know!!!

I want to get Vegas Movie Studio 7 + DVD Platinum and use it with a digital video camcorder with my elementary and middle school students to film student "commercials" and then edit them with Vegas and create DVD's.

I was emailing another teacher in the gifted program who also wants to get a camcorder and she brought up firewire cards and cords. I have a cable that I used to connect my old personal camcorder to a different computer and I'm pretty sure that this is a firewire cable, but what about the card? How will I tell if I have one in the computer that I want to use for editing?

I know that this is terriby simple stuff for all of you because you know it, but please help me get the right "stuff" for this project.

Thanks,
Debbie

Comments

rchristiejr wrote on 10/25/2006, 8:23 AM
Debbie, we all have increased in knowledge over the years. You will do the same.

The cord you have could be a USB cable as well. USB is another file transfer method but it is slower than firewire designated by IEEE 1394.

For fast transfer you would need a firewire port on the camcorder, a firewire cable and a firewire connector on the PC. The firewire port on the PC could already be built in, or you may need to purchase a firewire card if it doesnt. You already have the concept of transferring the video from the camera to the computer. You are well on your way.

If unclear about what cable you have, do an image search for firewire cable on yahho or google. Then visit your local computer store for additional assistance.

You can do this! : )
debbie wrote on 10/25/2006, 9:18 AM
So how will I know if the computer already has a firewire card? Is there something I can click on to find out????? This is important because I'm spending grant money on this project and I need to get everything at the same time.

Thanks for the encouragement, too!
IanG wrote on 10/25/2006, 9:27 AM
It's probably best to start with your cable. If it's for USB it'll have the USB symbol on it - there's a picture here. That should be unambiguous and you can eliminate it if it's wrong. A firewire cable for a camera will have different plugs at each end that look like these, though the larger one may be a different colour (mine's black).

Assuming you've got the right cable, you're now looking for a pc socket that fits the larger plug. Switch your PC OFF before you try this - it shouldn't be possible to put a plug in the wrong socket, but you might just manage to short something out! Another word of warning, I've seen PCs with firewire sockets built into the case, but no card installed! The easy way to check, and probably the first thing you should do now that I think of it, is go into Control Panel / System / Hardware / Device Manager and look for "IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers". If that's there it should expand to tell you there's some sort of OHCI compliant card installed - you've got the right card and you just need to find the socket. If there isn't one then you'll need to go shopping. Fortunately, they're quite cheap - probably less than $30. I don't think there's any reason to prefer one over another, just so long as it's OHCI compliant!

Ian G.
debbie wrote on 10/25/2006, 9:54 AM
Thanks for your incredibly clear and helpful directions and pictures!
I've checked all three computers in my classroom here and unfortunately, the one with the DVD writer does not have the IEE 1394 card.

I teach at 2 different schools, so I'll check the other school's computers tomorrow!

What would you suggest? Are firewire cards expensive? What kind?

Can I use the same cable on two different computers?

One of the other computers does have a IEEE1394 card. That computer is a Dell 340 workstation that we used to make an animated movie from still pictures several years ago. That's the computer that I used the cable from the computer to my personal camcorder because I had to create a tape of the movie for someone to put it online. I'm living proof that Vegas is idiot proof (or almost!!)

Thanks,
Debbie
IanG wrote on 10/25/2006, 10:06 AM
So long as the card's OHCI compliant it doesn't realy matter what you get. It's just a guess, since I'm in the UK, but I'd expect them to be less than $30.

The sockets are standard, so you can use the same cable with any computer with a firewire card. If you're feeling creative (or larcenous, depending on your point of view) maybe you could use the card from the Dell? Before you buy a card, make sure you've got a spare slot for it on your motherboard!

Good luck!

Ian G.
debbie wrote on 10/25/2006, 10:23 AM
How funny!! Can you imagine just how big a mess I'd make of it if I tried to move a card??? I'm not above being larcenous and I love creativity, but I really don't know what I'm doing! However, I think that the school board computer wizards would have a stroke about that!!

OK, how do I tell if I have an empty slot? or should I just contact the wizards and ask them to come open the computer up?

I hope that you're not too busy to answer.
IanG wrote on 10/25/2006, 10:48 AM
The only way to be sure is to open up the cabinet! There are too many possible cabinet designs for me to give any clear directions, and even then you'd only know if there weren't any free slots. It's time to summon the wizards!

Ian G.
DKomp wrote on 10/25/2006, 2:49 PM
I agree. Just choose the computer that's most conveient for your needs, then corral a teenager at your school to open the machine and see what's needed -- sounds like it will either be a Firewire card or a DVD burner, depending. Both are easy installs (for teenagers) and not that expensive (for adults). Vegas is perfect for shorter, image-rich projects; your students will have a blast.
debbie wrote on 10/25/2006, 7:49 PM
I love this forum!!!

My husband said that we could just "go buy the card" and he could tell me how to put it in! But he isn't familiar with the computer wizards who jealously guard these machines! I'm going to call the computer wizards tomorrow.

Sometimes life would be easier without the rules.

Thanks for your help!!! I'm sure that I'll rely on you all again!

Debbie
ConvivialCreator wrote on 2/3/2007, 3:04 PM
"But he isn't familiar with the computer wizards who jealously guard these machines! I'm going to call the computer wizards tomorrow."

Speaking as one of the school computer wizards out in the world trying to keep school computer up and running I'm glad to see you resorted to asking for district help. I hope you found a helpful person. Unfortuately many school techs don't know what is needed for dv editing, however in our district every emplyee has a signed policy that they won't mess with the hardware or add software with out permission. So don't do it without asking first.

That said, we added a card to one of our school computers (a Dell) and it slipped right in and works great.