Connecting External Hard drive and Video Camera to laptop

Hello,

This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a quick
reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)

I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0 ports). I
also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire ports and 1 USB
2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and a 4-pin
Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would like to
transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So, the question is HOW
DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the Camcorder plug
into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to connect to the
Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire port and
use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop?
Please hurry...this is driving me crazy!

Wil.

Wilfred wrote:
> Hello,
>
> This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a
> quick reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
>
> I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0
> ports). I also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin
> Firewire ports and 1 USB
> 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and
> a 4-pin Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I
> would like to transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So,
> the question is HOW DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1)
> Should the Camcorder plug into the computer's Firewire port and then
> use a USB cable to connect to the Hard drive? Or 2) connect the
> Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire port and use the other
> firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop? Please
> hurry...this is driving me crazy!
>
> Wil.

My guess is 1) because you will need to use the PC's software to initiate
the copying process. The PC will then write to the hard disk (if you tell it
to).

PS. I'm jealous :-))

I have to use USB2 to read from camera and because the internal disk doesn't
have enough free space, I have to write to an MP3 player with a 40GB drive,
using USB2. If course not all of the 40 GB is available either, as it has
music, jpeg images and video on it.

--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au

Wilfred wrote:
> Hello,
>
> This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a quick
> reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
>
> I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0 ports). I
> also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire ports and 1 USB
> 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and a 4-pin
> Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would like to
> transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So, the question is HOW
> DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the Camcorder plug
> into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to connect to the
> Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire port and
> use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop?

Unless you are determined, for whatever reason to use Firewire for
everything, do the following:

Attach your drive to the computer using a USB port. Your computer now
has an additional drive, which, if everything is as it should be, will
show up in Windows Explorer, for example.

It is not possible to infer from your description whether the ports on
the camcorder are input or output. Firewire is more frequently (but not
exclusively)used to connect capture devices to the computer, so you
should probably try to use that. You can try to use USB (assuming it is
an output port) if you have problems when using the FW connection.

There is no reason for you to think in terms of connecting the devices
to each other. Just connect each one to the computer, independently.

bxf wrote:
> Wilfred wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a quick
> > reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
> >
> > I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0 ports). I
> > also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire ports and 1 USB
> > 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and a 4-pin
> > Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would like to
> > transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So, the question is HOW
> > DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the Camcorder plug
> > into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to connect to the
> > Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire port and
> > use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop?
>
> Unless you are determined, for whatever reason to use Firewire for
> everything, do the following:
>
> Attach your drive to the computer using a USB port. Your computer now
> has an additional drive, which, if everything is as it should be, will
> show up in Windows Explorer, for example.
>
> It is not possible to infer from your description whether the ports on
> the camcorder are input or output. Firewire is more frequently (but not
> exclusively)used to connect capture devices to the computer, so you
> should probably try to use that. You can try to use USB (assuming it is
> an output port) if you have problems when using the FW connection.
>
> There is no reason for you to think in terms of connecting the devices
> to each other. Just connect each one to the computer, independently.

I realize that it is almost meaningless to talk in terms of input or
output on a camcorder, as why would there be an input port? I made the
reference just in case the presence of both USB AND firewire had some
unknown significance. If they are both for the same purpose then you
should be able to use either one.

I would connect the firewire of the external hdd to the laptop,a dn then the
cancomrder also with firewire to the laptop. Fire wire is much better at
handling the data flow of dv-avi capture, with using usb2 you run the risk
of dropping frames.
When editing, thre is no reason to *have* to use firewire, as the editing
app does not have to work in real time, but with such large files, I'd also
suggest using firewire.

I always do this when editing away from my base.

Graham

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com


"bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
news:1130158455.890560.55510@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> bxf wrote:
>> Wilfred wrote:
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a
>> > quick
>> > reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
>> >
>> > I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0 ports).
>> > I
>> > also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire ports and
>> > 1 USB
>> > 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and a
>> > 4-pin
>> > Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would like to
>> > transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So, the question is
>> > HOW
>> > DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the Camcorder
>> > plug
>> > into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to connect
>> > to the
>> > Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire
>> > port and
>> > use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop?
>>
>> Unless you are determined, for whatever reason to use Firewire for
>> everything, do the following:
>>
>> Attach your drive to the computer using a USB port. Your computer now
>> has an additional drive, which, if everything is as it should be, will
>> show up in Windows Explorer, for example.
>>
>> It is not possible to infer from your description whether the ports on
>> the camcorder are input or output. Firewire is more frequently (but not
>> exclusively)used to connect capture devices to the computer, so you
>> should probably try to use that. You can try to use USB (assuming it is
>> an output port) if you have problems when using the FW connection.
>>
>> There is no reason for you to think in terms of connecting the devices
>> to each other. Just connect each one to the computer, independently.
>
> I realize that it is almost meaningless to talk in terms of input or
> output on a camcorder, as why would there be an input port? I made the
> reference just in case the presence of both USB AND firewire had some
> unknown significance. If they are both for the same purpose then you
> should be able to use either one.
>

Graham Hughes wrote:
> I would connect the firewire of the external hdd to the laptop,a dn then the
> cancomrder also with firewire to the laptop.

OP says laptop has only one firewire port.

I can't connect both Camcorder and HDD with Firewire, since my laptop only
has one firewire port. So, what would your suggestion be then, Graham? Please
let me know...

Wil.

"Graham Hughes" wrote:

> I would connect the firewire of the external hdd to the laptop,a dn then the
> cancomrder also with firewire to the laptop. Fire wire is much better at
> handling the data flow of dv-avi capture, with using usb2 you run the risk
> of dropping frames.
> When editing, thre is no reason to *have* to use firewire, as the editing
> app does not have to work in real time, but with such large files, I'd also
> suggest using firewire.
>
> I always do this when editing away from my base.
>
> Graham
>
> --
> Graham Hughes
> MVP Digital Media
> www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
> www.dvds2treasure.com
> www.simplydv.com
>
>
> "bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
> news:1130158455.890560.55510@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> >
> > bxf wrote:
> >> Wilfred wrote:
> >> > Hello,
> >> >
> >> > This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a
> >> > quick
> >> > reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
> >> >
> >> > I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0 ports).
> >> > I
> >> > also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire ports and
> >> > 1 USB
> >> > 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and a
> >> > 4-pin
> >> > Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would like to
> >> > transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So, the question is
> >> > HOW
> >> > DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the Camcorder
> >> > plug
> >> > into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to connect
> >> > to the
> >> > Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire
> >> > port and
> >> > use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop?
> >>
> >> Unless you are determined, for whatever reason to use Firewire for
> >> everything, do the following:
> >>
> >> Attach your drive to the computer using a USB port. Your computer now
> >> has an additional drive, which, if everything is as it should be, will
> >> show up in Windows Explorer, for example.
> >>
> >> It is not possible to infer from your description whether the ports on
> >> the camcorder are input or output. Firewire is more frequently (but not
> >> exclusively)used to connect capture devices to the computer, so you
> >> should probably try to use that. You can try to use USB (assuming it is
> >> an output port) if you have problems when using the FW connection.
> >>
> >> There is no reason for you to think in terms of connecting the devices
> >> to each other. Just connect each one to the computer, independently.
> >
> > I realize that it is almost meaningless to talk in terms of input or
> > output on a camcorder, as why would there be an input port? I made the
> > reference just in case the presence of both USB AND firewire had some
> > unknown significance. If they are both for the same purpose then you
> > should be able to use either one.
> >
>
>
>

THANKS TO ALL who responded...your input is highly appreciated!

Wil.

"Wilfred" wrote:

> Hello,
>
> This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like a quick
> reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
>
> I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0 ports). I
> also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire ports and 1 USB
> 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB and a 4-pin
> Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would like to
> transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So, the question is HOW
> DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the Camcorder plug
> into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to connect to the
> Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's firewire port and
> use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the laptop?
> Please hurry...this is driving me crazy!
>
> Wil.

Wil,
I replied early on in the thread and after reading other replies, I think
what I said is correct

1. Camcorder to laptop via firewire.
2. Laptop to External HDD via USB2.

This is identical to my setup except that I can't do 1. as my laptop doesn't
have a firewire port so I use USB2 which I am told is slower and runs the
risk of dropping frames. I don't think that the USB2 connection between
laptop and HDD should caase the same problem as the transfer *should* be
buffered - experts please correct me if I am wrong.

Of course, you need a program on the PC to do the transfer, but this came
with the camera, didn't it?
--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au

Wilfred wrote:
> I can't connect both Camcorder and HDD with Firewire, since my laptop
> only has one firewire port. So, what would your suggestion be then,
> Graham? Please let me know...
>
> Wil.
>
> "Graham Hughes" wrote:
>
>> I would connect the firewire of the external hdd to the laptop,a dn
>> then the cancomrder also with firewire to the laptop. Fire wire is
>> much better at handling the data flow of dv-avi capture, with using
>> usb2 you run the risk of dropping frames.
>> When editing, thre is no reason to *have* to use firewire, as the
>> editing app does not have to work in real time, but with such large
>> files, I'd also suggest using firewire.
>>
>> I always do this when editing away from my base.
>>
>> Graham
>>
>> --
>> Graham Hughes
>> MVP Digital Media
>> www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
>> www.dvds2treasure.com
>> www.simplydv.com
>>
>>
>> "bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
>> news:1130158455.890560.55510@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>>
>>> bxf wrote:
>>>> Wilfred wrote:
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would like
>>>>> a quick
>>>>> reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0
>>>>> ports). I
>>>>> also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire
>>>>> ports and 1 USB
>>>>> 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB
>>>>> and a 4-pin
>>>>> Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would
>>>>> like to transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So,
>>>>> the question is HOW
>>>>> DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the
>>>>> Camcorder plug
>>>>> into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to
>>>>> connect to the
>>>>> Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's
>>>>> firewire port and
>>>>> use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the
>>>>> laptop?
>>>>
>>>> Unless you are determined, for whatever reason to use Firewire for
>>>> everything, do the following:
>>>>
>>>> Attach your drive to the computer using a USB port. Your computer
>>>> now has an additional drive, which, if everything is as it should
>>>> be, will show up in Windows Explorer, for example.
>>>>
>>>> It is not possible to infer from your description whether the
>>>> ports on the camcorder are input or output. Firewire is more
>>>> frequently (but not exclusively)used to connect capture devices to
>>>> the computer, so you should probably try to use that. You can try
>>>> to use USB (assuming it is an output port) if you have problems
>>>> when using the FW connection.
>>>>
>>>> There is no reason for you to think in terms of connecting the
>>>> devices to each other. Just connect each one to the computer,
>>>> independently.
>>>
>>> I realize that it is almost meaningless to talk in terms of input or
>>> output on a camcorder, as why would there be an input port? I made
>>> the reference just in case the presence of both USB AND firewire
>>> had some unknown significance. If they are both for the same
>>> purpose then you should be able to use either one.

Triffic, Wil

This is how it worked for me too. 11GB for 55 minutes is about right. I got
13.3GB for 59 minutes.

Now comes the fun bits

Take care that you use the highest quality when outputting. Experts here say
MPEG2 is much better than MPEG1. I guess MPEG4 would be even better.
Unfortunately, my software didn't give me much choice, but I may find a
better package to do the job.

--
Keep having fun,
Trevor L.
Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au

Wilfred wrote:
> Hello Trevor,
>
> Thank you for both your timely responses, Sir! I just did what has
> been suggested (Firewire from Camcorder to Laptop and USB from Laptop
> to HDD) and it worked great! I don't think it dropped any frames and
> the nearly 55 minute video of my Choir's first half of our last
> concert was an 11 GB file! My first use of the HDD and this set up!
> Woo hoo!! Thanks to you and everybody else! Now for the second
> half and then the movie creation, followed by titles and chapters and
> then the DVD! Wow...I'm on a roll here woohoo! ;-) Good day to all...
>
> Wil.
>
> "Trevor L." wrote:
>
>> Wil,
>> I replied early on in the thread and after reading other replies, I
>> think what I said is correct
>>
>> 1. Camcorder to laptop via firewire.
>> 2. Laptop to External HDD via USB2.
>>
>> This is identical to my setup except that I can't do 1. as my laptop
>> doesn't have a firewire port so I use USB2 which I am told is slower
>> and runs the risk of dropping frames. I don't think that the USB2
>> connection between laptop and HDD should caase the same problem as
>> the transfer *should* be buffered - experts please correct me if I
>> am wrong.
>>
>> Of course, you need a program on the PC to do the transfer, but this
>> came with the camera, didn't it?
>> --
>> Cheers,
>> Trevor L.
>> Website: http://tandcl.homemail.com.au
>>
>> Wilfred wrote:
>>> I can't connect both Camcorder and HDD with Firewire, since my
>>> laptop only has one firewire port. So, what would your suggestion
>>> be then, Graham? Please let me know...
>>>
>>> Wil.
>>>
>>> "Graham Hughes" wrote:
>>>
>>>> I would connect the firewire of the external hdd to the laptop,a dn
>>>> then the cancomrder also with firewire to the laptop. Fire wire is
>>>> much better at handling the data flow of dv-avi capture, with using
>>>> usb2 you run the risk of dropping frames.
>>>> When editing, thre is no reason to *have* to use firewire, as the
>>>> editing app does not have to work in real time, but with such large
>>>> files, I'd also suggest using firewire.
>>>>
>>>> I always do this when editing away from my base.
>>>>
>>>> Graham
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Graham Hughes
>>>> MVP Digital Media
>>>> www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
>>>> www.dvds2treasure.com
>>>> www.simplydv.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "bxf" <bill@topman.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:1130158455.890560.55510@g43g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>>>>
>>>>> bxf wrote:
>>>>>> Wilfred wrote:
>>>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This may be a very simple question to many of you so I would
>>>>>>> like a quick
>>>>>>> reply, 'cause this is driving me nuts! ;-)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have a laptop with a 4-pin firewire port (ans several USB 2.0
>>>>>>> ports). I
>>>>>>> also have a Seagate 200 GB Hard drive with 2, 6-pin Firewire
>>>>>>> ports and 1 USB
>>>>>>> 2.0 port. Lastly I have a Sony Mini DV Camcorder which has a USB
>>>>>>> and a 4-pin
>>>>>>> Firewire port. I have all the cables for all the ports. I would
>>>>>>> like to transfer video from my Camcorder to my External HD. So,
>>>>>>> the question is HOW
>>>>>>> DO I CONNECT these three pieces of equipment? 1) Should the
>>>>>>> Camcorder plug
>>>>>>> into the computer's Firewire port and then use a USB cable to
>>>>>>> connect to the
>>>>>>> Hard drive? Or 2) connect the Camcorder to the Hard drive's
>>>>>>> firewire port and
>>>>>>> use the other firewire port on the hard drive to connect to the
>>>>>>> laptop?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unless you are determined, for whatever reason to use Firewire
>>>>>> for everything, do the following:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Attach your drive to the computer using a USB port. Your computer
>>>>>> now has an additional drive, which, if everything is as it should
>>>>>> be, will show up in Windows Explorer, for example.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It is not possible to infer from your description whether the
>>>>>> ports on the camcorder are input or output. Firewire is more
>>>>>> frequently (but not exclusively)used to connect capture devices
>>>>>> to the computer, so you should probably try to use that. You can
>>>>>> try to use USB (assuming it is an output port) if you have
>>>>>> problems when using the FW connection.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There is no reason for you to think in terms of connecting the
>>>>>> devices to each other. Just connect each one to the computer,
>>>>>> independently.
>>>>>
>>>>> I realize that it is almost meaningless to talk in terms of input
>>>>> or output on a camcorder, as why would there be an input port? I
>>>>> made the reference just in case the presence of both USB AND
>>>>> firewire had some unknown significance. If they are both for the
>>>>> same purpose then you should be able to use either one.