Camcorders forum: Connect JVC Mini-DV camcorder to pc without firewire port

It solves many issues as well the USB quality issue. My JVC came with the USB cable and software but it only is used to demo how bad the video is when we use that.

If you are in the US, budget 10 to 20 bucks for the card and cable.

Bob

I have yet to find a working USB to Firewire "device". So here's an example PC-Card to add firewire. Check newegg.com too.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AFW-1430A&cat=CCD&cpc=CCDbsc (12.99 each)
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=E55218&cat=CBL is the cable for $1.99

Sorry but laptops push the price up a little. Be sure to see if your laptop takes PC-Cards.

Bob

Hello I think I have the same problem you had. I have a fairly new laptop but it has no firewire only usb 2.0. I cant find a cable to link it to my JVC camcorder mini dv, I am at a loss what did you do? Please help!

I am with JVC and we would like to help.

As a general rule, Mini DV tape camcorders use Firewire. If your computer does not have Firewire, then you can get an outboard Firewire capture device that connect via USB. Pinnacle is one company that makes a good one. It is called the Pinnacle Studio Movie Box Plus.

If you have a JVC camcorder with a Hard Drive, as a general rule, your camcorder will use a USB connection. For Windows computers, it is often easiest to use the CD-ROM software that JVC includes. For Apple customers, the JVC software is not necessary. Our camcorders work very well with Apple iMovie '08 and iMovie '09, as well as the most recent versions of Apple Final Cut Pro.

For additional information, please contact JVC customer relations at 1-800-252-5722.

there are lots of "GR-DVX" camcorders and no manuals available for download... but I got one here
http://www.retrevo.com/support/JVC-GR-DVX-Camcorders-manual/id/210ag008/t/2/

And yes, indeed, that camcorder's got no DV connector - but does have a "JLIP" connector which is no longer supported. Assuming the video was captured to the miniDV tape in SP mode, you *could* get a miniDV tape based camcorder or deck that does have a firewire port...

The other option is to get an "analog/digital converter". Use the analog AV-out RCA jacks you normally use to connect the camcorder to a TV, but instead of connecting to the TV, connect the camcorder to the A/D converter. Then the A/D converter connects to the computer. Depending on the converter, either USB or firewire is used to connect the converter to the computer. The video quality of the USB units is not so good - Roxio, Hauppage and Pinnacle Dazzle are examples The firewire converters can provide pretty good (Canopus ADVC55 at the low end) quality.

I did see that the manual's cover and the specification page 81 indicate the GR-DVX is a PAL video format. If you go with a miniDV tape based camcorder, be sure it is PAL. NTSC camcorders will not work with the PAL encoded video. As well, be sure the A/D converter can deal with PAL...

I have a JVC GRDL720U camcorder and have been trying to download video to a Mac and a Dell, but neither machine recognizes the camera. I used a firewire cable with the Mac, but my Dell is not equipped with a firewire port. Your assistance would be appreciated.

with Bob, would you care to expand on the Mac set up? Was the camcorder in "Play" mode? What application are you using on the Mac to import or capture the video. For than matter, what Macintosh (iMac, MacBook, etc...) are you using and which operating system is it running? Any detail on the firewire cable? Just want to be sure it is firewire and not USB. Is it 4-pin to 6-pin or 4-pin to 9-pin or 4-pin to 4-pin?

When you say the machine does not recognize the camcorder, what are you expecting the Mac to do that is "recognizes" the camcorder?

As for the Dell not having a 1394, port, some do, many don't. If the Dell has an available expansion slot, it is easy enough to add a firewire port... but we have no details about it, either. Operating system (and version) and model number would be a good start.

I can't get my camcorder to be recognized. I want to capture Mini DV tapes and transfer them to my laptop. All drivers have been updated. Not sure if I maybe have a bad cable. It this model meant to be used with a computer for transferring Mini DV tapes? Please advise, and thanks for your time.

--Jorgeocampo8

I'd try this again but on a machine with a known working firewire port. Then replace that dynex. The dynex firewire card looks to be a dud too many times.

1. What do you mean? I've never put a camcorder on a hard drive. Only movies from it.
2. Why can't you? What do you do and what happens?
3. Did you already try everything suggested in the 17 posts in this thread before yours? And what happened then?

Kees