Transfering Optura 600 video to PC

Hi all,

I've been playing with MoviMaker and my Optura 600, but it is not working right. The video quality shows not bad but with noise sometimes. The sound quality has a lot of cracks. However, on the comcorder it plays fine and when I hook it up to my TV it is also fine. So I'm guessing it must be something with my PC or software.
My PC is a Pentium 4 1.9GB running Win XP Pro
768 of RAM
Now, I'm concern about the usb. I have a:
Iogear GIC251U - USB 2.0 PCI Card

I wonder if this is fine or not? It is USB 2. Do you guys have problems with that? Any suggestions??

Thanks,

Al

Al,

I was unable to get USB drivers to work with even my newest computer. Windows XP, Firewire, and Movie Maker work very well together. No driver needed. The cost of a firewire cable could save you lots of heartache.

Dan,

After 5 hours of pain I realized that FireWire is the only answer for Transfering digital video to PC. I read that the USB cable is usually bundle to transfer Pictures and that FireWire should be the way to go.

I'm thinking on buying this:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000DFZ66.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I'm going to need USB ports plus FireWire so I hope this works. I wonder why FireWire is better than USB 2.0??

Thanks Dan,

Al

Found the answer:

FireWire vs. USB 2.0
Question: Which is faster Hi-Speed USB 2.0 or FireWire?
Answer: In sustained throughput FireWire is faster than USB 2.0.

Question: If Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is a 480 Mbps interface and FireWire is a 400 Mbps interface, how can FireWire be faster?
Answer: Differences in the architecture of the two interfaces have a huge impact on the sustained throughput.


FireWire vs. USB 2.0 - Architecture
FireWire, uses a "Peer-to-Peer" architecture in which the peripherals are intelligent and can negotiate bus conflicts to determine which device can best control a data transfer


Hi-Speed USB 2.0 uses a "Master-Slave" architecture in which the computer handles all arbitration functions and dictates data flow to, from and between the attached peripherals (adding additional system overhead and resulting in slower data flow control)

FireWire vs. USB 2.0 Hard Drive Performance Comparison
Read and write tests to the same IDE hard drive connected using FireWire and then Hi-Speed USB 2.0 show:

Read Test:
5000 files (300 MB total) FireWire was 33% faster than USB 2.0
160 files (650MB total) FireWire was 70% faster than USB 2.0

Write Test:
5000 files (300 MB total) FireWire was 16% faster than USB 2.0
160 files (650MB total) FireWire was 48% faster than USB 2.0


http://www.usb-ware.com/firewire-vs-usb.htm

Al

Al,

Good find on the Firewire data. Proves the theory that there is nothing more hardware won't solve.