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FireWire is the most common connection for transferring video from peripheral devices to a computer. Choosing the correct device, making proper connections, and configuring software are important for successful FireWire video capture. Consider the type of FireWire connection, compatibility with operating systems, and audiovisual connections. Configure video capture software and consider video compression and audio quality. Test the video capture before recording the entire video and ensure there is enough hard drive space and power for the device.
Because of its high data transfer speeds, FireWire® is the most common connection used to transfer video from peripheral devices, such as cameras, to a computer. Capturing the video to your computer, however, isn’t always as simple as plugging in your device and hitting the record button. For FireWire® video capture to work properly, you must purchase the correct device, make the proper audio-visual connections, and configure your computer and video capture software to record video in the correct format without interruption.
A variety of FireWire® video capture devices can be purchased. These include cameras with FireWire® connectors and FireWire® video interfaces, also called digital video converters. FireWire® cameras typically offer the ability to record live events to a memory card, digital videotape, or internal hard drive. Once recording is complete, the camera is connected to a computer so the video can be transferred for editing, compression, or creation of a digital versatile disc (DVD). FireWire® video interfaces are suitable for capturing real-time video from devices, such as televisions and video home system (VHS) players, that cannot be connected directly to a computer.
When selecting a device for FireWire® video capture, it is important to consider the type of connection — FireWire® 400 or FireWire® 800 — provided by the device. The device you use for FireWire® video capture should provide a compatible connection to your computer. Four- and six-pin connectors are used to connect FireWire® 400 devices, while FireWire® 800 devices use nine-pin connectors. FireWire® 800 is backwards compatible, so you can connect a FireWire® 800 device to a computer with a FireWire® 400 connector with an adapter.
An additional consideration when selecting a FireWire® video capture device is its compatibility with various operating systems. While some devices are compatible with major operating systems, others are not. Also, some digital camcorders save compressed video in special, brand-specific formats. For your computer to display video, specific video codecs are required. In some cases, these codecs are not compatible with the operating system running on the computer.
Before starting a video capture, you need to make the right audiovisual connections. When you connect a FireWire® camcorder to a computer, it is normal for audio to transfer without making any further connections. The same is not true for video interfaces. An appropriate audio cable is usually connected to the audio output of the source device and then to the audio input of the video interface. If the connection fails, audio will not be captured.
After you connect your FireWire® video capture device to your computer, your video capture software should be configured correctly. This typically requires the user to select the video source from a list of devices. Also, the user may need to specify frames per second (fps). The fps setting determines how many video frames are captured per second. Standard high quality settings include 24fps, 25fps and 30fps.
Additional settings to consider when capturing video over FireWire® include video compression and audio quality. When capturing live video, it’s generally a good idea to save the video in an uncompressed format. This allows you to choose the appropriate type of compression after the video has been edited without excessive video quality loss. The same idea applies to audio: capture it in a high-quality format, such as 16-bit, 44.1 kilohertz (kHz) sound, so it can be edited and then compressed.
To ensure that real-time video capture occurs without interruption, a test should be performed. This involves capturing a few seconds or minutes of video, saving it, and viewing it to evaluate its quality. This allows the person capturing the video to look for problems with the video settings and adjust them if necessary before capturing the entire video. Also, it’s important to verify that your computer has enough hard drive space to save the video and that your FireWire® video capture device has enough power. If the device has a built-in battery and is not powered through the FireWire® connection, it must be plugged into a constant power source, such as an outlet, to ensure that power is not lost during the capture.
