How to Put a Camcorder Video on Computer

As more and more forms of physical media and recording devices become archaic, they slowly become incompatible with modern systems.

If you still remember the joy of your first ever camcorder, the first way you could record your own videos from the palm of your hand, you might want to be sure you preserve all that nostalgic footage sooner rather than later.

Camcorders were made from the tape era right the way through to the modern day (I checked, and yes you can buy a classic-style flip-screen camcorder! Just it's 4K resolution and internet enabled and the rest of it, because of course it is) so how you connect your camcorder might change depending on the model.

Follow the steps below to make sure you get the footage you want off your camcorder without ruining it or losing any.

What is a Camcorder?

For the initiated, a camcorder was (is) a type of video recording device. When phones didn't have cameras built in and you were going on holiday or at an event like a wedding, camcorders were vital for recording precious moments. For many, they were the very first way we could record our own footage for home videos, animations, puppet shows, you name it!

The most famous and iconic design is a palm-held unit with a strap around your hand. The other side there was a screen you could flip out to see the footage in real-time as you recorded.

Step 1: Identify Your Camera Output

Before you start thinking about buying adapters and converters, you need to check what cables and programs will be compatible!

If you know the make and model of the camcorder, usually written on the unit somewhere, you can look up what formats it records in and which connections are outputs.

Alternatively, you can physically examine the device and look for the output ports.

On a Hi8 system which will need conversion to work, the following ports may be available:

• S-Video: These are around 3.5mm sized, like an AUX port. If your camera has an output port this size, this is most likely a single line for video, called an "S-Video" line. Bear in mind that if you choose to use this connection, you'll only get video information. S-Video won't carry any audio.
• AV Out: AV is an abbreviation of Audio-Visual and so carries both the audio and the video at the same time. "Great!" I hear you say, "Let's just use that one". The issue is that many camcorders had proprietary cables for AV.
  
  

  They didn't have the space for a suite of RCA ports, and HDMI wasn't around yet, so they used a range of adapters and branded solutions that you only got when you first bought the camcorder.

  In some cases your AV port might be a firewire cable or even Mini Display Port, so you'll need either the cable that came with the device or an adapter. AV ports aren't one specific type, so try and identify them if just labelled "AV" using this list of AV port types.

• HDMI or USB: Modern camcorders may just have HDMI and USB outputs. You can simply plug these right from the camcorder into the monitor or computer, no adapters needed.

Step 2: Check the Input End

Once you have a cable coming from the Camcorder and carrying the video or AV out, you need somewhere to send it!

If your camera is modern enough for HDMI or USB then this is as easy as using the same HDMI ports you're used to for monitors, TVs and the like. USB ports can be found on the front and back of desktop computers, or the side of laptops.

If you're using an AV, RCA or S-Video output then you'll need a bit more elbow grease.

Computers don't come with these ports, so you'll need an adapter that can receive RCA and S-Video inputs and transfer them into the computer.

Using an RCA / S-Video to USB stick is the easiest way to achieve this, as your computer will already have USB.

Using a stick like show enables your camcorder to plug into the USB stick, and the USB stick plug into your computer. Then, the footage can be recorded while playing from the camcorder!

Step 3: Making a Recording or Transferring Files

Once again, if you have a modern camcorder with USB then you can transfer the files with a simple drag-and-drop in your file explorer on your PC.

However, if you are using HDMI or other audio-visual cables then you are only actually receiving a feed of audio and video direct from the camera in real time. This means the files and recordings on the camera aren't singular, movable objects.

Instead, you'll need to record the footage onto the computer, digitising it in the process.

If you launch OBS and connect the USB converter, it will display what the video camera is outputting. Then, you need to play the footage on the camcorder. This will show up in OBS.

Now, make a recording in OBS while leaving the camcorder running the footage. Once the footage is done, stop the recording in OBS.

You'll now have a recorded digital file on your PC which you can save, export, share, stream or copy as you like!

The original footage on the camcorder can be recorded over, deleted, or kept.

What's important to remember is that the recording you are making through your computer will decide the final format of the file. If you're using a VGB300 simple converter with the free OBS program, you can change between different recording types and outputs before you begin recording.

Also, since a new recording of the footage is being made, any errors that appear in playback will also be recorded.

Explore S-Video and RCA to USB Converters

We have a range of capture cards compatible with both RCA and S-Video, enabling you to connect a wide range of camcorders provided you have that all-important proprietary cable for your device, if it is a model that needs one.

Our collection on Daffodil will help you digitise your camcorder video on computer so you can flush the memory or tape over the old footage without losing anything!