Hi! I have a Canon XL1s I haven't used in a million years, so I hope you can answer my question. We want to transfer footage to the computer using the camera as a deck. Our editing software is Windows Movie Maker -- yes, we're going ultra low rent, we're aware of that. How do I go about doing the transfer? Will WMM recognize video sent through the S-video cable? Will I need to do something else? Much thanks in advance!

-Anne

Use the firewire cable to connect the camera to the computer. Movie Maker should recognize it.

I don't think I have a firewire cable. What does it connect to?

the way to go is firewire...it connects to the firewire port on your computer. If you don't have a cable, staples/officemax carries them. If your computer doesn't have a firewire port, you wont be doing much editing.

As noted above, firewire is the preferred way to capture digital video and associated audio streams. You need to be sure you get a cable with the correct connector on each end. I have not used WMM, and have no info on your PC, so I don't know if it will recognize and capture from the XL1s on your PC. You might try search the forums here for any discussions on issues with WMM. I vaguely recall some folks discussing driver update issues at one time.

To use analog output from the camcorder (s-video or composite) you will need an appropriate analog capture card or device connected to the PC. There are many options available at a wide range of price points and quality - too many to list in a single post. The options range from a USB-connected break-out box, to a plug-in board, to being a built-in capability of the PC's graphics card. Many come with basic video editing software.

On getting a fire wire cable, you will probably need 6-pin to 4-pin cable, and costs range widely. You can pay from under $3 for a generic in a plastic bag to over $30 for a high end national brand name in a fancy blister pack, and for most folks the $3 will work fine.

At this point, if you want more focused suggestions please tell us about your PC. What make/model, processor and speed, how much memory, windows version, what ports it has, how many drives and size, etc.