My question is I have the Sony firewire and my laptop has the little firewire that Sony gives you but my desktop (new) only has the larger firewire plug. How do you guys do it? I want the fastest way I can get or does it not matter if I use the USB since it renders in rteal time anyway?!...

Thanks

buy a cable!!!

To expand on that a little bit, you cannot use USB to capture (not download); it's not for streaming video from your FX7. USB is for file transfer only (like the stills you could shoot onto the Memory Stick on your cam). FW is the only way to capture streaming HDV video (well, there are other ways, but they are complicated and require much extra expensive hardware).

You are not downloading or rendering; those are separate and different processes. You are capturing. FW capture is in real time.

Most desktops have 6-pin FW; most laptops and devices have 4-pin. Your FX7 has 4-pin.

There are a variety of FW cables. You need a 4-pin to 6-pin to go to your desktop, and a 4-pin to 4-pin to go to your laptop. They are readily available everywhere, either online or in the real world.

Always make sure the devices at both ends of the FW are powered off before you plug either end in.

To expand on that a little bit, you cannot use USB to capture (not download); it's not for streaming video from your FX7. USB is for file transfer only (like the stills you could shoot onto the Memory Stick on your cam). FW is the only way to capture streaming HDV video (well, there are other ways, but they are complicated and require much extra expensive hardware).

You are not downloading or rendering; those are separate and different processes. You are capturing. FW capture is in real time.

Most desktops have 6-pin FW; most laptops and devices have 4-pin. Your FX7 has 4-pin.

There are a variety of FW cables. You need a 4-pin to 6-pin to go to your desktop, and a 4-pin to 4-pin to go to your laptop. They are readily available everywhere, either online or in the real world.

Always make sure the devices at both ends of the FW are powered off before you plug either end in.

Got it thanks Adam...........