Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Ok, I just picked up a Canon XL 1. I know its an oldie but a goodie. The camera works great, but what I need to know, What is the best way to transfer the video to the computer without a firewire port. I have the cables that came with the camera. My computers no longer have a firewire port. Lenovo All In One.
Is the Dazzle capture device a reasonable option>
I don't have a lot of money in the camera, so if I have to spend a few dollars to make everything work, Its not a deal breaker.
Thanks fro any and all information.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Change your computer to "having a firewire port".

For about $15 you can get a firewire adaptor card from a computer parts store and then install it yourself.

Andrew

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Yeah Andrew, as I stated, I cant add a port on the Lenovo all in one computer, That would be too easy.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

The "Dazzle capture device" you mention is likely a composite to USB converter. You're actually losing a lot of quality doing this, since MiniDV is digital, and composite video is analog.

The easiest way is to get a computer with a FireWire port. I think all Macs with Thunderbolt ports can connect via FireWire with the right dongles. Tower PCs with spare PCIe slots can be outfitted with FireWire PCI cards.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

It be more cost effective to buy firewire card for his pc instead of buying a mac. Btw the party you missed was 20 years ago . ;-)

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

"Best way" and "without a Firewire port" are mutually exclusive. The analog outputs won't have nearly the quality of the digital connection. I keep a couple of older XP machines around just for this purpose.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

These days any old computer would be suitable for adding a firewire card to and will have enough sustained transfer speed to capture of digital copy of the footage.

Andrew

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Hi Dan,

More of the same: those USB / FireWire adapters really need to be avoided. Not only do they *not* work well, but the potential exists for them to fry the FireWire port on your XL1.

Your single best option is to acquire an older PC to which you can install a FireWire card, or one which already has FireWire on it. Older PCs are definitely not in demand and it should be relatively easy and inexpensive to get one that's suitable. You might even be able to scrounge one for free. Something from the era of 2002 to 2006 would do nicely.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Wow, talk about memory lane! I think I still have my old XL-1 remote laying around here if you need one.

Chris’ advice is spot on as usual. An older PC or Mac would fit the bill and probably cost next to nothing.

FWIW, even though it was not an HD camera, I loved the imagery of the XL-1.

Good luck!

-gb-

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Let me take a different tack and ask how much those minidv decks are going for these days? Or do those still attach via firewire to your machine (I never had one)?

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

I think any deck that reads those old tapes will also need a firewire port. I have an old Sony deck that I still use with a 2012 Mac Mini server. That computer has a firewire port, so it's easy. On any newer thunderbolt Mac, you can get an Apple firewire converter. I also have one of these and it works fine on my MacBook Air.

One thing about those firewire to thunderbolt converters though, mine gets REALLY hot when it's connected, even if no device is plugged into it. So you should probably unplug when not in use.

I'd also go with Chris' suggestion, you can probably find a friend or family member with an old PC or Mac in the closet that they would give or loan to you. Or, for that matter, just buy the Apple firewire converter and find any friend with a Mac, since it should be compatible. You could then transfer your tape on their computer and copy it to your own portable drive. Pretty sure that iMovie can still do that and it's included with every Mac.

Aside from that... IMO, you aren't "kinda late to the party", the party has been over for a long time. It will be an ongoing pain to use gear this old.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

WOW, good information. Thanks. I do have an older Sony Viso XP computer, and it does have a firewire port. Im going to set it up tonight. I am kinda a pack rat with that stuff, glad I didn't just throw it out. So when I get it set up, do I need to download software????

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Yes. Download a copy of HDVSplit and use that.

See https://www.videohelp.com/software/HDVSplit

Ignore the "beta" label as it's always been that. No point changing at this late stage. :-) The software works.

Andrew

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Did you mean a Sony VAIO XP? If so, that'll do nicely.

Re: Im kinda late to the party,,,,Canon XL 1
 

Something like this might work if your laptop has a pcmcia slot
https://www.neweggbusiness.com/produ...=9b-39-158-012
There maybe other brands available at a better pricepoint.