Can Z1 record from PC using firewire cable? at DVinfo.net

Chris Hewitt · June 11th, 2009, 11:29 AM

Can the Z1 record from my PC using the firewire cable? The manual (page 98) suggests that you CAN under the heading "To import pictures from the computer to your camcorder."
No luck for me though.

Here's what I want to do...I have Flight Simulator running on the PC and I would like to capture the screen real-time movement. The PC isn't fast enough to use a software capture program without dropping tons of frames.
I need to capture at HDV resolution.

Using the Z1 would be ideal. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
By the way, I do have two pc's side by side if there was a way to feed one pc output to the other which could record it.

Greg Laves · June 11th, 2009, 08:53 PM

I know you can playback video from an edit system (e.g. Premier Pro, Vegas, etc.) into the Z1, but I don't know how you would do what you want to do from a non-editing program.

Boyd Ostroff · June 12th, 2009, 03:34 PM

Nope, firewire doesn't work like that with camcorders. It is used to exchange data with your editing software, not to capture screen activity.

If you have an LCD monitor you could just try filming the screen and see how that looks...

Chris Soucy · June 12th, 2009, 09:09 PM

If your graphics card has a secondary Component O/P and your Z1 has Component I/P you may be able to clone what appears on your main screen onto the Z1 that way.

I can do it with my Matrox Parhelia and Matrox PowerDesk software, not up with other makes of cards.

If your current card won't do it, a cheap second card with Component out can be configured to clone the primary screen via Windows.

CS

Robert M Wright · June 13th, 2009, 10:11 AM

A faster CPU is the most practical solution. You can get a quad core CPU, motherboard and memory for dang near $200 nowadays.

Chris Hewitt · June 15th, 2009, 01:42 PM

Thanks guys for your input, been away and just got back.
I'll check out the component idea but I'm pretty sure the Z1 has component out but not 'IN'.
I haven't got the camera to hand right now but will check it out an post back.

Adalberto Lopez · June 15th, 2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

I'll check out the component idea but I'm pretty sure the Z1 has component out but not 'IN'.

I think you will be able to. Try setting the camera to VCR mode and mess around with the IN/OUT settings in the menu. I used to do that a lot in high school with a Canon GL2 and a Sony VX2100...never got to try it on a Z1U.

Boyd Ostroff · June 25th, 2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adalberto Lopez

I used to do that a lot in high school with a Canon GL2 and a Sony VX2100...never got to try it on a Z1U.

Sorry, you are thinking of composite video, not component video. The GL2 and VX2100 do not support component video at all. On the Z1, component video is only available for output, not input. You can use composite video as you describe, but it will be low quality analog standard definition.

The only way to get high definition footage into the Z1 is to shoot it with the lens or capture it from your editing software via firewire.

Chris Hewitt · June 25th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Thanks Boyd, yes, I meant composite, not component.
Well, here's the bottom line. I've had to order the Hauppauge HD PVR High-Definition Video Recorder for £159 which will do what I want. Hopefully, it will arrive tomorrow and solve the problem.
Anyway, thanks for all your input, most appreciated.

June 11th, 2009, 11:29 AM	#1
Chris Hewitt Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Broadstairs,Kent, England Posts: 225	Can Z1 record from PC using firewire cable? Can the Z1 record from my PC using the firewire cable? The manual (page 98) suggests that you CAN under the heading "To import pictures from the computer to your camcorder." No luck for me though. Here's what I want to do...I have Flight Simulator running on the PC and I would like to capture the screen real-time movement. The PC isn't fast enough to use a software capture program without dropping tons of frames. I need to capture at HDV resolution. Using the Z1 would be ideal. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them. By the way, I do have two pc's side by side if there was a way to feed one pc output to the other which could record it.

June 12th, 2009, 09:09 PM	#4
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi Chris...... If your graphics card has a secondary Component O/P and your Z1 has Component I/P you may be able to clone what appears on your main screen onto the Z1 that way. I can do it with my Matrox Parhelia and Matrox PowerDesk software, not up with other makes of cards. If your current card won't do it, a cheap second card with Component out can be configured to clone the primary screen via Windows. CS

June 11th, 2009, 08:53 PM	#2
Greg Laves Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 640	I know you can playback video from an edit system (e.g. Premier Pro, Vegas, etc.) into the Z1, but I don't know how you would do what you want to do from a non-editing program.

June 12th, 2009, 03:34 PM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Nope, firewire doesn't work like that with camcorders. It is used to exchange data with your editing software, not to capture screen activity. If you have an LCD monitor you could just try filming the screen and see how that looks...

June 13th, 2009, 10:11 AM	#5
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	A faster CPU is the most practical solution. You can get a quad core CPU, motherboard and memory for dang near $200 nowadays.

June 15th, 2009, 01:42 PM	#6
Chris Hewitt Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Broadstairs,Kent, England Posts: 225	Thanks guys for your input, been away and just got back. I'll check out the component idea but I'm pretty sure the Z1 has component out but not 'IN'. I haven't got the camera to hand right now but will check it out an post back.

June 25th, 2009, 04:12 PM	#9
Chris Hewitt Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Broadstairs,Kent, England Posts: 225	Thanks Boyd, yes, I meant composite, not component. Well, here's the bottom line. I've had to order the Hauppauge HD PVR High-Definition Video Recorder for £159 which will do what I want. Hopefully, it will arrive tomorrow and solve the problem. Anyway, thanks for all your input, most appreciated.