Import video from a high-definition video (HDV) camera

Applies to: Home Premium, Ultimate.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

You can import video from a videotape in a high-definition digital video (HDV) camera to your computer by using Import Video. When you import video from a videotape in an HDV camera to your computer, the video on the tape is encoded into a high-definition video file and then saved to your computer's hard disk.

Your computer must be running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate to import video from a high-definition video camera to your computer using Import Video in Windows Vista.

For questions and answers related to importing video from an HDV camera, see Importing High-Definition Video: frequently asked questions.

To import the entire video from a videotape in an HDV camera

Make sure your HDV camera is connected to your computer using an IEEE 1394 connection, and then set the HDV camera to play recorded video (often labeled VTR, VCR, or Play on the camera).

Start Windows Movie Maker (click Start, click All Programs, and then click Windows Movie Maker).

On the File menu, click Import from Digital Video Camera.

In the Name box, type a name for the video file for the imported video.

Choose a location to save your video file from the Import to list, or click Browse to choose another location.

In the Format list, High Definition Video Device Format (MPEG) should be selected. Click Next.

Click Import the entire videotape to my computer (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.

The videotape will be rewound to the beginning, and the entire videotape will be imported to your computer.

The resulting imported high-definition video file is saved as a Microsoft Recorded TV Show file, which is an MPEG-2 video file with a .dvr-ms file name extension.

(Optional) If you want to stop importing video before the end of the videotape, click Stop, and then click Yes.

Click Finish.

The imported video is saved as a video file on your computer and appears in Windows Movie Maker.

Notes

You can also open Import Video using Windows Photo Gallery. With the HDV camera connected to your computer and turned on in playback mode, in Windows Photo Gallery, click File, click Import from Camera or Scanner, click your DV camera in the list of devices, and then click Import.
Some HDV cameras also allow you to connect to an analog device, such as a VCR or older analog video camera. The HDV camera converts the video from the analog source into digital video. To determine if your HDV camera has this analog-to-digital conversion functionality, check the documentation that came with your HDV camera or go to the camera manufacturer's website. For more information about how to use analog-to-digital conversion to import video from an analog VCR or video camera by using a DV camera and Import Video, see Import analog video to your computer by using a DV camera.

Import video from a high-definition video (HDV) camera

To import the entire video from a videotape in an HDV camera

See also