How to Import Video from a Camcorder into Your Computer Using Windows Movie Maker

You must import your video from your camcorder to your computer in order to upload your video to an online video sharing service like YouTube, Viddler, or Hulu.

You will use a video editing program like Windows Movie Maker* or Apple's iMovie as the tool to get your video from your camcorder into your computer.

On a Windows computer running the XP or Vista operating system Windows Movie Maker will already be installed on your computer at the factory.

If you are using a computer running the Windows 7 operating system Movie Maker may NOT be installed at the factory. This depends on the manufacturer's policies for pre installing free software. If Movie Maker is not installed you will need to go to a Microsoft download site and download and install the correct version of Movie Maker. To get to the correct download site use Google search and enter this key phrase: download windows movie maker.

After importing your video into your video editing program the program will automatically save the video as a media file on your computer. By default Windows Movie maker will save the video as a WMV or Windows Media Video file. The file will have a .wmv file extension at the end of the file as in spring_poppies.wmv. When viewing a WMV file, you may not see the file extension. This depends on how your windows folder view preferences are set up.

Once you have imported and saved your video as a WMV file you have two options.

  1. You may directly upload the unedited video exactly as it came out of the camera to a video sharing service like YouTube.
  2. You may elect to open the file in Windows Movie Maker and edit the file. You can perform an impressive range of editing tasks using Windows Movie maker including editing video clips for length, add transitions between clips like a fade or barn door effect, add text titles, add your own sound track and a lot more. After editing your video you will save it and then upload it to a video sharing service.

Regardless of the option you select you have to transfer the video to your computer and save it as a media file. This guide will lead you through that process using Windows Movie Maker.*

*This guide references and uses the screen shots and the process you will see and use when using the Windows video editing program Windows Movie Maker running on computers running the Windows XP operating system. When using a Windows Vista computer the screens may vary slightly however the process is substantially the same as on XP.

I. How to connect your Camera or Storage Card to a Computer

To transfer your video from your camera to your computer you will either use a cable or remove a storage card from your camera and plug it into a card reader on your computer or into a card reader attached to your computer's USB port (jack) with a USB cable.

Removable media storage card: there are many different media storage cards in use. Identify your card and determine if your computer's card reader or USB tethered card reader can read the card. If not talk with a computer store person about a USB or a USB adaptor that will allow your computer to read your camera's storage card using your USB port.

Cable connection: you will use either a USB cable or an IEEE1394 FireWire cable to connect the camera to the computer.

  1. USB connection: in most cases your camera will have a 4 pin mini-USB connector. Check your camera's manual for the type of USB connector your camera has.
  2. Your computer will have "regular" size (larger) USB connector ports.
  3. FireWire connection: If your camera did not come with a Firewire connector cable you will need to acquire one from a computer or electronics store like Best Buy or Radio Shack. Check your computer's documentation FIRST to determine if the IEEE1394 Firewire port on your computer is a 4 pin or 6 pin socket.
  4. Alternatively call the manufacturer, provide your computer's model number and ask them if the port is a 4 or 6 pin connection.
  5. Normally the camera connector is a mini 4 pin connector.
  6. Your Firewire cable will need to have the correct pin set up on each end.
  7. If you need to buy a cable be sure to take your camera with you. This will help you and the sales person match up the right cable.

II. How to Start The Video Transfer Process

  1. Connect the FireWire or USB cable to the camera and to the computer.
  2. If your camera stores files on a memory card remove the card from the camera.
  3. Start your computer and allow it to fully start up before turning on the camera or inserting a storage card into the computer's card reader.
  4. Storage card: if you are using a storage card plug the card into your computer's card reader.
  5. Cable Connection: turn the camera on and set the camera controls to the "Play" mode.
  6. After initiating steps 5 or 6 the Digital Video Device dialogue box will automatically open.
  7. By default the Capture Video using Windows Movie Maker option is selected. This is the correct selection.
  8. Click on the OK button. This action will open the Windows Movie Maker video editing program.

III. How to Process Video Using Windows Movie Maker

  1. After clicking on OK in the previous step the Video Capture Wizard's Captured Video File dialogue box will open.
  2. Enter a file name as shown in the next figure.
  3. ON a home computer the location to save your captured video will default to your My Video folder. Accept this default save location.
  4. If you prefer to designate an alternate folder as the save to location click on the Browse button and browse to the folder* you want to save the file to.

    *Video Tip: create the alternate folder in advance before you connect your camera or storage card to the computer.



  5. Click on the Next > button.

  6. The Video Setting dialog box will open next.
  7. Select the default Best quality for playback on my computer (recommended) option. Normally this is the default and will already be selected.




  8. Click on the Next > button

  9. The Capture Method dialog box will open next.



  10. Select Capture the entire tape automatically option. Normally this is the default setting.

  11. Click on the Next > button

  12. The DV Capture in Progress dialogue box will open. Three actions will happen while this dialogue box is open.

    1. If the tape needs to be rewound to the beginning of the tape the camera will automatically rewind.

    2. The camera to computer video capture process will automatically start and finish.

    3. Windows Movie Maker will automatically create and save the video file to the My Videos folder or any other folder you may have designated as the destination folder.

  13. If you want to stop the capture process at anytime just click on the Stop Capture button.



  14. Next navigate to your My Videos folder or another folder you designated as the file save destination folder and verify that the video file was saved to the correct location.

The file format will be a WMV or Windows Media Video and it will have the .wmv file extension. Please note that your Windows computer may be configured to NOT show the file extension at the end of the file name. Not to worry, it is there. WMV is a compatible format that you can successfully upload to YouTube and other video sharing services.

There are other YouTube compatible video file formats like MPG2, MPG4, AVI and MOV.

MOV video files are created by Apple's iMovie. YouTube will accept all of these formats. Check with other video sharing services before saving your video in one of these other formats to verify that the service will accept the format.

For a complete list of YouTube friendly video formats please review's Youtube's compatible file format documentation.

You are now ready to upload your unedited video or open the video in Movie Maker, edit it and then upload it after editing.

Upload Your Video

Go to your video sharing service's home page, log into your account and upload your video.

Updated 10/21/2009