How
to Hookup a Camcorder to TV, VCR, DVD
Recorder ––
Connecting
a Camcorder
| Analog or
digital; TV, VCR or DVD
recorder; even a computer, can all be connected to your camcorder. |
• Audio
Video Cables Connection Guide
Almost any camcorder can be connected to almost any TV however the video and audio quality may not be very good. Newer TV with
HDMI inputs and high-definition video resolution is not going to show an old 8mm tape too well on the screen. That being said
there are many ways to connect camcorders to TV, old or new. Hopefully you have an old TV that matches the time frame of your
camcorder. Old 8mm, VHS or VHS-C camcorders had RCA audio and video jacks to output to a TV with RCA inputs. Some SONY 8mm
camcorders even had a RCA to RF adapter to connect to a TV with only an RF antenna input. But if you only have a new TV with HDMI
inputs, you can buy a RCA to HDMI converter to connect.
RCA to HDMI converter will allow old camcorder to new TV hookup.
The newer camcorders had mini-HDMI output ports to connect to a newer TV with HDMI inputs.
Cable needed to connect analog camcorder to TV or VCR. (Mono audio) 3.5mm to RCA
Black RCA cable goes to white RCA audio input on TV. (next to yellow RCA input).
Cable needed to connect camcorder to TV or VCR (Stereo audio) 3.5mm to RCA
Yellow video, white audio (left), red audio (right)
Q: Can I play my camcorder recordings on a TV with only HDMI inputs?
A: Yes, just buy a RCA to HDMI adapter. Cost is low.
Typically these cables were supplied with the camcorder but if not available, buy online, not hard to find.
ANALOG CAMCORDERS - Hook Up
Most camcorders
are digital models, but if you have an analog
VHS-C or 8mm camcorder, your connection options are limited to RCA
audio/video cables from camcorder to TV or VCR, or in the case of
VHS-C, you could also use the adapter cassette in a VCR.
For hookup to
a computer you'll need an interface card in your computer with
composite audio/video inputs (yellow, white, red) or an S-Video input
if your camcorder has S-Video. You can connect a DVD recorder to your
VCR to copy your audio/video to a DVD or you can hookup the camcorder
directly to a DVD recorder using RCA composite cables to the DVD
Recorder RCA composite input jacks.
If your TV only has a single RF (antenna) input, you can use an RF Modulator to connect the camcorder to TV.
Transfer video tapes from analog camcorder to VCR. Record to VHS tapes.
The same connections apply to a DVD recorder to create a DVD from
camcorder tapes. Select proper input on the TV (channel 3 or 4) or Line
input.
Open the plastic door on the above camcorder to hookup RCA cables to the yellow video and black mono audio.
Connect the other ends of the cables to the matching TV RCA inputs. Select proper input on TV.
Insert tape into camcorder. Press play on the camcorder to play a tape to TV.
VHS-C camcorder such as the Panasonic models of the 1990s hookup to TV using RCA inputs. Select the proper input on TV using TV remote. Press Play on camcorder.
Also, you can capture camcorder video and audio to your computer using
a video capture card with RCA inputs and associated software. Then,
using software on the computer, you can burn a DVD if your computer has
a DVD burner.
Computer Video Capture Card with RCA
composite inputs
How
to Install pci card in computer
DIGITAL
CAMCORDERS - Hook Up
Canon Hard Disk Drive (HDD) High Definition camcorder
With digital camcorders such as the Mini-DV, Mini-DVD, HDD, and memory
card models, you have more options to hookup your camcorder. Often
digital camcorder manufacturers use a proprietary connector to hookup
camcorder to TV. The audio/video ports sometimes are combined into a
single jack.
In addition, the digital camcorders offer ports to connect
computers or DVD recorders. These include the Firewire or i.Link
IEEE-1394 digital video connection and the USB 2.0 Universal Serial Bus
connection. High Definition camcorders offer even more with component
video hookup and HDMI ports.
Camcorder connection to TV can use composite, component or HDMI hookup.
For High Def TV, use component video or HDMI. For a computer, use USB
2.0 connection.
Camcorder ports from left - USB, Firewire, Audio/Video (RCA composite).
The composite video (yellow) and the two audio channels (white and red)
use a single 1/8 inch plug to the camcorder while the other end of the
cable uses the standard RCA connectors.
Digital camcorder hookup to TV using Audio/Video cable typically
supplied with camcorder.
Proprietary connection combines cable hookup using
multi-pin connector
at camcorder end.
10 pin multi-connector on camcorder uses breakout cable to connect TV
HIGH
DEFINITION
As we enter the High-Definition era, we are seeing HD camcorders with
the HDMI port. High-Definition video at 720 or 1080 lines of horizontal
resolution can be played back on a HDTV using the HDMI port on both the
camcorder and the HDTV.
Camcorder with HDMI Out and i.Link connection.
Digital Camcorders often have the Mini-HDMI port. The cable you need is
typically not included with the camcorder. The cable has a standard
HDMI connector on the end for the HDTV and a Mini-HDMI connector on the
camcorder end.
HDMI cable with standard HDMI on top
and Mini-HDMI on bottom
Diagram shows camcorder connection to HDTV using the HDMI / Mini-HDMI
cable.
Camcorder to TV hookup using HDMI.
HDMI CABLE
The HDMI interface combines audio and video into a multi-pin connection
and carries the video and audio information in a digital form. Many
HDTV display panels offer HDMI input.
HDMI port on HDTV.
High Definition requires different cables than standard resolution
video seen in the past with VHS, 8mm etc. You need to use a 3 RCA
connector cable called component video or a HDMI cable in order to get
High-Definition. The component video cable has a green, red, and blue 3
connector configuration and looks very much like the yellow composite
video connector. However, component video is capable of carrying the
high definition video where the yellow composite video cable cannot.
Connecting
a digital camcorder to a DVD recorder using Firewire
 
Firewire or i.Link (Sony) is the connection to use to hookup a digital
camcorder to a DVD recorder. You can copy MiniDV tapes to recordable
DVD with a 4-pin camcorder connection.
i.Link/Firewire cable (4-pin to 4-pin)
Diagram shows camcorder to DVD recorder connection using Firewire.
Connect a TV to the DVD recorder so you can monitor the transfer from
the camcorder.
You can also use a Firewire connection to hookup a digital camcorder to
a PC or Mac computer.
The computer end will have a 6-pin Firewire hookup or a 4-pin. You need
the correct cable for your computer. You can edit your video on the
computer and then burn a DVD with the completed work. You can take out
unwanted scenes, rearrange sequences, add audio and more.
Camcorder
hook up to Computer using USB 2.0
Many modern digital camcorders use the USB 2.0 connection to hookup
camcorder to computer. Transfering audio/video recordings to a
computer's hard disk is as easy as plugging the small end of the USB
cable into the camcorder's USB port and the larger end of the USB cable
into the computer's USB port. Then using software on the computer, you
can transfer, edit, copy and send your recordings or make still images.
Today's operating systems often will recognize the camcorder connection
and activate a selection of options for you to copy
recordings to the
computer. Then you can burn a DVD or upload to the internet.
Sony camcorders and others usually ship with the software needed to
transfer your footage to a computer. Check the manufacturers website
for
the software if you need it. See the following link for information on
transfer of camcorder video to computer if Windows operating system is
newer than camcorder video capture software. You may need a software
driver.
Transfer
camcorder to PC - video capture under Windows.
Computer operating systems compatibility:
Windows PC can have compatibility issues with software used by
camcorders. Your digital camcorder ships with software which is usually
only compatible with the current, at that time, Windows PC software. As
Windows progresses over time from Windows 95 to Windows XP to Windows
Vista to Windows 7, 8, 10, your camcorder software to connect camcorder to
computer may have become outdated. This could be a reason to keep that
old PC. Otherwise your camcorder could become incompatible with the new
computer.
For example, a camcorder sold when Windows XP was current may not work
for a computer running Windows Vista or later. There may be a work-around.
Getting a driver (software) which works for the older Windows OS
installed in the newer Windows version may allow the camcorder software
to work under the newer Windows operating system. See the following
link for more information.
Camcorder
video capture
Copy
your VHS tapes to DVD using your laptop
and capture software
If
you have a laptop
computer, it probably has a DVD burner.
This means you can create DVDs from your videos using capture software
and a small video converter which plugs into your laptop's USB port.
You can use different software to capture your video and there are
several capture devices available which hookup to the USB port on a
laptop. If your laptop shows DVD-RW or says recordable on the drive, it
is most likely a DVD burner drive and can record on blank DVDs. See the
Honestech VHS to DVD 5.0 product from Amazon.com
Supports Windows 7 / Vista /
XP
• YouTube
video on the VHS to DVD
• Honestech.com
VHS to DVD 5.0 Deluxe
Save your home videos and photos onto Blu-ray Disc media without a PC.
From video tapes to digital images, the VBD-MA1 preserves your memories
quickly and easily. Record high-definition AVCHD video from your camera
or camcorder. Built-in slots accept multiple memory cards. Preview
videos and photos on the 2.7-inch LCD screen.
Sony
VBDMA1 DVDirect MA1 Multi-Function Blu-ray Disc/DVD Recorder
- Save
movies and photos to Blu-ray Disc or DVD without a PC
- Record
HD video from
Sony
AVCHD camcorders/cameras
- 2.7"
LCD screen
- Real-time
DVD
recording from
camcorder, VCR and DVR
- Connect
to computer
for use as
an external Blu-ray Disc writer
- Record
digital photos
as a
slideshow or for storage
- Record
up to 19 hours
of HD
video per disc
- USB
port for
connecting Sony
Handycam camcorders
- Records
from i.LINK
- Composite
video inputs
- Supports
Dolby Digital
2-channel and 5.1-channel surround sound
• Sony
Bluray/DVD recorder VBD-MA1
Select Canon VIXIA camcorders (HF R32 and HF R30) have
built-in Wi-Fi which allows you to transfer your video to a computer on
the same network such as your home
network.
• See
over 100 hookup
diagrams
Columbia ISA
Contact: columbiaisa@yahoo.com
• How
to choose a camcorder
• See
over 100 Hookup Diagrams
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