Firewire to USB

[Dan Thompson]

If you have a PC with firewire you could upload to the PC, and then transfer to a USB flash drive unless the file is too big, in which case, transfer to an external hard drive connected via USB. Just a couple of quick options. Dan

[Chris Franklin]

Thanks. Right now, I don’t have a PC at my office – only laptops. I’ve been taking my drives home…transferring them to external hard drives via my PC and then bringing them back. I’m looking for something that will work with my laptop.

[Dan Thompson]

Sorry, I can’t think of anything right now. You need firewire and most laptops don’t offer them anymore, and if you can’t use an expansion card, you’re stuck unless someone else has another option. Dan

[Chris Franklin]

I wasn’t sure if someone knew of some kind of Canopus box or something that I could use. So far I haven’t found anything that looks like it would work.

[Angelo Mike]

I don’t know how readily available they are for laptops, but for desktops you can get a firewire card for about $10 and just plug it into your motherboard. Here’s some links for firewire cards for laptops.

https://www.google.com/search?q=firewire+card+for+laptop&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Ee9&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=mXcsT8_eG-iJsALj5NigDg&ved=0CIUBEK0E&biw=1440&bih=731

http://www.scenethroughglass.com

[Stephen Mann]

Does anyone know of a good way to convert firewire to USB?

Short Answer – no.

Medium Answer – Yes, it’s called a PC with a Firewire port.

Long Answer – Maybe. USB and Firewire use different protocols. USB is interrupt-driven – send a packet, receive an acknowledgement, send another packet. Firewire is DMA based. Tell the sender where the data goes and get out of the way.

Maybe this will work. I have absolutely NO experience with this, but another user tells me that it *does* capture Firewire into a USB port. If you get this, please report your experience back here for others.

https://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/uk/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Studio+MovieBox+Plus+version+12.htm

Here’s what the specs say:

Capture Options

Capture from DV, HDV and Digital8 camcorders or VCRs (requires a FireWire® port)
Capture from analog camcorders, 8 mm, HI 8, VHS, SVHS, VHS-C, SVHS-C, or VCRs (NTSC/PAL/SECAM). Requires DirectShow® compatible graphic board or TV tuner board with analog (Composite or S-Video) inputs
Import from AVCHD* camcorders (requires USB 2.0 and a UDF driver)

Output Options

Output to DV, HDV or Digital8 tape (requires camcorder with FireWire Input port and a PC with a DV/FireWire port)
Output to analog videotape (requires DirectShow compatible video device or video card with TV-output)
Output to Apple® iPod® and Sony® PSPâ„¢ formats*

Import Formats

Video: AVCHD*, DV, HDV, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DivX®*, MPEG-4*, 3GP(MPEG-4)*, WMV, Non-encrypted DVD titles*
Audio: MP3, MPA, WAV, AC3*
Graphic: BMP, GIF, JPG, PCX, PSD, TGA, TIF, WMF

Export Formats

Video CD (VCD) or S-VCD with optional CD burner (CD-R or CD-RW)
AVCHD*, Blu-ray BD*, HD-DVD*, DVD* disc with optional disc burner (incl. dual layer)
Apple iPod and Sony PSP compatible (MPEG-4) formats*
DV, HDV, AVI, DivX*, RealVideo® 8, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4*, Flash, 3GP*, WAV, MP3* files
Dolby® Digital 2 channel* and 5.1 channel** audio

Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com

[John Rofrano]

As Stephen said, there really is no way to do this. I’ve seen a few devices come on and off the market and they always get pulled because they never work.

The short answer is, you need to buy a laptop that has a firewire port (or CardBus slot so you can add one) if your workflow requires firewire; there is no substitute.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Joel Servetz]

Sony F Series laptops still have firewire. I think also ASUS but you should check before buying. I do all of my work on a very nice Sony F series laptop, capturing by firewire from a camcorder or usb from a card reader.

Joel Servetz
RGB Media Services, LLC
Sarasota, Fl
videobyjoel@aol.com
http://www.rgbmediaservices.com

[John Rofrano]

Yea, The Lenovo ThinkPad W520 & T420 laptops have firewire too.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Nigel O’neill]

1) Get a really cheap PC with a fire wire card or port.

2) Any chance you can swap your laptop for one with an XpressCard slot?

My system specs: Intel i7 970, 12GB RAM, ASUS P6T, Vegas Pro 10e (x32/x64), Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, Vegas Production Assistant 1.0, VASST Ultimate S Pro 4.1, Neat Video Pro 2.6