topic Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port in Video Accessories

VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 19:17:13 GMT

I recently bought the item listed above on Ebay but my computer only has USB ports, not Firewire. Is there a cord that runs from the camera to a USB port - or some kind of adaptor - and, if so, could someone name the exact thing I should be looking for, please? Thank you.

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

shadowsports — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 19:41:29 GMT

Greetings,

Is your computer a laptop or a desktop?

Have a look at page 75

D120_NTSC_E.book

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

normadel — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 19:55:25 GMT

That's the way it was done back then. If you want to download videos from digital video camera old enough to have Firewire to a computer, Firewire is the only way.

That's the way it was done back then. The cameras had USB ports, only good for transferring still photos.

So you need a Firewire-equipped computer and software. Software is hard to find. Windows XP had it built-in. After that, Microsoft offered a package called Windows Essentials 2012. It had a movie maker app. I still have it.

Macs have other options.

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 20:54:13 GMT

it's an Apple desktop, 27", 2017

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

shadowsports — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 21:42:34 GMT

Normadel thanks for jumping in. @Howardthompson, Firewire is the way to transfer DV footage. I don't think there is a practical way to add this to your MAC. Cards can be added to desktops, PC or MAC, but not to iMAC Retina systems.

Also mentioned was the limited software options. I believe Premiere has dropped DV import. Davinci Resolve still supports DV and converted files to .MOV. There may be others, but what's available is limited.

This is going to get complicated quickly. Have you considered something more modern from a hardware standpoint?

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:53:02 GMT

thank you so much for your time and effort. I'm a total philistine when it comes to all things technical so this may be beyond my abilities. I appreciate your help, and will probably have to fire up my old computer with the firewire ports that's sitting in the basement. Hopefully that'll work!

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

kvbarkley — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:55:03 GMT

Do you have a thunderbolt port, there are FW to TB adapters.

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

normadel — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 04:08:01 GMT

What operating system does the old computer have?

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 14:53:37 GMT

not entirely sure. It's a hassle getting that set up to find out but it was bought around 2011, I think. Sorry for being so vague

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 14:58:36 GMT

yes, it does. Could you recommend a model that would work, pls?

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

kvbarkley — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 15:09:24 GMT

This has a lot of info:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250008282

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Stephen — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 15:13:09 GMT

Hello, Howardthompson!

The VIXIA HV20 was retired several years ago, so Canon does not officially support it, however, I actually have personal experience with Firewire, so I wanted to pop in and give my 2 cents.

The USB protocol back then was too slow to allow video to be transferred from camcorders to computers. For consistent reliability and quality, this model transports video from the camera using IEEE 1394 "Firewire." Firewire basically let you "dub" your Digital Video (DV) cassettes from your camcorder to your computer.

You might need more than one adapter to make this work on a modern computer. You want to go from Firewire or IEEE 1394 4-pin to Thunderbolt. A standard USB-C will not work.

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 15:15:44 GMT

thank you, Stephen

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

shadowsports — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 15:37:11 GMT

Greetings,

If the DV camera was purchased to transfer some old tapes, I suggest you cut your losses and send them to a transfer service. These people have the equipment. They are reasonably priced and offer quick turnaround.

If video is something you want to pursue, even casually, then investing in newer equipment as I alluded to earlier is a more cost-effective solution in the long run. 😉

Re: VIXIA HV20 How to connect to a USB port

Howardthompson — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 15:43:43 GMT

cheers, Rick, appreciate your help