What's best? S-Video, RCA, IEEE1394

[George]

I'm using a WinXP(pro) PC with Windows Movie Maker, and connecting a Sony
digital camcorder, abt 3 yrs old. The PC has an ATI Radeon 9000pro
all-in-wonder multimedia card, and will soon have a IEEE1394 card/cable.

I wondered what differences are between all the connection options are, and
what's best for what?...

RCA. The camera can output to the three RCA plugs (wht, red, yellow), and
the ATI card can accept this. Is this analog output? It would be worst,
right? Still, if I hit "capture"...will it get the whole 1-hour movie into
the PC without a glitch?

S-VIDEO. The camera can output to S-Video and the ATI card can accept same.
Is this digital output? If can use this, why bother with IEEE1394? If I
hit "capture"...will it get the whole 1-hour movie into the PC without a
glitch?

IEEE 1394. This is best, right? Other than high speed, what's key
reason(s) to use this.

Thanks,
George

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

RCA is good quality.... and analog

S-video is better, but still analog

firewire is best... the only one of the 3 to get full digital video from a
digital camcorder... at the same quality as the tape
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 and Photo Story 3 website - http://www.papajohn.org
MM2 Tips and Tricks: http://www.simplydv.co.uk/simplyBB/viewtopic.php?t=4693
Online Newsletters: http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/PapaJohn/Index.aspx

 

[LVTravel]

Totally agree with PJ.

Plus with the S-video you also need to run the audio cables (Red & White)
for stereo from the camera to the sound input on the computer. With
IEEE1394 (Firewire or dLink for Sony) this is not needed.

Save your analog for VHS-computer conversions and leave digital to firewire.