Sony DCR-PC350 User Manual

Computer Applications Guide

3-087-936-13(1)

Digital Video Camera Recorder

Read this first

• For camera operations, read the separate Camera Operations Guide supplied with your camcorder.

The supplied CD-ROM includes the following software. For Windows computer : Picture Package For Macintosh com puter : ImageMixer V C D 2

System requirement

For Windows users When viewing pictures recorded on a tape on a computer

• OS: Microsoft Windows 98SE, Windows

2000 Professiona l, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional

Standard i n stallation is requir e d. Operation is not assured if the above OS has been upgraded. You cannot hear sound if your computer is running Windows 98. You can only transfer and view still images.

• CPU: Intel Pentium III 500 MHz or faster

(800 MHz or faster recommended)

• Application: DirectX 9.0b or later (Thi s

product is based on Dir ectX technology. It is necessary to hav e D i rectX installed. ) Windows Media Player 7.0 or later Macromedia Flash Player 6.0 or later

• Sound system: 1 6 bit stereo sound card and

stereo speaker s

• Memory: 64 MB or more

• Hard disk:

Available memory required for installation: 200 MB or more Available free hard disk space recommended: 6 GB or more (depending on the size of the image files edited)

• Display: 4 MB VRAM video card, Minimum

800 × 600 dots, High col or (16 bit color, 65 000 colors), DirectDraw display driver capability (this product will not operate correctly at 800 × 600 dots or less, and 256 colors or less.)

• Others: USB port (this must be provided as

standard), DV Interface (IEEE1394, i.LINK) (to connect via an i.LINK cable), disc drive (You need a CD-R d rive to cr eate a Vi deo CD. For the compatible drive, visit the following URL:http://www.ppackage.com/)

When playing pictures recorded on a “Memory Stick” on a computer (only the models with a Memory Stick slot)

• OS: Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98SE,

Windows 2000 Professional, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional

Standard installation is required. Operation is not assured if the above OS has been upgraded.

• CPU: MMX Pentium 200 MHz or faster

• Application: Windows Media Player (this

must be installed to play back movies.)

• Others: USB port (this must be provided as

standard), disc drive

For Macintosh users

b Note

• When you connect your camcorder to a Macintosh computer using a USB cable, you cannot copy pictures recorded on a tape to the computer. To copy pictures, connect your camcorder to the compute r with an i.LINK cable and use the standard software in the OS.

When using ImageMixer VCD2

• OS: Mac OS X (v10.1.5 or later)

Standard installation is required.

• Application: QuickTime 4.0 or later (this must be installed to play back movies.)

• Others: USB port (this must be provided as standard), DV Interface (IEEE1394, i.LINK) (to connect via an i.LINK cable), disc drive

When only copying pictur es recorded on a “Memory Stick” on a computer (only the models with a Memory Stick slot)

• OS: Mac OS 9.1/9.2 or M ac OS X (v 10.0/v

10.1/v 10.2/v 10.3)

• Applications: Qui ckTime 3.0 or later (th i s must be installed to play back movies.)

• Others: USB port (this must be provided as standard), disc drive

About this manual

• The name of the power switch on the camcorder var ie s de pending on the model. To record on a tape : CAMERA-TAPE or CAMERA To play : PLAY/EDIT, PLAYER or VCR CAMERA-TAPE an d PLAY/EDIT are used in this manual. Refer to the separate Camera Operations Guide supplied with y our camcorder for details.

• The screens shown in this manual are from a Windows XP computer. The screens may vary depending on the OS.

On copyrights

Music works, sound recording or other third party musical contents you may acq uire from CDs, the Internet or other sources (the “Music Contents”) are the copyrighted work of the respective owner s thereof and are protec te d by copyright laws and other applicable laws of each country/region. Except to the extent expressly permitted by applic able laws, you ar e not permitted to use (including, without limitation, copying, modifying, reproducing, uploading, transmitting or placing to the external networ k accessible to the publ ic , transferring, distributing, lending, licensing, selling and publis hi ng) any of the Music Contents without obta i ni ng authorization or approval of the respective owners thereof. License of Picture Package by Sony Corporation woul d not be construed as conferring to you by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right to use the Music Contents.

• Roxio is a register ed trademark of Rox io , Inc.

• Toast is a trademark of Roxio, Inc.

• Macromedia and Macromedia Fla sh P l ayer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. in the United States and / or other countries.

• Pentium is a trademark or registered trademark of Inte l Corporation.

All other product names mentioned herein may be the trademark s or registered trademarks of their respective comp anies. Furthermore, “ and “

” are not mentioned in each case in th is

manual.

”

On trademarks

• Picture Pack age is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

• “Memory St ic k” and are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation.

• Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Media are either register ed trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

• Macintosh, iMac, Mac OS, iBook and Power Mac are trademarks of Apple Compute r I nc.

• QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks of A pple Computer, Inc.

Table of Contents

Read this first............................................................................................. 2

Connecting to a Windows computer

Introduction to editing pictures on a computer ........................................... 6

Features ......................................................................................................................6

Overview of the preparation .................................... ............ ............. ............ ............. ..7

Step 1: Installing the software on a computer............................................ 8

Step 2: Connecting your camcorder to a computer.................................. 10

Using the USB cable (supplied) when viewing pictures on a tape ............................11

Using the USB cable (supplied) when copying pictures on a “Memory Stick” ...........13

Using the i.LINK cable (optional) ...............................................................................15

Managing pictures on a Wi ndows computer

Copying, viewing and creating pictures.................................................... 17

Viewing video and pictures on your computer

– Picture Package Viewer ...................................................................................17

Creating an original video

– Picture Package Auto Video ............................................................................18

Creating an original slide show

– Picture Package Auto Slide ..............................................................................21

Saving the images on CD-R

– Picture Package CD Backup ............................................................................23

Creating a Video CD (Direct Access to Video CD Burn)

– Picture Package VCD Maker ...........................................................................24

Copying images for MEMORY MIX to a “Memory Stick” (only the models

with a Memory Stick slot) .................................................................................... 26

Connecting to a Macintosh c omputer

Connecting your camcorder to a computer.............................................. 28

Copying pictures recorded on a “Memory Stick”

(only the models with a Memory Stick slot)......................................... 29

Installing software on a computer ............................................................ 29

Other functions

Creating a DVD (Direct Access to “Click to DVD”)................................... 30

Connecting an analog VCR to the computer via your camcorder

— Digital convert function ................................................................... 33

Additional information

Troubleshooting ....................................................................................... 35

Index ........................................................................................................ 41

Connecting to a Windows computer

Introduction to editing pictures on a computer

Features

When installing the Picture Packag e f rom the supplied CD-ROM, you can mana ge still images and movies recorded on your camcorder as digital data on your computer along w ith several features.

Copying pictures from a “Memory Stick” automatically

You can easily transfer pictures recorded on a “Memory Stick” just by connecting your camcorder to the computer.

Creating your own original video

You can easily create original videos w ith added music and eff ect s using pictures recor ded on a tape as materials. Yo u can also create video CDs.

Creating your own slide show

You can select your favorites from pict ures imported from a “M emory Stick” and easi ly create your original slide show with added mus i c and effects.

Saving the images on CD-R

You can save pictures copied onto a com puter on a CD-R.

Connecting to a Windows computer

Overview of the preparation

Follow the steps below to complete the preparation.

On your computer (for the first time only)

Step 1: Installing th e software on a computer

CD-ROM (supplied)

Connecting to a Windows computer

On your camcorder

Step 2: Connecting your camcorder to a comput er

There are two ways to connect your camcord er to a com put er.

• Connecting wit h a USB cabl e (supplied)

• Connecting with an i.LINK cable (optional) See “Step 2: Connecting your camcor de r to a computer” (p. 10) for details.

* These il lustrations are of models with a Handycam Station.

For models with a Handycam Station, place your camcorder on the Handycam Station, then connect the Handycam Station to a computer. You canno t dir e ctly c onne c t your camcorder to the computer.

Connecting to a Windows computer

Now, start from Step1 !

Step 1: Installing the software on a computer

You need to install the software to your computer to have fun with your recorded still images and mo v i es . The install ation is required only for the first time. From the second time on, you onl y need to connect your camcorder and the computer.

For Windows 2000/Windows XP

Log on as Administrators for installation.

b Note

• Do not connect the USB cable (supplied) before

installing the software.

1 Turn on the co mputer.

Close down all applications runnin g on the computer before installing the software.

3 Click [Install].

4 Sel ect the language for installation,

then click [Next].

2 Place the supplied CD-ROM in the

disc drive of your com puter.

The installation screen appears.

If the screen does not appear

1 Double- cl ic k [ My Computer]. 2 Double-click [PICTUREPACKAGE]

(Disc drive)*.

* Drive names (such as (E:)) may vary

dependin g on the computer.

Connecting to a Windows computer

5 Click [Next].

6 Rea d [License Agreement], check [I

accept the terms of the license

agreement] when you agree, then click [Next].

7 Select where to save the software, then

click [Next].

8 Click [Install] on the [Ready to Install

the Program] screen.

The installat ion starts.

9 Make sure [Yes, I want to restart my

computer now.] is checked, then click [Finish].

Connecting to a Windows computer

The computer turns off once, then starts up again automatically (Restart). The short-cut icons for [Picture Package Menu] and [Picture Package Menu destination Folder] appear on the deskt op.

When DirectX 9.0b or later is not installed on the computer, follow the steps below to install DirectX 9.0b.

1 Read [License Agreement], then click

[Next].

,continued

Connecting to a Windows computer

2 Click [Next].

3 Click [Finish].

The computer restarts auto matically, t hen a short-cut icon for [Picture Package Menu] appears on the desktop.

10Remove the CD-ROM from the disc

drive of your computer.

Step 2: Connecting your camcorder to a computer

About connection

There are two ways to connect your camcorder to a computer: – USB cable (supplied) – i.LINK cable (optional)

Connecting with the USB cable (supplied)

This method is good for copying pictures and sound recorded on a tape to the computer, copying files fr om a “Memory Stick” to a computer, and co pying files to a “Memo ry Stick.”

• When connecting the camcorder to a computer with a USB ca ble (suppli ed), the computer an d camcorder must be recognized beforehand. Follow the steps below.

– Using the USB cable (s upplied) when

viewing pictures on a tape (p. 11)

– Using the USB cable (s upplied) when

copying pictures on a “Memory Stick” (p. 13)

If you have any questions about Picture Package

For details, refer to the operating instructions supplied on the CD-ROM supplied with your camcorder, or on- line help.

Connecting to a Windows computer

Connecting with an i.LINK cable (optional)

• This method is good for copying pictures and sound recorded on a tape. Image data is transferred with more precision than with a USB cable.

b Notes

• When you are using a USB cable or an i.LINK cable to connect your camcorder to a computer, make sure you insert the connector in the corre c t direction. If you insert the connector forcib ly, it ma y be damaged, and causes a malfunction of your camcorder.

• You cannot copy pictures from a “Memory Stick” to a computer with an i.LINK cable.

• You cannot connect with an i.LINK cable when you use Windows 98/Windows 98SE.

Using the USB cable (supplied) when viewing pictures on a tape

Before followin g t he pr ocedures below, ma ke sure you have installed Picture Package on your computer (p. 8).

to USB jack

USB cable (supplied)

to USB jack

b Notes

• Do not connect your camcorder to the computer at this point.

• The computer may not recognize the camcorder if you connect them wit h the USB cab le (supplied) before turning on your camcorder.

1 Turn on the computer.

Close down all applications running on the computer.

For Windows 2000/Windows XP

Log on as Administrators.

2 Prepare the power source for your

camcorder, then slide the POWER switch to select the PLAY/EDIT mode.

Use the supplied AC Adaptor as the power source. The name of the power switch on the camcorder vari es depending on the model.

pictures that your camcorder is seeing on the computer - USB Streaming.

3 Set [USB STREAM] in the menu

settings of your camcorder to on.

The procedure of the m enu settings varies depending on the model.

4 Connect the USB cable (supplied) to

the USB jack on the camcorder.

Connecting to a Windows computer

Fully insert.

The location of the USB j ack varies depending on the m odel. Refer to the separate Camera Opera ti ons Guide supplied with your camcorder for the location. For the model that is supplied with the Handycam Station, connect the USB cable to the USB jack on the H andycam Station, then set the USB ON/OFF switch to ON.

5 Connect the other end of the USB cable

to the USB jack on your computer.

It may take some time for the computer to recognize the camcorder when you connect the USB cable for the first time. Then [USB Streaming To ol ] starts up. If [Found New Hardware Wizard] appears, click [Cont i nue An ywa y] an d co mpl et e t he installation.

For Windows 2000/Windows XP

When the dialogue box prompting you to confirm the digital signature appears, select [Yes] if you use W indows 2000 or select [Continue Anyway] if you use Wind ow s XP.

z Tip

• Slide the POWER switch to selec t th e CAMERA-TAPE mode, and you can view

,continued

Connecting to a Windows computer

z Tip

• You can confirm the r e is no prob le m e ve n if

you select [Yes] or [Continue Anyway ] depending on the OS.

6 Click (Playback).

Make sure that the movie recorded on a tape is played back.

7 Make sure you hear the sound, then

click [Next].

adjusting the slider in the (-) direction makes the image quality lower.

b Note

• When you adjust the image quality, the picture and the sound break off for a moment.

Tip

• If the movie is not smooth, adjust the slider in the (-) direction.

9 Adjust the brightness, then click

[Next].

Adjusti ng the slider in the (+) direction makes the picture brighter, and adjusting the slider in the (-) direction makes the picture dark er.

b Note

• When you cannot hear the sound, select another device.

8 Adjust the image quality, then click

[Next].

Adjusting the slider in the (+) direction makes the image quality highe r and

Connecting to a Windows computer

10Click [Done].

[Picture Packag e M enu] starts up.

The settings from steps 7 to 9 are saved. From the second time on, [USB Streaming Tool] does not start up.

z Tip

• To adjust the image quality and brightne ss when connecting your camcorder to the computer after the second time, select [Start], [Programs ] ([All Programs] for Windows XP), [Picture Package], [Handycam Tools], and [USB Streaming Tool], then start up [USB Streaming Tool].

Using the USB cable (supplied) when copying pictures on a “Memory Stick”

b Notes

• Do not connect your camcorder to the computer at this point.

• The computer may not recognize the camcorder if you connect them with the USB cable (supplied) before turning on your camcorder.

1 Turn on the computer.

Close down all applications running on the computer.

For Windows 2000/Windows XP

Log on as Administ rators.

2 In sert a “Memory Stick” into your

camcorder.

Connecting to a Windows computer

When you connec t your camcorder and the computer, [Picture Package Menu] st ar ts up, then pictur es reco rded on a “Memory Stick” are automatically copied to the computer. Before following t he proc edur es bel ow, ma ke su re you have installed Picture Package on your computer (p. 8).

If your computer has a Memory Stick slot

Insert a “Memory Stick” on which pictures are recorde d into the Mem ory Stick sl ot on your computer. [Pict ur e Package Viewer] st arts up after pictures are automatically copied. You can skip the followi ng steps. To check whe re the images are stored on a “Memory Stic k, ” see page 14.

to USB jack

USB cable (supplied)

to USB jack

3 Prepare the power source for your

camcorder, then slide the POWER switch to select the PLAY/EDIT mode.

Use the supplied AC Adaptor as the power source. The name of th e power switch on the camcorder va ri es depending on the model.

4 Set [STD-USB] in the menu settings of

your camcorder to on.

The procedure of the m enu settings varies depending on the model.

5 Connect the USB cable (supplied) to

the USB jack on the camcorder.

6 Connect the other end of the USB cable

to the USB jack on your computer.

[USB MODE] appears on the LCD screen of your camcorder .

,continued

Connecting to a Windows computer

It may take some time for the computer to recognize the camcorder when you connect the USB cable for the first time. [Picture Package Menu] starts up, and pictures in a “Memo ry St ic k” are automatically copied to the computer.

After all the pictures are copied to the computer, [Pic tu re Package Viewer] starts up.

Documents] or [My Pictures] folder. Where pictures are saved v aries depending on the OS .

Pictures on a “Memory Stick”

The pictures ar e stored in t he [Removab le Disk] or [Sony MemoryS tick] folder dis played in [My Computer].

For Windows XP

The automatic playback wizard starts up at th e default setting. Follow the steps below to deactivate this setting. (From the second time on, you can skip th is procedure.)

1 Click [Settin gs] of [Picture P ackage

Menu].

2 Check [Do not automatically launch

Windows AutoPlay.] ( O nl y w he n using memory device under Windows XP).

3 Click [OK].

To change the Picture Package Menu settings

Click [Copy automatically] t [Settings] to change [Basic], [Copy], and [Delete]. Click [Restore default s] to return to the default setting.

To copy pictures to the computer without using Picture Package Menu

Double-click the [Removable Disk] or [ Sony MemoryStick] icon displayed in [My Computer]. Then, drag and drop a picture in the folder onto the hard disk drive of your computer.

On destination folders and file names

Pictures transferred to the computer using Picture Package Men u

The pictures are copied to the [Date] folders in the [Picture Package] created inside the [My

A Folder containing image files recorded

using other camcorders without the folder creation function (for playback only)

B Folder containing image files recorded

with your camcorder

When no new folders have been created, only [101MSDC F] is displayed.

C Folder containing movie data recorded

using other camcorders without the folder creation function (for playback only)

Folder File Meaning

101 MSDCF (up to 999 MSDCF)

ssss stands for any number between 0001 to

9999.

DSC0sss s.JPG

MOV0sss s.MPG

Still image file

Movie file

Connecting to a Windows computer

+ 30 hidden pages