Shoot one or more scenes using your digital camcorder. When you're finished, attach the camcorder to your PC by connecting the cable from the camera's output port to the computer's input port. These ports are usually USB or FireWire.
Turn on the camcorder and, if needed, rewind to the beginning of the video you want to capture.
Run the software for capturing the video. This example uses Windows Movie Maker, which shows tasks on the left and movie clips in the "Collection" box on the right.
Specify the video capture device by clicking on the "Tasks" button and choosing "Capture from Video Device." Choose the device from which to capture video. This example uses "Sony DV Device." Click the "Next" button to display the "Name" dialogue box.
Enter a name for the video and the folder in which to capture the video. This example uses the name "Landscapes" and stores the files in "My Videos." Click the "Next" button to display the "Video Setting" dialogue.
Set the video quality. This example uses "Best Quality for Video Playback on My Computer." Click the "Next" button to display the "Capture Method" dialogue.
Choose whether to capture the entire video automatically or to capture short clips manually. With the former, which is recommended, the computer creates a new clip each time it detects a scene change. With the latter, which offers more control, you have to start and stop the video for each clip you want to capture. Click the "Next" button to display the "Capture" dialogue and begin transferring the video.
Make sure the "Create Clips When Wizard Finishes" checkbox is enabled. If you're capturing the video automatically, wait until the transfer is complete. Otherwise, click the "Stop Capture" button to finish. (The program asks you to confirm the stop.) In either case, a dialogue box shows you the progress of the transfer as files are created and added to the "Collection" box.
Edit the clips as needed to create your movie.