Plugging in a bullet camera to your camcorder with av inputs, connecting a helmet cam to a camcorder

How to record from the DogCam Helmet cameras with a camcorder

This is the same principle for recording from any of our bullet cameras.

For the best recording experience we recommend using a digital camcorder, the type that take mini dv tapes. Other portable digital video recorders will also work, like the Iriver or the Archos range but the quality at high speeds with lots of motion going on does not match that of even a cheap camcorder.

Not all cam-corders have the ability to record from an external source. You need a camcorder with a/v inputs to be able to record from any of our cameras. This is sometimes known as "pass through".

An a/v input or "analog input" on a camcorder is not the same as DV in. The DV or firewire or the IEEE 1394 socket is for connecting to computers or other digital equipment. If your camera is not on this list then check it's manual just in case.

compatible camcorders with a/v inputs

Connecting to a camcorder

A/V input/output socket on a JVC Important: Even if your camcorder has a port like this labelled "av" it does not neccessarily mean it is an INPUT, check first.

The camcorders we are using in this guide have a/v analog inputs. The process for connecting a DogCam helmet camera to a camcorder is more or less the same no matter which model you are using.

Step 1 (assuming your camcorder is equipped with a/v inputs)

locate the a/v input on your camcorder, quite a few including these JVC's use the a/v output as the input as well. So the same lead that you would normally use to connect the cam-corder to your tv or vcr is used.

The three coloured connectors will plug into the DogCam and the 12v microphone.

Yellow = Video input
Red = Right sound channel
White = Left sound channel

You will need our microphone with it's amplified circuit and rca output to record sound. The reason for this is when the camcorder is switched to record from an external source it disables it's own on-board microphone. The normal mic input will not be active either.

Your camcorder will most likely have 2 audio input channels (left and right) If you use one mic then you will record on one channel only. There may be a seting on your cam-corder to play the channel you recorded on back to both left and right speakers. Or you can daisy chain the power connectors from 2 mics and record in strereo.

A JVC DX77 with it's own a/v cable

Put yellow plug from the camcorder into the video output on the DogCam or other camera. Connect the mic if you are using one to either the red or the white plug.

Connect a power supply (9-12v battery) to the microphone.
Connect the power output from the mic to the DogCam or other mini camera.

Once the battery is connected, the system is live!

Step 2

You now need to switch your camcorder into VCR mode. So it will record the image and sound from your bullet camera instead of it's in-built camera. With these JVC units (same as most others) you swicth the camcorder on into "play" mode. Then you press the menu button and scroll the menus until you find the relevant setting. If in doubt then check your cam-corder's manual. If you can no longer find it's manual then do a google search for the make and model or go to the manufacturers website and download it.

Switch the camcorder to record from it's analog a/v input

Once you have done this you should see the image on the lcd screen coming from the external camera, you might also experience feedback from the mic if the volume is turned up on the camcorder.

Step 3

Everything into position and ready to roll...hit record on the camcorder and tuck it safely away..and that's it. Go make an epic movie with professional looking action scenes right now!!

More pictures of a complete setup.

Click image to enlarge

On Sony camcorders with touch screen control.

Put the camcorder in to VCR or PLAY mode. Navigate to page 3 of the menu and press REC CTRL. You will find the record button in that menu.

Helmet cameras >how to.. >cam-corder connections

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