Get your recording onto your computer
For our camcorders and audio recorders. Takes about 10 minutes, plus copying time for long recordings.
Connect the SD card
Turn the camera off first, then use one of these:
- Your computer has an SD card slot: take the card out of the camera and push it in, label up.
- No slot: use a USB card reader. We lend them; ask for one when you pick up the kit.
- Or use the camera's USB cable (in the Sony kits): plug the camera into your computer and turn it on. If the camera asks, choose USB connect or computer.
The card shows up like a USB drive. Mac: in the Finder sidebar under Locations (often called “Untitled” or “NO NAME”). Windows: File Explorer → This PC.
Find your files
Open the card and follow the folders for your device:
| Device | Format | Where the files are |
|---|---|---|
| Canon Vixia (HF R800) | MP4 | DCIM → the numbered folder(s) inside → files ending .MP4 |
| AVCHD | PRIVATE → AVCHD → BDMV → STREAM → files ending .MTS | |
| Sony Handycam | MP4 | PRIVATE → M4ROOT → CLIP → files ending .MP4 |
| AVCHD | PRIVATE → AVCHD → BDMV → STREAM → files ending .MTS | |
| Zoom H2n audio recorder | Audio | STEREO (or 4CH) → FOLDER01, FOLDER02… → files ending .WAV or .MP3 |
On a Mac, AVCHD looks like a single file instead of a folder. Right-click it → Show Package Contents to see the .MTS videos. Or just copy the whole thing (step 3).
One long recording may be split into several files of about 4 GB each. That's normal; copy them all.
Copy (don't move) the files to your computer
- Make a new folder on your computer, e.g. “SERP 674 recording Oct 8”.
- Drag the video files (or the whole DCIM / PRIVATE folder if you're unsure) into it. Dragging copies; the originals stay on the card.
- Wait for copying to finish. An hour of HD video is roughly 5 to 10 GB, so make sure you have the space and give it a few minutes.
- Don't edit or play videos straight off the card; work from your copy.
Check that it plays
Open a copied file and skip through it, including the end.
.MTS won't open? Install the free VLC player (Mac and Windows). Mac QuickTime often can't play .MTS.
Save it somewhere safe
- Upload your copy to UA Box or your UA OneDrive so it isn't only on one laptop.
- Recordings of people (clients, children, students, interviewees) are sensitive. Keep them in your UA accounts, not personal Google Drive, Dropbox or phones, and follow your course or study's rules on sharing and deleting them.
- Big uploads are faster on campus Wi-Fi or a wired connection.
Clear the card, eject and return
- Once your copy plays and is backed up, delete your recordings from the card so the next borrower can't see them. Not sure? Tell us at return and we'll wipe it.
- Eject before unplugging. Mac: click ⏏ next to the card in Finder. Windows: right-click the drive → Eject.
- Put the card back in the camera and return the full kit (camera, card, charger, battery, cable, tripod).
Something not working?
- Card doesn't show up: push it in fully, try another USB port, or use the camera's USB cable instead.
- “Card is locked” / can't delete: slide the small switch on the side of the card up, away from “Lock”.
- Card looks empty: check you're in the right folder (step 2). If files truly are missing, stop using the card and bring it to us; don't format it.
- Still stuck? Bring the kit and your laptop to Room 109 (College of Education basement) and we'll walk you through it.