Animating with Stop Motion ProTM to be the first to establish "the" system, video manufacturers created a large number of formats and specialty connectors such as FireWire, i.LINK, and IEEE. These special cables required computers to also have these sockets and boards to take in the video information that used a large amount of data and storage space. Always turn cameras off when connecting to or disconnecting from a PC when using FireWire. This is important because the digital video (DV) connection can be damaged if the camera is on when unplugged. If you do not have a FireWire lead or connection on your PC, you can purchase one from any computer shop. Any generic FireWire card or PCIMA card (for laptops) should work. Chapter 2 shows the step-by-step process of using a DV camera with Stop Motion Pro. Can't We All Just Get Along? Although connections such as FireWire are still available and viable, a more common solution is to use what is called a USB connection. USB stands for universal serial bus and was developed to connect not only cameras but also printers, keyboards, mice, and other peripherals to the computer. The important thing is not the cable itself but the information it carries. In this respect, you need to find cameras that will have some type of digital output signal that can go through a USB or other connector to talk to the computer. I Don't Have a Digital Camera This is a common issue for schools and individuals who can't afford to keep up with current digital technology. You have a computer and your copy of Stop Motion Pro but just have Grandpa's old home video camera that shot in Hi 8 format. Fortunately, a solution is readily available in an inexpensive hardware device called the Stop Motion Pro Video Adapter Kit. Stop Motion Pro sells the SMP Video Adapter along with the software on its Amazon site. You can easily find it on the products page of filmingthefantastic.com. You simply install the software for the adapter on your computer and plug the older video outputs of your analog camera into the device and out come clean, crisp digital signals that go right into the computer's USB port to trans- port you into the 21st century where you can do old-time stop Figure 10.1 HereisanoldHi8camerathatwasdamagedinthe1994earthquake. motion using the high tech of Stop It can't record on tape anymore, but the camera output signal can still be used with Motion Pro. the SMP Video Adapter to shoot animation using Stop Motion Pro. 170