To capture video off your digital camera you need to connect it to the computer with a cable - usually called a Firewire.

Firewire is the standard for Apple computers and a firewire port is built into each one. Sony's calls its version of the same technology iLink. The two products are compatible.

Many Windows PC computers now come with a fireware port already installed, but in some cases you'll have to purchase a firewire card to insert into an expansion slot in your PC to create a firewire port.

To ensure that Premiere can communicate with your camera, its usually best to connect the camera before you start the Premiere. So if Premiere is open, quit the program by selecting File...Quit.

The firewire cable should have two different ends. The small end is a 4-pin connection, the big end is a 6-pin.

Connect the big end of the cable to the firewire port in the back of your computer. Then connect the small end to the firewire jack in your digital video camera.

On the Sony TRV900, the firewire jack is on the right front side of the camera under the gray flap. It's the jack for DV in/out and has an icon of an I next to it.

Then turn on the camera, setting it to VTR or playback mode, and put the mini-DV tape you want to capture video from into the camera.

When you launch Premiere it now will detect the camera and allow you to control playing of your mini-DV tape using your computer monitor, including selecting clips to capture.