ditto all that has been said,
although i will add, yes use the Firewire as the standard, but make sure your importing an AVI file. your USB may be importing your file into a mpeg file with lower resolution and loosing frames as a part of your import.
also make sure you check your import settings so they import AVI. after importing to AVI and saving to folder, then import this file into your editing program. this should be the purest form to edit from.
if your software doesn’t do this, try WinDv, it is one of the best basic importers and interfaces nice with miniDV cameras. http://windv.mourek.cz/
best of luck
Tin Man
