Community Newsletter: Q&A: 6/30/06 Helpful advice for converting camcorder video to DVD
- 6/29/06 5:28 PM
Mac/iDVD etc
by raymondl - 7/1/06 9:18 AM In reply to: I Second the Mac Motion by pg7I've played with iDVD and I was more than impressed at how easy it was to create a professional looking DVD.
I have a bunch of PAL tapes as well as NTSC. I want to convert these to DVD.
What converter/adapter works well with the Mac?
TigerDirect has several (prices range from $50 to $500) but all refer to Windows as the OS required. The few Mac compatibles start at $300. I'm puzzled by this ...
Looking for suggestions/ideas on an adapter for the Mac that is reasonably priced (no more than $100).
Thanks
Try this, its cheap
by JustEdd - 10/27/06 1:02 PM In reply to: Mac/iDVD etc by raymondlI had quite a few 8mm video tapes and simply copied them to a stand alone DVD recorder, many people have these now. Then I put one of the DVD's in my iMAC G5 als and use DVDxDv to copy the segments of the DVDs I wanted to the iMAC. I can now use them in iMove and iDVD to piece together some nicely edited productions.
btw, I do not remember how much I paid for DVDxDV but think is was about 30 bucks. The version I have lets you preview the video OR the sound. They have a more expensive version that lets you preview both video AND sound at the same time.
This worked for me as I have no other use for a A/D converter process than these old 8mm tapes.
The conversion loss was not that noticeable since I was dealing with 8mm video which is only a bit better than VHS tape quality.
Good Luck!!!
Re: MAC if you have already buit in Firewire no need for MAC
by FrenchyHey - 7/2/06 11:12 AM In reply to: Another reason for a Mac by rwb2I agreed that if you start from scratch you might want to but a mac but if you already own a pc a lot of them already have the firewire already built in it.
I have made video on my PC directly to dvd since 96 and at that time MAC were not easy as today so can't talk about new MAC but PC has involved too and are easy to use especialy if you have bought PC that were already prebuilt with media capability in mind.
Go for MAC or PC is up to you but both are no brainer.
Michel
a-d convert to Mac
by aqueous - 7/13/06 8:35 AM In reply to: Another reason for a Mac by rwb2My problem is getting the analog VHS signal to the digital realm. Tried Moviebox, no luck, never gave an output you could look at. Tried using JVC miniDV camera as a converter --instructions say there is a digital output through the 1394 connection but it barely works --takes literally 10 minutes of run time to synch, so the first section of the VHS is unavailable. It is just black until then. (yes I waited that long!) And I would not call it really a ''synch'' although the picture is ok resolution when it settles for a moment. I contemplate buying a more expensive A-D converter before trying again but wonder why this is necessary when everyone else seems to have an easy time with less technology? I have a Mac G4 with Final Cut Express. I have edited for broadcast on this and now feel humbled by this home video issue. What am I doing wrong?
A video capture Card will do very well in you case also
by FrenchyHey - 7/13/06 1:43 PM In reply to: a-d convert to Mac by aqueousDid you ever look at AIW (All In Wonder) I have 9800 AGP but if you are PCI Express go in the upper echelon I capture directly from an analog VHS Cam to my video card and it work very well. Of course the better the quality the better the result and it is always better of course if you are digital to digital but in your case the easiest way would be that I think they are sill selling VHS mini casset adapter to VCR and from there you could send the analog signal to the capture card.
That is for me my solution and it work.
Michel
Further to previous suggestions
by bren2310 - 6/30/06 3:49 AM In reply to: 6/30/06 Helpful advice for converting camcorder video to DVD by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
To add to previous contributions, DVD-R works on about 95% of all known DVD players and is my preferred format.
For a more detailed analysis of digital media and much more besides I would recommend this site:
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdformats.htm
ratchet back to the ".com" if you can't see the menu.
Regards
Brendan Earley
Shoot and shoot and maybe practice and practice
by SpectateSwamp - 6/30/06 5:28 AM In reply to: 6/30/06 Helpful advice for converting camcorder video to DVD by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The most important part is what you capture. By far.
Practice with your camera beforehand.
Keep your clips short from 1 to 2 minutes.
That way you can skip any that arn't up to
par. Editing is quicker on smaller files.
Use the remote when using the tripod. That
eliminates the jigglies at beginning and
end when you hit the record button.
Move the camera lots, but slowly.
I often lift the tripod and camera way overhead
for some interesting angles. When walking in a
crowd. I sometimes hold the camera in my hand and
extend it over my head. People arn't as intimidated
by a camera that isn't pointed right at them.
Shoot lots and lots practice lots and lots
and the rest will be a snap
Quick note on DVD brands
by rhythmace1 - 6/30/06 5:32 AM In reply to: 6/30/06 Helpful advice for converting camcorder video to DVD by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
One caveat I would add to the advice to buy good DVDs is that the big name brands usually, but don't necessarily represent the best quality available. As a general rule they will be, but I have heard of some brands downgrading their production standards with the result that some previously reliable brands of blank media became of significantly poorer quality, with no easy way for the consumer to know.
I would still say to most people to simply stick to known brands, but to be really certain one should spend some time doing a bit of research; there are a few sites that test and review the various blank media extremely thoroughly. They check error rates etc, which gives a sliding scale indication of quality rather than an overly simplistic success/fail test.
The advantage of doing this, apart from ensuring that you are not paying a premium for sub-standard media with a brand name, is that you can identify a quality media from a less well-known brand, and buy a large quantity for a great price. Often these brands get their discs from the same manufacturer as the bigger names anyway.
DVD brands
by joelk42 - 6/30/06 8:44 AM In reply to: Quick note on DVD brands by rhythmace1I've had the best performance from Verbatim...more so than any other. I'm told this is the brand most DVD/CD mfgs use to test their equipment with before going to market. I'd also recommend recording at a speed lower than 8x. It will take longer but I found that they are more likely to play in older DVD players than not. I've even gone down to 4x to be sure. I agree with most everyone else that the DVD- format seems to be the most universal for replay of recorded media.
Site Address requested.
by nrjm1 - 10/27/06 9:19 AM In reply to: Quick note on DVD brands by rhythmace1You mentioned that there were sites that track production control for quality and assess quality of blank DVDs and CDs. Could you please identify the address of these sites.
Thank you.
Simple solution
by vwmark - 6/30/06 6:01 AM In reply to: 6/30/06 Helpful advice for converting camcorder video to DVD by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Many of the replies to Mark's question related to specifics of computer editing. Users who are new to making DVDs from camcorders may find these answers challenging.
My solution--get a standalone DVD recorder. Mine is Toshiba, but others work. I use my DVD recorder also as my DVD player, hooked up to my favorite TV. Make your master DVD by running a FireWire cable from the camcorder to the DVD recorder, follow the instructions (okay, they may be initially difficult to learn, but try, practice first with rewriteable DVD-RWs). Then, when you have finished ("finalized") your DVD, use your computer to make duplicates.
The downside is that standalone DVD recorders have very limited editing options, but they do allow you to create menus.
When I use my DVD recorder to copy family events, I plug in, press "record" as if it were a VCR, and walk away, come back in an hour, and it is done. No tying up my computer, no dropped frames, no freezing up. Beautiful copies. Life is short--why go through the headache of editing videos when you can copy them digitally and enjoy immediately?
Commendable solution
by irishsassilassi - 6/30/06 10:20 AM In reply to: Simple solution by vwmarkI could say that vwmark has it pretty easy. This solution is possibly the most painless solution, as i know it would be relatively easier to learn such a device than authoring software.
Although if you really want it to be good, actual DVD authoring is needed. Although it's not for the average every day computer user. But the results can be way better than a standalone DVD recorder, that is if you have the time and patience to learn it.
It is best to weigh the cost of a standalone DVD recorder and how much patience and time you have. Most busy people though will opt for the stand alone one.
Thanks for the info
by vwmark - 7/3/06 7:16 AM In reply to: Commendable solution by irishsassilassiI appreciate your point of view. I do hope to learn authoring some day, and that way can better decide whether to go with authoring or the standalone approach. I suggest that people who are new to DVD making of family events try the standalone method, because it really is painless (once you understand the somewhat complicated instruction manual). After some practice with standalone DVD recording, I think people should take a crack at authoring, due to the improved options.
DVD recording
by telli97 - 6/30/06 9:30 PM In reply to: Simple solution by vwmarkI totally agree. After many years of frustration with substandard and difficult PC video recording and editing(Nero), Firewire card installation etc. I gave up. With loads of family events(picnics, b'days, anniversaries, vacations etc on mini DV tapes, recorded on my old JVC digital camcorder piling up, I decided to get myself a JVC DVD recorder with buit-in 160GB HDD.
Life has been a breeze since then. Now I have neat stacks of DVDs (I use only DVD-) of transferred digital content and analog to digital converted content(from scores of VHS tapes).Editing has been easy too.
I strongly recommend going down this path if you will do a lot of recording.
Good luck!
Some areas of concern
by jimgilmer - 6/30/06 6:13 AM In reply to: 6/30/06 Helpful advice for converting camcorder video to DVD by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When purchasing hardware / software to accomplish such a task, be certain to make sure that your PC meets the specifications. Working with video on a PC can be a daunting task that requires, a suitable video card, lots of memory, and lots and lots of hard drive space. The spec's of your PC will ultimately determine if and how long it will take to complete your task. It could take several hours to render video effects/filters depending on the length of your video.
Be certain to give yourself ample time to complete the project. It usually takes longer than you think!!!
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