Hi people, I have just take some importance occassion on a video camera and intend to convert it into computer format so that I can burn on a cd! May I know what I need to make this success?

I am also concern with some of my videos on my wedding occasion on tape and intend to convert this historic moment into a disc to be able to read on any computer or any player! Any idea?

I know I need to use software like pinacle studio but how about the hardware and wireling?

Regards
Chris Foo

You will need a firewire card and cable - the firewire card and cable will permit you to control your camcorder via your PC when downloading and saving your video footage.

Another program to consider is Nero v6/7. Nero Digital Video Express (in the suite) is extremely easy to use and will capture your footage, allow you to edit it, add music/speech and then burn the DVD for you. I suggest you burn to DVD rather than CD since the end result is better.

Although I am a PC user this is one thing that can be done better with a MAC. I just saw a friends vacation video produced by another of his friends. Almost 2 hours on a DVD with a no visible glitches. Clean transitions, almost no jerkiness, music mixed to match the locations, subtitles with the dates and locations. Credits, small amount of special effects, everything that a professional travelog would have. That was the best amateur production I have seen. The only problem is that it took almost 2.5 months of part time work to do.
To answer your question. The only output that would be playable on both computer and player is DVD. The next problem is getting the video into the computer. If you have a DV camcorder that has firewire then that will be the best method to transfer the video. If the video is on VHS or 8mm then you will need a video capture card. When you transfer the video select a high quality mode of saving. This may take in excess of a gigabyte of disk space per minute of unedited footage. Double the amount of disk space for editing and rendering the final. The cheaper software that comes with the burning software will be barely adequate to produce a final product. I have no recommendation, although I have earlier versions of both pinacle capture boards as well as adobe premiere software, I haven't had the occasion to use them.

Hi Ray Peate, can you tell me what is a firewire card and cable? I have never seen this stuff before just heard about it! It seem to me whenever I went into a computer I never seen a hardware box bearing the name firewire!! Is the cable include with the firewire?

Hi wizard-fred, indeed I have think of video capture card but I never think of the amount of size is that big! How to make them smaller? The video should be approximate one hour video and I estimate it to be around 365+MB for such video in avi format!

Regards
Chris Foo

A Firewire connection will provide the ability to use the camera's controls directly on the PC where USB won't but USB2 is every bit as fast as Firewire. The cables are cheaper too.

The above is applicable to a Digital Video camera. If you have an Analog camera then you will need some method to convert the the output signal to Digital; as noted, via a capture card or a hardware analog to digital converter device.

Pinnacle does provide good editing software with the capture card.

The editing portion does consume large amounts of time but it provides interesting output rather than just a boring home video. Just adding the right background music can turn a boring video into an interesting archive worth viewing and sharing.

A video capture card will run you ~$100+ US as will an analog to digital converter.

DVD is most certainly the better medium to use rather than CD (SVCD format). It's higher quality and fuller screen.

If you don't have what you need now and must invest then consider how many videos you may be producing, taking into account for the conversion, editing and burning time, as it may be in your better interest to pay a professional to produce the two mentioned desired videos. Inquire at your local video store to get an idea.

Bryan

Hi Bryan, thanks indeed for your reply! At my place here, it seem there is no such features store which can do this stuff for people due to the sluggish business here! So I intend to do it myself!

As my video camera I suppose is an analog form which is using 8mm tape, I plan to convert it to computer form to retain it! So I need a video capture card(for sure) and how about cables? I dont know which cables will do the job? I suppose having the card, cables and software will do the thing I need!

Regards
Chris Foo

One hour of .avi will be in excess of 4GB from my experience.

See my post on http://computing.net/hardware/wwwboard/forum/37283.html regarding the Plextor Analog to Digital converter and other related information.

I use the above mentioned converter to move VHS video from my VCR to the PC. The converter does not require a video capture card, just the USB connector.

My Video camera is a digital one and I use Firewire to capture it in addition to the converter using USB via the VCR. I do not have a video capture card. I do have a 128MB video card though.

Look at your camera to see what connectors it has for "Video out". I suspect 3 RCA connectors; red, white and yellow. It may have a USB mini jack too.

I hope you have at least 512MB RAM.

Regards,
Bryan

Lots of good info here http://www.videohelp.com/
Good Luck

Wow thx! one hour avi = excess 4GB?? It seem not right to me coz from my experience one hours 30 mins avi people is able to compress to 800Mb+ not more than 1GB!

Ok! Thanks people!! Let see if the link can help me more

Regards
Chris Foo

A 2hr DVD takes about 4.7 GB in compressed MPEG2. If you want to edit it takes 4 to 5 times the space of all the unedited uncompressed raw stock.

Oh no! I dont want to edit any part of the scene in my 8mm tape! I just want to convert everything into computer file to be viewed on players! I want to have original retention of data without any background or etc! I suppose that will be ok right(smaller) but now is by the use of the videocamera and a video capture card, I am not too sure with the cabling on how to connect it to the computer!

Regards
Chris Foo

What is the make and model of the camera?

Bryan

Use Firewire for best results. While USB is in most cases adequate, it's a shared bus vs. Firewires P2P interface.

The easiest/most versatile way is to use a cheap DV camera w/ analog pass through feature. All Canons have it, even the 249.00 model.

You plug the 8mm camera, VHS player, etc. into the DV cameras RCA in/outputs, and the Firewire cable into your PC.

Set the camera to VCR mode, push play on your 8mm camera, and hit record on the PC software you're using (I would suggest Premiere Elements over DV Studio for editing).

Walk away and it will capture and digitize all by itself.

Capture cards work well (preferably PCI, but Firewire works just as well), but they are single purpose-- the DV camera method provides you with a new DV camera as well, so future conversions are not an issue!!! Just use the new camera from now on.

Added bonus, the DV cameras picture is much much better than 8mm.

754 3700+ @ 255x10 HTx4
ASUS K8Ne Deluxe
2GB PQI DDR3200 / 6600GT
Ultra 500w x-connect PSU

Powerbok G4 1.67 1GB DDR 100GB 7200rpm / 9700 vid

AMD64 3400+/768MB/5700VE
1 Toshiba & a Dell

I am not too sure with my model capabilities!

My model is:

Canon UC-V200!

Can anyone check it out whether this is able to do video capturing method?

Regards
Chris Foo

No-- it's an 8mm analog camera. Read my post again. You need a DV camera. It will convert all your old tapes (you don't need a tape in the DV camera to do this-- it goes straight to your HDD), plus you'll shoot all future events in the higher quality DV format.

Retire the 8mm as far as shooting goes.

754 3700+ @ 255x10 HTx4
ASUS K8Ne Deluxe
2GB PQI DDR3200 / 6600GT
Ultra 500w x-connect PSU

Powerbok G4 1.67 1GB DDR 100GB 7200rpm / 9700 vid

AMD64 3400+/768MB/5700VE
1 Toshiba & a Dell

disagreed Joe, I've used my Sony Handi-cam and a pinnacle AV/DV card and my videos are good. They are not as hard looking as from my DV cam.
Everyone is making it really complicated for this Chris person.
I think maybe Dazzle has some less expensive hardware for capturing the analog vid from his cam.

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks

Yup! Currently is confusing! So, is it can or cannot is the question now! haha.... It seem my model of videocamera is using an analog form and shoot on a 8mm tape! Cant I capture it using the capture card? If can; how?

Regards
Chris Foo

Check your manual and see what type of cable you need for transfering your vid to a capture card. Like I said, Dazzle has some pretty inexpensive cards.

Hopefully my advice will help you...Please post back with your results....thanks

Emm... I have gone through the manual! It seem there is no mention of capture card stuff! Shocking! I suppose this cannot be done!

Regards
Chris Foo

If you a a yellow and a white RCA connrctor then that is your output connection.

Thanks ppl!

Regards
Chris Foo