Just got a Sony DCR H32. Has video in and LAN-C (Getting ready for in car video on Dragon) Looks promising, have to test analog video in tonight but the specs and manual say it does it.

I've got firewire on laptop but not desktop. I've discovered via online research that USB is too slow and the source of tmy lousy quality first transfer attempt, and I need to add the firewire to my desktop. I've also heard that many / most firewire cards come with video transfer / capture software bundled. Since tis is by far the cheapest way to get the software...

Anyone care to make a recommendation on a firewire card based also on what software comes bundled with it?

 

Firewire cards are dirt cheap. Anyone will do. Easy to install.

If you want to burn DVDs, the stuff that comes with the cards are limited versions ... just go buy the real software.

Populars ones are Roxio, Pinnacle, arcsoft .

Anyone will do. Dont need expensive one like Adobe.

The full version of Roxio gets it done but then I take the mpeg2 and do the real editing in Arcsoft.

Its tedious work, time consuming on resources

Good Luck!

 

Yup, knew the cards were cheap. I do have Arcsoft ShowBiz DVD, which I've used to edit and burn stuff I captured via my ReplayTV pvr... That bundle came with the HP DVD DL drive.

I'd heard of some editing / capture bundles, but it wasn't mentioned that they were limited versions. I've tried a demo of the Ulead product and liked it. Was about to buy it when I got the one with the DVD burner.

Just hooked up a external camera to the camcorder and recorded from the external succesfully. So far so good.

Now off to ebay to shop bullet cameras

 

Showbiz is good for final editing and makes many different types of files ... also great for adding graphics but its really not the best for full blow creation of the DVD with chapter, index, etc. I think MyDVD which is also arcsoft does that.

None of the cards ever tell you your getting the short version.
GO to the pinnacle, arsoft, and roxio website, read around them to see the features you want and your price ... then go to pricescan and look for the cheapest online price ... maybe buy.com or something like that.

You will need lots of disk space, a spare 200Gb drive is good if y ou really get into it. Then you will want to make smaller files for web, etc.

 

Thanks..

Yup, not only for web, I also use good old free Windows Movie maker for one task, it's quick to convert videos to full screen pocket PC optimized movies. A full length movie is about 110 MB. I can keep a several on my phone-pda's SD card (1G) and they're useful for my 2 hour IV treatments.

Got 3 400 Gig drives online aside from the 80 Gig C: drive. 'Cause I also download shows from my ReplayTV DVR's to the PC, and after I get a good size collection burn em to DVDs. Drive space I've got. The ReplayTV's are great for taking TV, DVD's, or non digital video tape and capturing mpg's.

I should go buy Ulead too, been meaning to. I tried the trial version and found one great feature that I could use is that it sees the mpg2's that come out of the ReplayTV's as being OK for DVD authoring, without wanting to transcode them for hours and hours. REALLY speeds up the process. With all the subtle differences in mpg structures most editing / authoring apps want to transcode the Replay mpg's first. But Ulead just takes em and runs with it.

Was really excited last night after I got the firewire cable. I edited with Arcsoft and burned the DVD, then played it on the TV set and looked great!

I've wanted to be able to actually do decent qualit video editing (on the cheap) since I got to use a 'real' editing suite about 15 years ago...

 

I've got a Belkin Firewire card. I use Sony Vegas 6.0 to edit video. It's not cheap, but it's one of the best and most versatile out there.

 

I had one last thought.

If your putting video up on the roll bars, are you going to get a lot of wind noise? Have your tried this yet? You might want to look at directional mikes pointing forwards or you might not hear much of anything? I dont know, just asking.

 

Oh no, I won't put mike(s) there. Going to experiment with putting one a couple places, by the CAI, near tailpipe, and don't know if near a tire would pick up tire noise or not. That's why I'm starting now. I hope to have the major kinks worked out before the Dragon. And I'm actually planning a bracket that will straddle the roll bars, but reach up higher. I'm picturing a wider angle shot slighty downward that'll get the interior and the road ahead.

I've been looking at different focal length bullet cameras, zoom ones, and ones with a simple changeable lens. I've got in mind a video shot somewhat like this, not quite so high but this type effect. The trick will be to extend up without it getting shakey. I've got some ideas on a third 'tripod' barcing leg leg going forward to the rear seat floor just out of the view. I think this would be a cool perspective on the Dragon with all the twisties and greenery going by. We'll see.

 

Thanks! That looks cool. Multi processor/core and dual monitor support etc. I've been dieing to have decent home/hobby quality video editing capability for years. The cost was prohibitive for hobby for me in the Hi-8 edit deck suites back in the 80's, but $450 bucks is NOT out of line by the looks of that. I used to work for a video trade association so I'd been exposed to the 'good stuff'.

I'll have a 35mm with a 19-35 zoom, motor drive and remote mounted too. I'd like to mount my digital still, but it has no remote release provision, and my 35mm gear is a bit more sturdy.

 

You mean under the bonnet? That Alta will overwhelm it. You have stock exhaust so that might be OK. I would still look at the directional mikes, they are cheap (at least the one I got for a camcorder).

Oh, I had another idea too .... you might think of this. I got one of those Sony minidv comcorders that has "night vision" and "super night vision". It gives that green light you see from the night vision equipment. Usually everything here is do dark its kind of pointless but I wonder why no one has thought of using it for the Midnight Drive? I'm sure in Super night vision mode the headlights might overwhelm it but maybe the regular night mode would be cool. Hmm, I got to try that when I have patience ...

 

Somebody put the microphone under the bonnett at or near the intake. I don't recall who now. I will certainly have to play with levels. As for stock exhaust, yea, so far. By then, we'll see...

 

I mentioned this all to the wife and told her we needed one of those mounting bars that go across the headrests and she said why? When I thought about it ... We've traveled a half dozen times across the country always taking video and when you think about it ... how many times do you really watch it?

I transferred everything from tape to DVD and she's right, most is pretty boring ... how much road can you look at.

Now I can see that 129 might be different if you can get the SC whining and the exhaust roaring but how much DV tape you bringing? Just curious. She doesnt want to bring the minidv cause, although it fits in the palm of your hand, its still bulk ... less room to haul the beer, chairs, etc. Charging the batteries at night, etc.

I aint sure what to do? thoughts?

 

I'd agree the Dragon is different. I plan on using it car wise for the Dragon, Track days, and Autocross if I try that. I don't picture using it for too much else 'on the car'. Certainly not for 'regular' vacatrion trips.

The same camera and deck will be used on the boat, MINI DV safely below decks and cabled with a bullet camera out at the end of the spinnaker pole pointed back at the boat, top of mast, perhaps on a kite towed behind? Who knows. I've got a vivid imagination.

Otherwise I tend to be the extended family photographer. So I'm often doing family stuff for cousins, weddings, kids born, other special gatherings and making DVD's for them. Like most photo albums they're not something you look at often of course.

Even further off topic, but I'll be brief. I happened to already be up in PA when my cousin had her twins. I was staying with her folks, so I went with them to the hospital and took a lot of video and good 35mm stills when they were hours old and over the next couple days. I didn't give her a DVD of that footage until the girls turned 1. She popped it in and cried a river. It was sure worth it!

 

Oh yeah. Agreed. Those are events they want to keep.

 

I've found a interesting camera. A Swann 'DIY', 380 lines resolution, bundled with extra lens, a 90 degree wide angle that can be swapped with the norm. It goes for $45 bucks. Pretty good for normal and wide angle.

Think I'll get one for starters and see what the quality is like.

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/427...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

If your going to get serious, this is what you want http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...o&Dept=cameras

Its only a matter of time before everything else is dead.