HELP! Just bought a minidv camcorder.... OVERWHELMED!!? I just bought the JVC minidv camcorder (GR-D771) and
I just bought the JVC minidv camcorder (GR-D771) and I know that I must buy the firewire card/cable but I also own to buy a dvd recorder so that I can copy home movies to share... (right?) since I don't have a dvd burner surrounded by my comp (i know, outdated!) anyhow, am I missing something... is there an easier/cheaper process to share my movies on dvd or via email without buying the dvd recorder? ANY minister to would be GREATLY appreciated!! Thanks...(hubby is in Iraq and im trying to share his sons first steps!!)
Answers:
Assuming that you enjoy the software for the camera to get your video onto the PC, why not bring an external DVD writer for your PC?
If you know anyone who is prepared to open up your PC, ideally you will want to maximise your RAM and fit an internal DVD recorder (cheaper and better than external) - it's unproblematic honest!
Go to http://www.crucial.com and run their application to find out how much RAM you can fit into your PC, or ask a PC-know-all to do it for you. This is essential if you have an elder machine as if you want the PC to pedal your video files, you may need it to be 'pumped up' a bit...
Personally I wouldn't in fact buy the RAM from crucial because they charge top prices, but get your break PC know-all to acquire you something cheaper or go to a PC store and bring them to find a cheaper solution.
I pumped mine up from 500MB to 1.5GB and it was really smooth - I could go a bit further (up to 2GB) but 1.5GB works capably for me (costs maybe between $40 - $100 for 1GB) I compensated about $35 including international postage for mine...
I premise, (if your PC is upgradeable) you can get your PC tricked out for DVD cassette for less than lb100 - I salaried $50 for a brand new internal DVD writer. (these are translation of UK prices, you may know how to find better US prices..)
I hope this helps
going even more updated you could connect to tv and tape to video cassette not ultimate answer but another option
Chris Villarin chrisvillarin.com Photographer Artist Web Designer Digital Video Effects Editing surrounded by Manila Philippines
I wrote this long answer, from years of experience editing. This is not copied from any website. Hope this helps!
TRANSFERRING VIDEO FROM CAMCORDER TO COMPUTER
Camcorders usually come next to connecting cables. Older camcorders hold yellow, red and white RCA cable that connect the camcorder to your TV or in this covering your computer. Newer camcorders have FIREWIRE connectors that conveniently connect to FIREWIRE connectors within newer computers be it PC or Mac.
FOR CAMCORDERS WITH RCA CONNECTORS & PROPRIETARY CONNECTIONS
If you are using a camcorder with RCA connectors consequently your computer must have a Video Capture Card or any class of video capturing device connected to your computer. A webcam is not a video seizure device.
RCA connectors/cables come in 3 colors, sickly for video, red and white for left and right audio subway. In some camcorders you will see the 3 outlets with the 3 colors. While other camcorders are provided next to a proprietary outlet that needs a proprietary cable beside RCA connectors on the other end of the cable. These cable usually come with the camcorder.
Make the connections on the camera and connect the RCA to the outlets of your Video Capture Card/device. Color codes on the RCA and the outlets are significant. The yellow RCA is carry the video signal and should be connected to the "video in" outlet of the Video Capture Card/Device. The red and white RCA cables are the disappeared and right audio signal. These can be swapped without any problems.
Sometimes the camcorder have a minijack or headphone jack for outputting sound. And, sometimes the Video Capture Card/Device also uses a minijack to invasion sound. If this is the defence, only the pallid RCA cable needs to be connected both to the camcorder and the computer. Use a minijack to minijack connector cable to connect the camcorder and the computer. The minijack cable replaces the red and white RCA cable. There is such a article as a "Y-Cable". The Y-Cable is a minijack on one end and 2 RCAs on the other expiration. You can use this if the camcorder and the Video Capture Card/Device have different ways to connect audio signals. With adjectives these complexities you don't have to verbs about connecting the wrong cable because NOTHING WILL BE DAMAGED in valise you make a mistake.
Once the connections are done you are very soon ready to seizure the video on your computer. Video Capture Cards/Devices come with programs that allow you to takeover video to a location in your computer. Captured video files are most of the times contained by .avi or .mpg format stored in your computer.
FOR CAMCORDERS WITH FIREWIRE CONNECTOR OR (IEEE) 1394 CONNECTOR OR i.LINK
New camcorders and up to date computers come with FIREWIRE or 1394 Connectors. These are more convenient to use. All you hold to do is connect just 1 Fireweire (1394) cable to the camcorder and the computer. Turn on your computer and receive sure all the programs that involve to load during startup own been loaded. Connect the camcorder to the computer using the Firewire cable. Turn on your camera and set it to "play" mode. Not "record" or "camera" mode. Your computer should detect the camera and prompt you to undo the associated program. Open the program and look for the "capture" button.
CAPTURE SETTINGS
Leave everything on default and you should be OK. Once you bring the hang of it you can start tweaking some settings. Here are adjectives settings that you might want to experiment:
Resolution - this refers to the number of pixel. A 320x240 resolution means 320 pixels horizontally and 240 pixels vertically. 320x240 is the advise capturing resolution for youtube video. 352x240 is ideal for VCD. 640x480 is the great resolution for full screen computer video. 720x480 is the ideal resolution for DVD.
Data Rate - refers to the amount of background allocated for capturing video(and audio). 300 kbps (kilobit per second) within mpeg-1 format is recommended for youtube. 1152 kbps in mpeg-1 format is for VCD. 2,000 kbps contained by mpeg-2 format is recommended for DVD. These numbers are here as reference. You will return with a low quality DVD if you record in 300 kbps mpeg-1. Commercial DVD information rate is 4500 kbps in mpeg-2 format. Data rate also determines the profile size of the captured video. The lower the notes rate the smaller the file.
Compression - MPEG 4 is for ipod video, MPEG 3 is for music, MPEG 2 is for DVD, MPEG 1 is for VCD. DV compression is the highest ability compression available to standard desktop/laptop computers. If you plan to capture a video for editing I suggest you takeover in DV compression .avi report.
MAKING DVDs
You make DVDs by burning the DVDs within a DVD burner drive. DVD+R and DVD-R are now interchangeable types. Most commercial DVD players can fiddle with both types. Open your DVD burning program. Most of the time DVD burners come with programs to bring in DVDs. Just follow the instructions on how to make DVDs and you're done! you said outdated, but i am assuming you enjoy Windows XP at least, you can use Windows movie initiator to download your video via the firewire port of your camcorder to your pc. Run Movie Maker, after connect the camcorder to the pc, on the program click "Capture from video device", once you see the files on the blind, just drag on drop on the file line and click "dispatch in e-mail., dally a few minutes and fallow the instructions. Hope i help.