How get DVD video into PC?

[George]

I'm using a WinXP-pro PC and have a Sony Digital camcorder, its maybe 2
years old, fairly good one, records digital (vs. analog). All I'd like to
do is transfer, let's say, a tape onto the PC's c:drive. Everyone says I'll
need an IEEE 1394 card, then just link the two. I think I already have a
cable, it has what looks like USB at one end and a miniature rectangular
plus at other camera end. I wondered if someone could help with these
questions, thanks:

1) If I buy a cheap IEEE 1394 card, will WinXP already have some basic
software on PC that enables me to capture the digital video, give the file a
name, save it, then use WinMediaPlayer to view it?

2) Is this a simple thing to do... is card installation easy like
plug-n-play, or will it force me to install some software...its own or a Win
CD thing?

3) Is transferring simple, like start the software, click capture, turn the
Sony "play" button on, and let it work?

4) Is there a file format I need to choose to save/name the file...I'd like
to get all the data...raw data...from the camera, will it be 100% exact to
what's on the tape when I get done?

5) Do I really need a fancy video editing software, if so, does that take
care of "everything" from capturing (or acquiring) video it from the camera
to allowing frames to be edited? Any recommendations for good, but not $$$
Hollywood grade?

Thanks,
George

 

[Gunther]

This is what a firewire cable looks like:

http://www.smelectronics.com/images/Firewire.jpg

The big connector connects to your computer's firewire card which is
usually a PCI card. This requires you to open up the computer and
insert the card which is really easy. It may be plug and play, you just
need to install the software drivers with it. Your camera if it has a
firewire connector on it, (the smaller one) should be plug and play and
then you would go to start, programs and click on windows movie maker
to capture and edit your video. Raw data on the camera is MPEG4 which I
think is the same as AVI. Its uncompressed so it requires a large
amount of hard drive space. Then if you want to edit the video
professionally I suggest a better software program. Then you will
compress your edited video to MPEG2 720x480 29.95 fps. if you want to
add it to DVD.

 

[Ted Zieglar]

Answers are inline. Enjoy your video camera.

--
Ted Zieglar
"You can do it if you try."

I'm using a WinXP-pro PC and have a Sony Digital camcorder, its maybe 2
years old, fairly good one, records digital (vs. analog). All I'd like to
do is transfer, let's say, a tape onto the PC's c:drive. Everyone says I'll
need an IEEE 1394 card, then just link the two. I think I already have a
cable, it has what looks like USB at one end and a miniature rectangular
plus at other camera end. I wondered if someone could help with these
questions, thanks:

1) If I buy a cheap IEEE 1394 card...

1394 cards /are/ cheap. You can spend a lot of money if you want to have
extra 1394 ports or USB ports in addition to 1394 ports. Expect to pay $30 -
$40. Less if you catch a sale.

will WinXP already have some basic
software on PC that enables me to capture the digital video, give the file a
name, save it, then use WinMediaPlayer to view it?

Open the Help and Support Center and find this article: To get pictures from
a scanner or digital camera.

Whether or not you can view the video with Windows Media Player depends on
the file format of your video and the codecs it uses. You may be able to
view it with Windows Movie Maker (included with XP), but if you're going to
be working with video, you really want video editing software.

2) Is this a simple thing to do... is card installation easy like
plug-n-play, or will it force me to install some software...its own or a Win
CD thing?

It's a card just like any other card. Just plug it in, close the case, start
your computer and Windows will do the rest. If you need more help, check
your computer's user guide (for instructions on how to insert an expansion
card into your computer), the instructions that will accompany the card
and/or the card manufacturer's web site.

3) Is transferring simple, like start the software, click capture, turn the
Sony "play" button on, and let it work?

Just about. Follow the directions in Sony's user manual.

4) Is there a file format I need to choose to save/name the file...I'd like
to get all the data...raw data...from the camera, will it be 100% exact to
what's on the tape when I get done?

Windows takes care of all that. The video will look the same as it does in
the camera's viewfinder.

5) Do I really need a fancy video editing software, if so, does that take
care of "everything" from capturing (or acquiring) video it from the camera
to allowing frames to be edited? Any recommendations for good, but not $$$
Hollywood grade?

You know, the custom in newsgroups is to ask only one question per post.

Video editing is, by its very nature, pretty complicated. Therefore, video
editing software needs to be "fancy". Your choices in video editing software
range from 'fancy' to 'remarkably fancy'. And if you want to record your
creation to DVD...well that's additional fancy software.

You can start off with Windows Movie Maker. Before long you're going to want
third party software.