Mini DV - DVD software
Discussion
I've a Sony camcorder which uses Mini DV cassettes. Part of me thinks to buy a new HD camcorder but for now there is nothing wrong with what I have for the time being. I have in the past transferred from camcorder to DVD but the software I am using is agonisingly slow. I did used Sony's own and would never use again. Because of this I am not using the camcorder as much as I would like and want to change this.
What would you recommend me to use that is easy to use and quick to transfer data to disc - I do have Nero on my laptop but have not yet tried it. Oh, and free would be nice!
What would you recommend me to use that is easy to use and quick to transfer data to disc - I do have Nero on my laptop but have not yet tried it. Oh, and free would be nice!
is it the transfer from camera to computer that your finding slow, or the burning it to a dvd thats slow?
transfering to computer, with mini dv, always has to take place in real time.
The burning to dvd is a tricker issue- when you import into coimputer, your footage is in mini dv format. when you edit, its in mini dv format. However, to play in a dvd player, the footage must be in converted into an MPEG2 format- thats what dvd players play.
This process, called transcoding, takes time, especially if you have a slow machine. The ocmputer has to uncompress the minidv format, then recompress it in a completely different format. At work, we have an 8 core mac pro- can transcode the data for a 10 minute dvd in seconds.
But if your pc is a little old, it might take longer. So changing software might not help. Im afraid i cant recommend anything, my knowledge of pc programs is limited these days.
Forgot to add- are you wanting to make dvds you can watch in a dvd player, or are you just interested in backing up the footage to dvds? Making dvds that play in a dvd player require transcoding to mpeg2, as i mentioned. But just backing up the minidv footage to dvd (making a data dvd, that only computers can read) just requires the computer to burn the disc- so just a good piece of dvd burning software would do.
hope that helps a little
transfering to computer, with mini dv, always has to take place in real time.
The burning to dvd is a tricker issue- when you import into coimputer, your footage is in mini dv format. when you edit, its in mini dv format. However, to play in a dvd player, the footage must be in converted into an MPEG2 format- thats what dvd players play.
This process, called transcoding, takes time, especially if you have a slow machine. The ocmputer has to uncompress the minidv format, then recompress it in a completely different format. At work, we have an 8 core mac pro- can transcode the data for a 10 minute dvd in seconds.
But if your pc is a little old, it might take longer. So changing software might not help. Im afraid i cant recommend anything, my knowledge of pc programs is limited these days.
Forgot to add- are you wanting to make dvds you can watch in a dvd player, or are you just interested in backing up the footage to dvds? Making dvds that play in a dvd player require transcoding to mpeg2, as i mentioned. But just backing up the minidv footage to dvd (making a data dvd, that only computers can read) just requires the computer to burn the disc- so just a good piece of dvd burning software would do.
hope that helps a little
Edited by Fordo on Wednesday 20th May 09:06
Make sure you match the settings in the software for the incoming data from the camera. If you get this wrong then it will do the conversion on the fly - dropping frames and distorting images as it does so.
Agree with the firewire comments, much better.
The Ulead VideoStudio application works well but can take a while to render out to DVD. A P42.0GHz may not have the poke I need...
Agree with the firewire comments, much better.
The Ulead VideoStudio application works well but can take a while to render out to DVD. A P42.0GHz may not have the poke I need...
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