trying to convert video from camcorder to dvdr using Hitachi

[vesterlee]

I have a Hitachi 8mm video camcorder VM-E535LA 16 BIT D.S.P. I HAVE FAMILY STUFF I WANT TO PUT ON DVD R AND SEND HOME TO FAMILY MEMBERS. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. I AM TOTALLY NEW AT THIS AND DONT KNOW JACK. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FADE IN AND OUT ADD TEXT AND ALL KINDS OF NEAT STUFF. I HAVE A PENT 4 PROCESSOR 512 MBS RAM 60 GIG HARD DRIVE. IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE GUIDE ME TO THE CORRECT INFO TO ACCOMPLISH THIS.

THNX IN ADVANCE


VESTER

[Tommyknocker]

Okay, first read the Beginner Articles to make sure you get the answers most beginners have before they begin. I cannot overemphasize this step, as it will save you a lot of time and frustration in the future.

Next, your hardware. Your camera has RCA A/V output jacks which is fine for a beginner, so you only need a capture card with matching RCA jacks and a DVD burner drive. Use the rewriteable disks at first, as beginners tend to make a few mistakes in the beginning and RW disks are reusable. The camera connects to the capture card and is how you will get your video into your computer.

Once the video is put into your computer, you will need to change it to a certain format before your DVD drive can turn it into a DVD. This is where we will start to discuss software.

Software for your project consists of several phases: Capture, Edit, Convert, Author, and Burn. It sounds like a lot, but as you become acquainted with the procedures you will find most of them relatively easy.

Capture: This involves using the capturing card to take the video from your camcorder and storing it on your system. At this point, look at the Capture and check out the freeware programs that look easiest for you, using the appropriate guide to complete your capture.

Edit: Now it is time to cut out "anything that does not look like an elephant" as the old sculptor’s joke goes. This is also where you add your subtitles (a little more advanced step).

Convert: This is how you change your video, now in your computer, to a format your authoring program can use to burn to a DVD. Check the guides out in the Convert section, remember try to use the freeware or shareware versions to keep your initial costs down.

Authoring: Almost home. Your DVD formatted video is then changed to files called VOBs, BUPs, IFOs, and other file formats that DVD burner program can read to make DVDs. Do not worry about the terms at this stage of the game. Just remember that once this stage is done, you take all the files your authoring program has made here, give them to your burner program, and burn, baby, burn!

Conclusion, study your beginner articles, get your hardware, download and install your programs, and follow the guides. Remember to try and figure out any problems you encounter along the way yourself, and if you have any problems, post them here, and tell the gurus all you have done yourself to try and fix it.

I will probably get flamed for trying to tell you too much too soon, but I think I can handle it. No one expects you to succeed tonight, but we are here to help you with any problems you cannot solve yourself.

P.S. Stay away from Tgpo. I do not trust that kid!

[Will Hay]

snip extensive guide

Tommyknocker, I you
Will

[Tommyknocker]

Thanks. My pleasure!