capturing with movie maker 2

[waynezo]

If i capture avi files from my jvc minidv camcorder with wmm2 will i be able to use them in another ap like nero vision express? I like the fact that movie maker 2 detects individual clips automatically.

[theDruid]

As far as I'm aware, MM2 only outputs to M$'s proprietary formats.

These are generally not much good for importing/editing in other software.

See the comments by vitualis on the tools page for MM2.

You can convert M$ formats like WMV/ASF to more workable formats like avi (with ASFTools / VirtualDub 1.3c etc..) but this is a bit of a messy workaround.

You may want to look at a different program for capping.

What do you actually want to do with the stuff you export from MM2?

cheers,
mcdruid.

[waynezo]

i basically want to capture home video into clips automatically at the start and stop points when the video was filmed.

[theDruid]

...and then leave them on the PC? Or burn them to a disc (VCD/SVCD/DVD etc..)?

[waynezo]

and burn them to dvd using nero vision express or sonic my dvd both of which do not automatically detect clips at start and stop point on dv tape

[volwrath]

Im pretty sure wmm2 allows saving as avi

[theDruid]

Do either of those app's accept either DV-AVI Type I or Type II?

If so, it looks like you're okay:

Microsoft has put this program into a number of irritating shackles, obviously designed to lock the unsuspecting user into Microsoft products. Firstly, this program cannot export to anything but WMV (Windows Media Video) and DV-AVI Type I...

... DV-AVI Type I means that the DV file will not be able to be loaded with a VFW based program (which includes many freeware editors). To get around this, I suggest you have a look at my guide on converting Type I to Type II here: http://users.tpg.com.au/mtam

If not, it looks like you can get from DV-AVI to DVD:

If one wants to encode the video for DVD production, you will have to go into the convoluted step of encoding first to DV-AVI and then an external encoder.

If you're going for DVD, there are a number of encoders to choose from.

Probably the most popular (for MPEG-2 = DVD/SVCD) are TMPGEnc (Plus version has unlimited MPEG-2 encoding), Cinema Craft Encoder, and Mainconcept MPEG Encoder.

I wouldn't use Nero to encode if you have another option - this may be an outdated prejudice, but certainly in terms of MPEG-1, Nero makes a great authoring/burning app, but a terrible encoder.

You'd still need to author this disc and burn it, but Nero should be able to do that for you (and Sonic, I imagine - but I know nothing about that software) if you give it the MPEG your encoder spits out.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[theDruid]

Just been reading a bit more, and two things:

1. A few people (inlcuding volwrath above) have said that it can export as avi - whether this is a newer verision than the one vitualis reviewed, or whether they mean DV-AVI, I'm not sure.

2. M$'s own MM2 site advertises that it can be used with Sonic to create DVD's: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/moviemaker/learnmore/dvdburn.asp

The actual instructions as to how to go about doing it are a bit thin on the ground... but it looks like:

[Sonic] MyDVD 4 is fully compatible with the Windows Media Video files you will be creating with Windows Movie Maker 2.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[waynezo]

thanks for the info. i will check for type I compatibility on the aps when i get home

[theDruid]

waynezo, you might not have to bother - as I said above it looks like Sonic can accept WMV files anyway.

Whether you'd get better quality sticking with DV-AVI or not, I'm not sure.

The 'extra step' of encoding to WMV, and then out again for MPEG-2 might well lose you some quality. Obviously use the highest quality settings possible for the WMV output if you do have to go that route.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[bugster]

waynezo, Windows Movie Maker 2 can capture and save as DV-AVI (type 1 only). Its editing functions are very limited, doing little more than cut and splice. I use it for capture but nothing else. For editing get a proper editing program, there are lots to choose from depending on how much you want to pay and the kind of features you need. Take a look at this sites tools section for more info.

BTW, most editing programs will accept type-1 avi. For thos that don't you can always convert to type 2 for free, though doing this does double the disk space requirements during conversion and takes time.

[waynezo]

Am i correct in assuming that i can capture using wmm2 to produce files in dv-avi type I format, then convert and author these files with sonic my dvd without sacrificing quality? Also that i should avoid using wmv files since that is too much reencoding?

thanks to everyone for the advice.

[bugster]

Am i correct in assuming that i can capture using wmm2 to produce files in dv-avi type I format, then convert and author these files with sonic my dvd without sacrificing quality? Also that i should avoid using wmv files since that is too much reencoding?

thanks to everyone for the advice.

Use WMM2 to capture DV type 1 Avi, correct

Convert to DVD format with Sonic without losing quality, afraid not. Fact is whenever you re-encode, you will lose quality. If you use an all in one package like sonic, chances are you will lose more quality than using a standalone encoder, though this requires more work and learning. If you are happy with Sonic's encoder quality, thats fine. Otherwise caosider Tmpgenc, Mainconcept, CCe etc. to do the encoding.

Avoid wmv files? if you are going to DVD eventually, avoid WMV files like the plague!