Brand new at this: need help with the basics

[Sutton]

I just received a Canon ZR 80 for a gift. I want to convert the movies to DVD. I don't have a DVD burner, but would like to know if I can use my Ulead Studio6 to capture, then burn (using the CD burner I use for music) a digital video CD that can be used on a DVD player.

I don't know the step-by-step method of capturing (do I use MPEG or AVI or one of the other various choices), then what can I do?

Some employee at CompUSA (yeah, I know) told me I don't need a DVD burner to watch video CDs on my DVD player. He just said you wouldn't be able to create menus, and it would be fairly short (half hour).

Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I've been through the boards and FAQs, and didn't find an answer (or perhaps I don't know what I'm looking for. I'm desperate. thanks in advance for your help.

Sutton

[LSchafroth]

If you want to edit the video before you burn it, or if you want to apply filters, you need to capture to a AVI file with the MJPEG or Huffy losseless codecs. Go to the tools section to the left and search for them.

You can create menus in Video CDs. They only function by hitting the number on the DVD remote and hitting OK. You cannot browes up and down like on DVD's but still functional to a point.

I would get VirtualDub and use that to capture and edit and apply filters. If you have Windows XP, then you will need another application to capture with. I use IuVCR to capture.

Use TMPGEnc Plus to convert the video to video CD complient MPG files. If yu are doing VCD, then use MPG1. If you are doing SVCD choose MPG2.

You can use VCDEasy to create your final CD. Easy to use program.

Just do a search on the left for guides and instructions.

LS

[pyrohydra]

LSchafroth: The ZR 80 is a DV cam. So he would transfer it as a DV file for optimal performance.

Sutton: The best way to 'capture' footage off of a DV cam is to use its firewire port (your cam does have firewire doesn't it?). A firewire card for your PC can be had for as little as $15. This will transfer the video bit by bit as it was stored on tape. This requires about 13 GB per hour of footage, so make sure you have enough disk space first.

Once captured, LSchafroth's advice above applies. Depending on how much footage you have, you may need to span it across multiple CDs, as they won't hold that much. Use the bitrate calculator for assistance.

[Sutton]

Thank you both. I wonder if I can perform any of the steps you listed above with my Ulead Studio6 software, which came with my firewire card.

When I open a 'new' project, I'm given the following format options to capture:

- NTSC DV AVI
- NTSC VCD
- MPEG-1 (352x240)
- MPEG-1 (320x240)
- AVI

I must select one, then capture. Except I don't know which one is best. From there, I go to 'create video file' where it saves it. I'm uncertain the types of filters, etc. I might need.

I've made a few test CDs that work through my computer using Windows MediaPlayer, but don't work on my DVD player.

Obviously I'm a total noob. Thanks for your patience and help. I have a parents that are demanding long-distance footage of their new grandchild. :)

Sutton

[reboot]

If you need to edit the footage, then save in NTSC DV Avi.
If you don't, then save in mpeg1 (352x240), and burn directly to cdr in VCD mode.
If you save in avi, you will need a TON of hard drive space, however, the quality will be exceptional.
Once edited, you need to encode the avi into an mpeg format for your burning process. Most use TMPGEnc. I prefer Mainconcept Mpeg Encoder.
Encode your footage to SVCD using the preset settings. You should be able to get between 40 minutes of superb quality video, and up to about an hour of reasonable quality video, per CDR.
You shouldn't need any special filters, unless there is something specifically wrong with the video.