Sony TRV-720? Can I get some input please.

[Krazykevin]

I have a Sony TRV 720 digital 8 camcorder. I basically use it around the house for family video. Here lately though I got me a DVD burner and have been transfering videos to dvd. My questions are: How much difference is it between my 720 and say a new $500 mini DV cam if both were captured and burned to dvd and played on a standard tv? What would the difference be if played on a HD tv? Last question is, I recorded a few things on my tivo that I would like to burn to dvd. Since my tivo is across the room from my computer, what kinda of quality would I have if I recorded the tv show on to my digital 8 cassette, then downloaded it into my computer and edited and burned? The only other way would be to unhook my tivo and bring it over to my computer then use the passthrough feature of the 720 to record straight into my computer. Would I see quality loss by recording to cassette rather than straight passthrough using S video cable? Thanks for the help guys.


Kevin

[Krazykevin]

Oh, I forgot that I ran into this problem: Using the RCA cable that came with my TRV720, it takes the left,right, and video and combines them into one jack that goes to my camera. I can record to my camera with this cable and get audio and video. But, when using the S video connection, I can only get video? I've used S video before from my tivo to my tv and I'm pretty sure I got video and sound, that is correct right? If so, why wouldn't my handycam get sound through the S video?

Thanks again

Kevin

[Jester700]

First, the 720 is comparable to MiniDV cams at that price point. The system will store the same resolution/quality as MiniDV, it's just that there haven't been any HIGH quality Digital 8 cams, since it was conceived & marketed as a low-mid level consumer system. But then, for $500 you won't get a HIGH quality MiniDV cam either, unless you're lucky on eBay.

Second, there will be no quality difference between using the D8 as a passthru or recording to tape. Your quality limit will be your TV signal or TiVo unit in this case (assuming that we're talking about a standard def signal).

Third, S-video does NOT contain sound information. Hook up that multi-plug to the cam and ALSO the S-vid. Leave the RCA video jack disconnected so that you're sure you're seeing the s-video connection. That's all there is to it.