New to DV couple of questions about...

[ok_gsds]

Hello all, I am new here and had a couple of questions about some of the things that I have been reading on this forum the past few days while waiting to post.
1) Firewire cards I have read misc. things about this card and that card and chipsets, etc. I have a Sound Blaster Audigy II ZS, is the FireWire port that is on the card a good one or should I buy a stand alone FireWire card?
2) The cam I bought was a JVC GR-D33US (bought this cause of the review on http://www.camcorderinfo.com) it came with imagemixer 1.7 which I have found sucks...I have ArcSoft Showbiz on my pc from my DVDRW drive software that so far has worked to get the video off (got an error on the audio and haven’t figured out why, still plays audio fine) I am thinking of trying Ulead VideoStudio then buying it if I like it. Would it be wiser to go ahead and go a step up and get the Ulead Media Studio Pro 7?
3) I have a full blown version of Nero 6 Ultra to make DVD's with, is this a good program to take the DV movies and make a DVD with?
4) If I wanted to edit the video, like cut out a scene here and there, what should I use?

I know it’s a lot to ask, but from what I have seen people around here love to help out, I just hope one day I can be as knowledgeable and help out as well. Thanks in advance.
Justin

[trickyman]

1) The firewire port on your sound card should be fine. but if you drop frames while capturing youmight want to look into getting a seperate firewire card.

2) Personally i use Adobe Permiere for capturing/editing video. but since your'e new to DV i would suggust using Windown Movie Maker 2, it free. I've used the Unlead products and dont particularly like the results.

3) To make the dvd first youll need to convert your final (edited) video to MPEG 2 using an encoder like TMPGenc, then authou the DVD. I suggust using TMPGenc DVD Author for that.

4) Any video editing program will do this for you, check the tools section to your left ....

[wwjd]

I have used Ulead Video Studio 8 for about 8 months now and for the most part it is a good video editing and authoring software package. One negative thing about it is that it does not seem to be able to do frame accurate trimming and cutting of mpeg files. I have had numberous audio sync issues when editing mpegs. If you are editing DV (*.avi) files then it is rock solid. Great GUI, simple to use and a good many nice features.

What I like the best is to encode my DV to mpeg using Cinema Craft Encoder Basic ($58) and then do final trimming and authoring with TMPGEnc DVD Author ($57 for version 1.5). CCE Basic is a very good and very fast avi to mpeg encoder. TDA is also very fast and is frame accurate for mpeg editing. TDA is not really meant for video editing but you can cut mpegs and make good menus. It is very stable and solid.

I would stay away from Movie Maker 2 because it can not be un-installed once installed and it tends to lock up often. There are tips on the internet on how to change settings on your pc so that it does not lock up. There may also be a newer version that is more stable.

Doing the trial thing and using this site and others is a good way to go. Be sure to really test out the trial software and make sure that your final judgement is based on viewing the final video on the medium you will be viewing it on the most. In other words if you plan on watching the DVD on your TV then make your decision based on that and not on what you see on your computer monitor.

Happy hunting!

[ok_gsds]

Thanks for the information on this.

So is it not good to bring the video from the DV cam right into mpeg2 files? The ArcSoft Showbiz that I have seems to capture the dv video as mpeg2 and doesnt take nearly as long as the program that came with the DV that brings it in as an AVI then converts to MPG but looks like crap...

The bundled software brings the files in sounds good but the video has vertical lines throughout the entire movie. That crappy video is what brought be to discover this site and all the tools that are listed on here which I have yet to try.

[redwudz]

For DV I use: WinDV(Transfer)>VirtualDub(Edit, filter, frameserve)>TMPGEnc encoder(encode)>TMPGEnc DVD Author(author and burn).

You might try Mainconcept Mpeg Encoder also. You can convert DV directly to MPEG-2 on the fly. For best quality, IMO, I suggest the method above or equivalent.

[State Of Mind]

Do NOT use Windows Movie Maker!
Adobe Premiere Pro is the easiest and most efficient editor out there. If I can do it, anyone can.

Use WinDV to upload, not bloat like Ulead that doesn't even work right.
VirtualDub to trim and resave as DV.
Open in Adobe and put effects into it if you want. It really is simple to do.
You can frameserve from Adobe to TMPGEnc also, look into that. Use a bitrate of 6000 kbps, 10 bit thingy, highest motion precision, 720X480. For playing on DVD it does not make a difference whether you interlace or deinterlace it because DVD players are designed to re-interlace deinterlaced video. But, if you want to get technical, go to www.100fps.com and learn all about Deinterlacing/Interlacing.
Then you can extract the WAV from the finished file with TMPGEnc and transcode it to AC3 with BeSweet.
For beginners I would recommend TMPGEnc DVD Author to do up the DVD.

I hope I haven't bombarded you with too much at one time. You can PM me if you want. I have done this stuff several times and am fairly good at it.

[Quantum]

TMPGEnc Xpress 3.0 with the AC3 plugin may be easier for a beginner to use. You basically just import the edited .AVI and TMPGEnc calculates the proper bitrates to fit a DVD and takes care of the audio producing an audio track within the AC3 specifications. No frame serving or 3rd party audio conversion tools required.

[tmh]

I agree with WinDv to transfer from camcorder to computer as avi file - remember you need lots of HD space for this. As for trimming and/or editing, it all depends on if your editing will just be cutting out scenes or if you intend to do transitions and effects as well. Adobe Premier would be hunting rodents with an elephant gun I would think if you're just cutting scenes. VirtualDub cuts frame accurate which I'd consider "perfect" cutting and its free. How could you improve on THAT for simple cuts?

If on a low budget and you want to do some fairly simple transitions/effects, tec. , I disagree with many re: WMM2. I have had NO problems using to edit ONLY - don't let WMM2 "microsoftize" you project by saving it "their way" asa WMM file . I then save it as DV AVI before encoding with TMPGenc, author w/ TDA, burn.

I think any editing software you like the "feel" of that doesn't crash on you should be fine as long as you can save your output as AVI for encoding. I'f I'm wrong about this, I'd like to know.

[ZAPPER]

Man you opened a can of worms here.
At the hobby level there is probally no "Best" way to do anything. Without specific points to compare things at or to, just about every answer you get is going to be an opinion. Systems and methods vary between every user here, but that isn't a bad thing either. You are on the right track though so keep researching before you spend too much.

#1 The firewire in should be fine as is, unless as stated above somewhere you seem to be haveing problems with it. If you decide to upgrade it you may look into bigger and badder combo cards that have USB 2 and Firewire. I think that in most cases your card works or it don't, not much room for anything in between.
#2 Looks like a nice cam. As usual the software that comes for free with anything isn't the best that there is and is usually only to wet you appitite for the software makers next bigger you got to buy version. Ulead is simple and has a few quaint effects and transitions. Again some people are happy with it and some will laugh because it is not what they consider the best. Vegas and Adobe premeir are two of the big boys for under a thousand dollars but until I find a bootleg (Er I mean until the makers send me a free copy) I wont be useing them. (I am not cheap I am poor, there is a difference)
#3 Nero should work. Again there are others that will say use Alcolhol (sp) or other apps. I started out with a store bought version of nero and slipped in under the wire to get a bunch of odd ball free upgrades and now have the most mixed up and patched up non supported work only when it wants to damb mess there could be(some day I may break down and buy the newest and greatest Nero on the shelf)
#4What to use for editing is going to depend on what you have and what format you want to work in. It used to be that DV AVI was the best way to edit and in some ways it still is. With inprovements in software and direct MPEG importing, Mpeg editing is gaining respect and ease. Only you can decide what is right for you and how you work. In fact it looks like most people pick a process that uses bits and parts of a whole sleuth of programs to get things done, from freeware to store bought versions and anything in between. Try a few and see what you like, take notes(like anyone really does) Some are willing to give a bit on quality for ease and speed and some will suffer through it all for the prefection of quality. In any case judge your work on the screen and speakers that will be normally used on and not your PC