A box full of Super8 tape to download to CD-R for generic DVD playback

[catballou]

Folks,

I have done probably the 'typical thing' and recorded a couple of years of family tapes on Super 8 before I attempted to convert them to a useful media such as DVD. I have a Sony DCR-TRV720- NTSC camera which has recently gone through factory 'fresh-up'. My first attempt at movie-making I used 'Windows Movie Maker' which evidently does not convert to generic DVD players - works great on my HP desktop - took forever! I also have the 'Light-Scribe' for disk labeling so I prefer to stay with CD-R format - but open to all options!

I would like suggestions as to what practical software to use that will enable downloading my Super 8's to CD-R to be readable on GENERIC DVD drives. I do not plan on doing a lot of editing other than maybe a photo inserted occasionally, fades and titles so something simple and fast would be cooollll!

I have the fire wire and lots of time.

Thanks,

catballou

[julitomg]

First of all: Super 8 is film (evolved from standard 8 mm film)...You have a Digital 8 camcorder that records on 8 mm videotape (standard 8 mm, Hi8 and Digital 8) and has the ability to transfer digitally your video to a computer.
Ok, now...you already have transferred your footage to your PC via firewire and done some basic editing in Windows Movie Maker. Was the output en AVI format or Windows Media?
Why do you think you need your videos in CD format? (that would be VCD if you intend to watch them in standalone DVD players)
DVD format will offer you much more quality, more audio options (like a selectable voice over, like "director´s coment" in commercial DVDs, you could have family members commentary), switchable subtitles, etc... DVD discs are inexpensive and if you´re that interested in lightscribe labeling, there are lightscribe DVDs too.
You could render your movie as DV AVI format, then load it into a DVD authoring program (look into the "Tools" section, you´ll find several free ones lake DVDauthorgui or DVDStyler), you can make menus, divide by chapters, have "extras" menus (like a slideshow with your digital photos and your choice of music)
Use the forum search feature to look for recomendations on software, best media (DVD) brands and such.
Also (since you have the time), look at the left of this site, the WHAT IS section shall be very useful to help you understand what you are trying to accomplish and help you find the best and easiest way to accomplish it.
Good luck.

[aedipuss]

video on cd is a dinosaur. super vcd is even less playable. stick to dvd. you can get lightscribe dvd blanks also. it's not "super8", it's digital 8. capturing should be done over a firewire cable to a DVavi file. maybe try using winDV to capture and then use the file to create a dvd with wmm or something like avstodvd.

[ranchhand]

Pinnacle Studio 14 is one of the easiest editing programs to learn and is capable of everything that you want to do, plus a lot more. There is a learning curve, but much of it is intuitive and there is a great website support forum to ask questions on. Studio has a reputation (deserved!) for buggy software, but with version 14 much of that has settled down. It's not free, but for the reasonable price it is well worth the money. Oh-and by the way- what the others said about DVDs is correct. CDs are a waste of your time.