Help with transfering Digital8 to computer...

[Kid Ryan]

I have a digital8 camera and I want to transfer some of my film to my computer. Now I know you have to have some kind of firewire connection, but can anyone specify what exactly this means and what I have to do and/or purchase to do what I want to do?

I have capture software, I just need to get my camera hooked up to my computer.

[heretic422]

Most digital camcorders come with a Firewire port to which you connect your firewire cable from your computer. Some camcorders, (I have a Sony TRV320) have a composite out cable and a headphone jack that you can use to connect to your capture card, depending on your card, ( I have an ATI All-In-Wonder 128 Pro).

My camcorder came with both these connections, my card can accept the composite connection while I had to add a Firewire card for the other, although the Firewire connection is labelled "i.Link" This type of cable has two different ends, one end is a regular looking Firewire that plugs into the computer and the other end is this tiny odd-shaped connection that plugs into the camcorder. After that, it's all about the software you use, (I use Premier) and how you configure it.

Good luck.

[ktnwin]

Just goto Circuit City or Frys and buy one of those DV video package with hardware and software. I bought the Studio DV 8 package and the 1394 cable comes with it.
Note that 1394 = i.Link = Firewire, just different names for the same damn thing, to confuse normal people I guess.

[micmel2]

I'm just curious...I've been transfering my videos onto my computer for awhile now, using both firewire and analog composite connections. What is your opinion on the quality of the capture? I've captured with Pinnacle Studio 7, and with my Hauppauge PVR, but I'm less than pleased with the quality. I don't have a DVD writer yet, so I've been capturing and burning a CVD with my work (CBR of 2520), but the quality doesn't strike me as dazzling. I don't know if I'm too picky, but the quality doesn't come anywhere near that of my miniDV camcorder's output straight into my monitor. Is burning onto a DVD my only savior? Your opinion please.

Thanks.

[SatStorm]

The source you use is among the tuffest for standard CVD/SVCD bitrates in generall. You have to go -X-, like 3000 average for CVD. Also, multipass VBR helps.
The same with DVD: The best solution is a 1/2 D1 DVD with an average 3000 or 3500 (extreme bitrate for extreme difficult source) and multiPass VBR .

[ktnwin]

Capturing via Firewire is a lossless capture, absolutely no quality loss.
Capturing viua analog (video, audio) always results in some quality loss depending on the capture hardware, PC speed, etc...
I think the quality issue you mentioned is the quality of the resulting VCD, SVCD that you made from the captured AVI file.
The later depends on the quality of the AVI file, the conversion process, bitrate, so on...

[Nolonemo]

Hey SatStorm, which do you think will look better at 3500 kbps (capped home videos via DVcam), 1/2 D1 or full D1?

Thanks

[SatStorm]

1/2 D1 gonna be identical the source
With Full CCIR, you need more bitrate to support the resolution. 4000 or more with multipass VBR or something close to 5500 - 6000.
I found it overkill, you might find it sharper. Try and experience yourself a bit.