A confused newbie needs advice

[DavidT]

I recently had an idea that I would start saving my home videos onto CD so that I can watch them on my DVD player. I was thinking that this would be easy but after having done some research I think I was wrong. My main concern is quality, I want a low cost but good quality solution (as least as good as standard VHS). You can see my system specs in my profile. I have already tried to capture DV using a USB port but the quality is crap. I was using Imagemaker VCD software which is an all in one software solution. I now believe that the capture is all important and that USB just doesn't cut it.

My first question is, has anyone any experience of using Adaptecs Fireconnect 4300 firewire card. I want to use it to capture DV movies from a JVC GR-DX25 camcorder. Is this a reasonable starting point for achieving my low cost but good quality aims.

I was hoping for an all in one software solution for capture, editing, encoding and burning. Is this realistic or are individual software solutions the best way to go.

Thanks for any help.

[RabidDog]

go for seperate capture and encoding. I think everything you need can be got free. I would use tmpgenc to code VCD for ease and simplicity and speed (coz its one pass) its about vhs quality. get that right and move on to svcd for better quality (costs slighly more, but use same software tmpgenc). USB supports 11mbps so should not be the bottleneck, however I have never used this method. Firewire is rated at 400mbps and is well suited to dv as most cams have this built in and a lot of software uses this inteface to control the camera. above all keep reading & searching.. there is no better way than giving it a try. Cdr are 10p each now (cdrw are re-usable for trial efforts).
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