Daft Question ?

[Braytak]

I Have a Sony DCR IP55E Micro DV Camera.

My Qusetion is, if as I understand it my camera records Digital Video in the Mpeg format why can't I simply dump the contents of my tape straight to my Hard Drive and edit via a digital software editing suite.

I'm new to this stuff so please be gentle with me.

Also I intend to purchase a sony I link cable and use the firewire port available on my PC.

I have tried to record a little footage from my camera to PC but it really is pants and I am unsure what to do next.

I bought this camera because I believed it would be more compatible for use with PC editing.

Any Help or advice would be appreciated.

Gez.......

[Richard_G]

My Qusetion is, if as I understand it my camera records Digital Video in the Mpeg format why can't I simply dump the contents of my tape straight to my Hard Drive and edit via a digital software editing suite.

Also I intend to purchase a sony I link cable and use the firewire port available on my PC.

I have tried to record a little footage from my camera to PC but it really is pants and I am unsure what to do next.

Your camera does indeed digital video and you can simply dump it to your hard drive for editing using i-Link. But, if you don't have an i-Link (Firewire/IEEE1394) cable, how did you manage to record to your pc? If the answer is, using USB, that is why the quality is pants.

[Braytak]

Hi Richard.

Thanx for the reply and yes I did use the USB, I suspected that it was the problem but I wrongly assumed that I was simply transferring data to my hard drive and therefore it would take longer but the result would be the same.
Could you explain why that should not be the case because I am not really capturing since the recording is already recorded by the camera in the mpeg format.
Could it be that I was using a piece of software to carry out the transfer and therfore I was capturing video, if so would XP Pro recognise my IP55e Camera as a removable drive allowing me to copy across just like my Digital Camera with still images.
I suspect that I am right off it on this but it is a steep learning curve for me.

Sorry to sound DOH!

Cheers.

Gez.

[D_Knife]

I Have a Sony DCR IP55E Micro DV Camera.

Did you mean a Sony DCR IP55E Micro MV that is the model number listed on the Sony site.

If this is the camera you have then it does NOT have a ilink or firewire port - but a USB 2 port instead

I don't have this camera - I only know what I have read in magazines but I understand that the USB link can transfer faster than DV can.
DV - 1 minute footage takes 1 minute to transfer via firewire
USB 2 Micro MV - 10-15 seconds for 1 minute of footage

I bought this camera because I believed it would be more compatible for use with PC editing.

DV would have probably been more compatible - it's a standard format

Sorry I can't help you any more at the moment - I will try and find that magazine article

[Braytak]

If this is the camera you have then it does NOT have a ilink or firewire port - but a USB 2 port instead

Hi Yes It is a micro Mv but my understanding is that it does have an I Link/Firewire interface. What can you tell me about the way I should go about the transfer of footage to my hard drive, bearing in mind the footage is already in mpeg format.

Many Thanx.

Gez... http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProduc...ycamCamcorders

• MICROMV format video recording

• MPEG Movie AD Mode (captures MPEG1 compressed videos at up to 30 FPS)

• Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar lens

• 1.07 megapixel (gross) Advanced HAD CCD imager

• 2-1/2" Precision SwivelScreen Hybrid LCD (211K pixels)

• Touch panel LCD with stylus

• Precision color viewfinder

• Bluetooth® Networking capability

• i.LINK. (IEEE 1394) MICROMV interface
• 520 lines of horizontal resolution

• Super SteadyShot. Picture Stabilization System

• Digital still memory mode with Memory Stick. Media

• Intelligent pop-up flash

• Bluetooth network capability

• InfoLithium. battery with AccuPower meter system

• Movie Shaker editing software

• Carrying case features:

• Compact, easy-to-carry shoulder bag

• Attractive black simulated leather and extra padding protect your camcorder

• Front pocket for spare battery packs and tapes

• False bottom for extra protection and storage

• Upper mesh pocket for cables and small accessories
[quote]

[D_Knife]

Ok - now I'm confused
I had a look at some other sites - and your correct the camera does appear to have a firewire port, but then they go on and say that the camera records in "dvd friendly" mpeg2 format
so I'm not sure how you transfer via DV here or indeed if you can...

Here is Australia you can get a firewire card and cable quite cheaply - I suggest you either bite the bullet and grab a card or borrow a friend's and dl a copy of DVIO which is free and see what happens
Beyond that I'm not sure.

[Richard_G]

I don't know you camcorder but most Sonys use Firewire (sorry, i-Link) to transfer video and USB to transfer stills and to use the camcorder as a webcam (I've never quite managed to see why someone would spend the best part of a grand on a top of the range digital camcorder and then use it as a webcam when you can buy a webcam for about a tenner???). It may be that they deliberately restrict the USB to make it backward compatible with earlier USB1.

[BJ_M]

edited with correct info:

your camcorder records in mpeg2 format , which you transfer via firewire or usb ..... the quality is the same (its just a transfer) (so says sony - but users here report different quality) ..


it record mpeg2 on the tape but also a memory card/stick in mpeg1 format at low resolution --

i quote:

Capture MPEG digital video and store it directly to your Memory Stick® Media. Movie length ranges from 5 seconds to the length allowed by the capacity of your memory stick with MPEG Movie EX. Take the "Best Of" scene recorded on video tape, for example -- the groom kissing the bride on the wedding day, convert it to an MPEG Movie and share it with family and friends via the internet.

some more info here on micromv http://www.simplydv.co.uk/micromv.html

[Tommyknocker]

I have to differ with you BJ_M. My sony USB transfers leave me running for my fire wire. I must be doing wrong, because my DV from my Sony fire wire looks so much better than my MPEG from the camera's USB port.

[BJ_M]

stratch my post above -- i just looked at that camera spec and realized its a micromv ..... NOT a DV

it does record in mpeg2 on tape -- sorry for the misinfo (the memory card info is correct though)

[BJ_M]

DV is twice the bit rate of micromcv (12 vs. 25) , also DV is basicly what you would call all I frames while micromv is a IPPP GOP

[Braytak]

Thankyou all for your help.

I have been away for a few days so now I am reading it all.

I have the ability to use firewire via my aport on the front of my PC.

I realise that to get decent quality I must use it, therfore an I LINK (Firewire cable) is a must.

I am confused though, Sony UK do not promote the sale of the cable. I had to look on the .com website to even find it as an accessory. I then notice that there are several versions with more or less pins. Can anyone tell me which one to purchase.

Also, I have heard that the micro mv format is not supported by many if any at all, digital editing software packages is this true.

I bought this camera following what appears to be misleading comments from a sales man in a well known UK store. I understood him to say '' because the camera already records in MPeg2 you need only dump the footage on to your PC WITHOUT THE NEED TO CAPTURE and then simply edit using any of the good software packages out there e.g pinnacle etc.
Also editing would be a simple process of dragging and dropping frames''.

I fear I may have been misled and may not have made the right purchase for me.

Any views on the processes and software issues.

Cheers.

Gez......

[fingernailX]

try here

http://134.102.55.200/haupt/SonyIP7_to_MPEG2-PS.htm

[BJ_M]

almost all decent NLE's editors can edit the mpeg file one way or another - but they will all re-render it.

the quality will be nowhere same as DV