Capturing advice....total n00b

[xirokx]

Hi,

I have a panasonic digi camcorder it has a SD memory card slot, can I record directly onto the card? Im thinking of course yes but how much footage can I record? Lets say I want to capture 1 - 2 hours worth of video footage then what size memory card do I need?

Also please can you advice me what equipment and software I need to do the following please:

a) Transfer the video footage from memory card to pc
b) Record video footage from PC to VHS without loosing any quality
c) Add images to the video footage i.e. lets say credits at the end, or introducing chapters ( 2 - 3 secs long)

All responses would be most appreciated...

Thanks in advance....

[jimmalenko]

I have a panasonic digi camcorder it has a SD memory card slot, can I record directly onto the card? Im thinking of course yes but how much footage can I record? Lets say I want to capture 1 - 2 hours worth of video footage then what size memory card do I need?

Surely either the manual or specs on the website would give you this information ?

a) Transfer the video footage from memory card to pc

On the assumption that the camcorder has either a USB connection and/or firewire then you would need a USB and/or Firewire port on your computer as well as the appropriate cables (probably should have come with the camcorder). Again your manual should give you instructions if transfer to PC is available and how to do it.

b) Record video footage from PC to VHS without loosing any quality

This could be the fun part. You'd be looking at a graphics card with TV out or if your camcorder has a composite or S-Video Out then you could transfer from PC back to the camera and then to a VCR. As for quality, you'll be bound by the limitations of VHS.

c) Add images to the video footage i.e. lets say credits at the end, or introducing chapters ( 2 - 3 secs long)

Editing software. Virtualdub is free and is probably as good as any. However credits and stuff like that could be a bit of a challenge. There's an AVISynth script a few hundred lines long in the guides section though ! It might be easiest to use something like Windows Movie Maker to make the credits as it's fairly simple. Just make sure you export out as DV-AVI though.

[xirokx]

This could be the fun part. You'd be looking at a graphics card with TV out or if your camcorder has a composite or S-Video Out then you could transfer from PC back to the camera and then to a VCR. As for quality, you'll be bound by the limitations of VHS.

How can I go from PC directly to VHS? What equiment and software would I need? I have tv out on my gfx card...

Re: virtual dub to add more footage....

Lets say I wanted to add jpegs (photos) to the beginning of the film, would virtual dub let me do this? and also if I wanted to add chapters i.e. the words chapter 1 blah blah blah, then chapter 2 etc would virtual dub let me do this?

If yes....what software can I use to create the words chapters 1 blah blah blah and more importantly what type of file do I save it as?

Thanks for your help so far?

P.S. Someone told me if I record directly onto a SD card using my digicam I would lose quality is that right? They said the quality would be awful? What do you think?

Thanks

[jimmalenko]

This could be the fun part. You'd be looking at a graphics card with TV out or if your camcorder has a composite or S-Video Out then you could transfer from PC back to the camera and then to a VCR. As for quality, you'll be bound by the limitations of VHS.

How can I go from PC directly to VHS? What equiment and software would I need? I have tv out on my gfx card...

Enable TV Out in your video card config. Play video in application that has a full-screen mode. Press Record on VHS player. So long as you have the right cable(s) that's all there should be to it.

Re: virtual dub to add more footage....

Lets say I wanted to add jpegs (photos) to the beginning of the film, would virtual dub let me do this? and also if I wanted to add chapters i.e. the words chapter 1 blah blah blah, then chapter 2 etc would virtual dub let me do this?

Virtualdub accepts BMP and TGA files. https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/99389.php#scripts has a heap of sample AVISynth scripts which may or may not be too advanced for you. If they are, then as I said, Windows Movie Maker might be an easier route.

If yes....what software can I use to create the words chapters 1 blah blah blah and more importantly what type of file do I save it as?

Any image software ... Paintshop Pro, Photoshop ...... heck, even Paint that ships with XP can export to BMP.

P.S. Someone told me if I record directly onto a SD card using my digicam I would lose quality is that right? They said the quality would be awful? What do you think?

Only your manual and or the website can tell you that. I don't have a camcorder, but I was looking at the specs for one today and it was something like 368 x 288 @ 12.5fps if saving to card. This is pretty crappy in comparison to DV !

[xirokx]

hey thanks for all your helpful advice

Why supply a SD card with a camcorder if the recording quality is crap hmmmm

Presumably I can cut part of the video footage I dont want also using virtualdub??

Is virtualdub freeware?

[jimmalenko]

In order of questions asked:


No problem.
Ease for transferring stills I *think*
Yes.
Yes.


Now go forth, my son, and procrea .... errr, capture

[xirokx]

thanks for all your help and advice...

[jimmalenko]

No problem

[xirokx]

can you advise me on a gfx card i need to be able to do this?

Do I just need to ensure the gfx card has tv out?

[xirokx]

how many "mb's" on average would be taken up if I converted 45 - 1hr's worth of video footage from a minitape on a camcorder to my hdd?

[jimmalenko]

how many "mb's" on average would be taken up if I converted 45 - 1hr's worth of video footage from a minitape on a camcorder to my hdd?

1 hour - 13GB DV-AVI, so about 9-13 GBs.

can you advise me on a gfx card i need to be able to do this?

Do I just need to ensure the gfx card has tv out?

Yes. Any card with TV OUT should be fine.

[xirokx]

How can I go from PC directly to VHS? What equiment and software would I need? I have tv out on my gfx card...

Enable TV Out in your video card config. Play video in application that has a full-screen mode. Press Record on VHS player. So long as you have the right cable(s) that's all there should be to it.


Which application can I use? Preferably freeware.......What cables do I need? The red, white and yellow cables? Surely the tv out would take care of the sound etc?

Lets say the footage on the pc is of dvd quality whilst transferring will I lost quality?

Please clarify??

Also if I wanted to perform the same operation but needed the VHS to be NTSC does it get complicated?

Please help

Thanks

[jimmalenko]

How can I go from PC directly to VHS? What equiment and software would I need? I have tv out on my gfx card...

Enable TV Out in your video card config. Play video in application that has a full-screen mode. Press Record on VHS player. So long as you have the right cable(s) that's all there should be to it.

Which application can I use? Preferably freeware.......What cables do I need? The red, white and yellow cables? Surely the tv out would take care of the sound etc?

Any media player that can play truly full screen with no borders or anything is what you would need. The cables will depend on what your video card can output and what your VCR needs as input. AFAIK you'd need to get the sound off your sound card's line out port.

Lets say the footage on the pc is of dvd quality whilst transferring will I lost quality?

Yes. Inheritantly VHS is nowhere near DVD quality, so the process of recording onto VHS will lose quality.

Also if I wanted to perform the same operation but needed the VHS to be NTSC does it get complicated?

I think all you'd need is a VCR that can record NTSC and it should be fine AFAIK.

[xirokx]

thanks mate.....you have been like a breathe of fresh air

I'm very grateful for all your help and advice....