DV Camera to Computer to DVD??

[HardcoreCandy]

Heres What I want to do.......
Take video off my Sony Handycam (dcr-hc26) Via ILink or firewire whatever you want to call it. Put it on my computer edit it and make it look cool and awesome for a presentation at a hockey team (12 - 15 year old girls and there parents) wind up, I want the editing to include video, still pictures and sound. THEN, burn multiple copies that will be playable on most current DVD players!
NOW The camera comes with some software called PIXELA ImageMixer VCD2 that says it burns VIDEO CD's and i am computer savvy but not that computer savvy and i'm pretty sure those won't play on all DVD players! I have intimate access to a computer tech but he deals mostly with security and networks and office stuff but can help me if i am in dire need and if i beg and plead......... and bake him some cookies. I put this pixela crap on my computer and had to remove it because it was very complicated and way way to........ well crappy!

So I would like to know is there software that is comprehensive enough to do all this for me very simply i was thinking Roxio's easy media creator 9 is got pretty good reviews looks simple to use and build a video with, it's also been suggested that Nero has some good programs i can look into? suggestions for a total newb would help, and i am doing this just for fun so i don't need a bunch of drama about how you can't edit video on a pc from anyone who does this as a career.

I also need to know how my computer will get the Digital Video off my camera to the computer will the software take care of this or do i need something else? I've done my research online and there seems to be very little help it's all very complicated or just shows me how to get it from DV cam to DVD without editing!

Help is much appreciated!

[redwudz]

First you need a FireWire, 1394A or I-link card, all the same thing. Then the cable from the camera to the card. The cable is usually a 4 pin mini FireWire to a 6 Pin FireWire.

For transferring to the computer, quite a few programs will do that. Freeware and works very well is WinDV.

DV takes up about 13GB of hard drive space per hour, so you need a little spare room on your drives.

Once you have it on the hard drive, then you just need to edit, encode to MPEG-2, author to the DVD format and burn to disc. I wouldn't bother with CD discs as you will only get a few minutes on one, and it's not really worth the effort.

There are programs that will take you from transfer to finished DVD. I'll let others suggest them, as I use individual programs for all that. JMO, But I wouldn't recommend Nero or Roxio for any of that.

You want to do all your editing in DV format, as it is 'designed' for that and works very well. The menus, chapters, etc are added in the DVD authoring step.

If you use a good brand of DVD media, you should get fairly high compatibility with most DVD players.

This is obviously the short version. There is a lot to learn, but you can just take it one step at a time. Windows Movie Maker can also edit DV, but you will need to output in DV, then encode to MPEG-2, author and burn with other programs.

And welcome to our forums.

[daamon]

Hi HardcoreCandy,

Welcome to the forums.

All of what redwudz said, and...

There are programs that will take you from transfer to finished DVD. I'll let others suggest them, as I use individual programs for all that.

I, too, use individual programs for each seperate step of the process as it allows me the freedom I want. However, it has taken me a few years to get to grips with all the supporting knowledge I needed to gather to allow me to be close to effective.

Because of the learning curve and time required, I'll suggest two bits of software for you and your situation:

1) Avid Free DV - This will take your DV AVI files (what you get from WinDV), and do all the editing, still pictures and sound jiggery-pokery you want to do. And it's free. When done, save the finished article back to a DV AVI format.

2) ConvertXToDVD - it's a cheap "all-in-one" that'll take your DV AVI's (from Avid) and spit out a DVD with menus etc. Easy and effective for your needs. It's regularly recommended here, over other "all-in-one" options that have a lesser reputation.

Of course, there's more than one way to skin a cat so others may well have different / better suggestions.

Good luck!

[thecoalman]

Give Ulead video studio a try. Free trial on their site.

Authoring options may seem limited after you use it for a while but you can always get a better authoring program later. The main feature is the editor with onboard encoder and AC3 audio. Worth the price for that alone IMO.

[HardcoreCandy]

Thanks a bunch

[edDV]

Two more to consider and both very good.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio + DVD
Adobe Premere Elements

I'd avoid Roxio and Pinnacle.