End of my video editing days???

[MadMaz]

Hey guys and gals, just a quick question please. I am now the proud owner (through work) of windows vista. I would like to install it onto my PC but I seem to be having a compatability issue. Most of my editing and burning comes from my Hitachi DVD camera with footage supplied by my two young boys. I used to plug my camera into the PC with a USB cable.

DVD-MovieAlbumSE3 then automatically fired up and I used that to upload the footage.
MyDVD version4 was then used to make the DVD discs.

The Hitachi web site just says that my camera is uncompatible with vista. They wont answer my emails either.......

It also states the usb/udf driver is uncompatible too.

Does this make any sense? I have used other software to edit videos (adobe premier) so is there other software you can recomend to upload the footage? Can I use another usb driver? I am really looking for something simple which is on par with the bundled software I got with the camera. I would love to upgrade to vista but my number one priority is to keep using my camera as my boys are growing up.

Sorry for the long post and ANY help would be appreciated.

[thecoalman]

I could be wrong but you'll most likely have to wait until they release a driver for the cam... if they do. If it's a recent model they will.

FYI, you can just rip the disc with a multitude of programs using your computers DVD drive if you're using a standard RW, or +/-R disc.

[pepegot1]

Now you know why using Vista, at this time, is unwise-especially for DVD etc. activities. It needs time like XP did.

[dcsos]

Anotherwords, just download DVD DECRYPTER or DVD FAB DECRYPTER
and extrct the contents of your CAMCORDER to a folder on your VISTA machine.
Programs Like MY DVD 4 could stillll be used to burn and author, but in the case of a reusable DVD file, you might need an interim program than understands there is an mpg stream from your camera in the structure of that DVD on the hard disc
programs that see the VOB as reusable MPG stream
DVD ARCHITECT 4
DVD LAB STUDIO
VEGAS 6

others may chime in with other hopefully $$$ cheaper workarounds possible

[MadMaz]

The thing that confuses me is the camera uses a DVD-ram mini disc which wont work in my pc dvd drive, thats why I think i'm stuck using the bundled software.
Apparently according to the Hitachi web site DVD Moviealbum SE version 4 is compatible with vista but I don't know if its compatible with my camera. Does anyone know how these programs import the data? I'm hoping version 4 has improved features over version 3 but the data importing part of the software is still the same.

[dcsos]

I just bought a Phillips 20x DL Burner that reads RAM for $40.00 US (ben-Q inside?)
at Madison Computer NY

[thecoalman]

Your biggest issue is that the discs and the format are about as imcompatible as it can get. RAM discs, strike one, you need a RAM compatible drive. VRO mode recording, strike two you need software that supports VRO discs. The video on the disc is MPEG, it's nothing special however there's not a lot of software that supports VRO to get it into usable file onto your computer .

Can you record on regular discs in video mode? That's the best solution for future recordings.

My best advice.... dump the cam and get a mini-dv cam. No fooling, better quality and it's plug and play. Those DVD cams are intended to be used by people who want to record to disc and that's it.

[joegib]

Install a dual boot XP/Vista system and use XP for your serious work.

[MadMaz]

Thanks everyone, I was trying to avoid it but I think a dual boot system is the way to go.
Cheers to everyone who helped.