Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2000 AVCHD Newb - Video Device Project Advice

[raverscout]

I got this new Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2000 and its fantastic, BUT some things I need help with.

1. Any firmware upgrades available yet?

2. Can I record to the Camera from a HDMI source/Composite supplied leads from say my DVDR. or is the Xacti only HDMI / composit out? Its my guess this is so, I only have a quick start guide I cant find full insructions in the box.
It comes with a nice HDMI docking station but wondered if theres any hacks or mods to allow recording to
the camera like the Old DVI format hacks found on Panasonic DV cams?
The thing is I record clips on a crappy Wharfdale DVDR Freeview Recorder to its internal HardDisk, from here it would be great to copy the clips to SDcard to quickly transfer to PowerDVD for editing but allas I cant find any devices that does this with TV Aerial input Freeview and HDMI Out. If you know of such a device please tell me!
So I need to find a way to record from my TV DVDR device to my camera, I can write a DVD and Finalize it but it takes ages to title all the clips and so on, even when I do this I find it really hard to simply convert the DVD to AVI's or Hi Quality MP4s. I just tried DVD Shrink3.2, Shrinkit5, Nero9free, and 2 others none of them worked! some claim they convert but are just rippers to more VOB files, its so annoying slow down in the video making process I need to get new equipment, please advise on coverting software and hardware.

Im just trying to make Youtube vidoes its sooo annoying, please read my signiture..

[edDV]

The Xacti is only HDMI / composite out.

The Panasonic DV hacks broke blocks on recording for UK only models. The UK placed a tax on all camcorders that allowed recording. They collected very little tax from this since most UK firmware was re-written to block recording. The same models allowed recording in every other country.

To record from a TV tuner box to a computer look at the Hauppauge HD PVR.

[danno78]

As an alternative to the Hauppage HD is AverMedia Capture HD. Can make MPEG2 file using software compression. It can`t compress hardware h264 like Hauppage HD PVR, but is cheaper.
http://www.avermedia.com/avertv/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=499

[raverscout]

Thank you very much guys i'll check them out, will post an update asap,
they are now selling Asus 24 Inch Colour Flat Screens 1080p x 1920 FullHD with many Viewing Modes including GAME Mode ect 5 Milliseconds access speed and settings Built in stereo speakers,
but best of all it has HDMI IN socket and SPDIF OUT and ANALOGUE In an OUT sockets and at only
£175 delivered free from Amazon you can skip round the TV licence with this beauty , as long as you can hide any
capturing tuner you might have..

If anyone knows if I can get any Firmware upgrades for my HD2000? thanks again!

[raverscout]

Ok I had a look but it has No HDMI Inputs looking at this one only Composite. let me explain fully.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hauppauge-Capture-Definition-Hardware-Encoders/dp/B001M0MY10/r...5006158&sr=8-1

I have a Bravia 4000 series 32" Panel TV if I feed my Outside Freeview antenna to it I get a much better picture than
feeding it to my rubbish Wharfdale DVDR freeview tuner as it has poorer filtering but it has got HDMI Out, Sadly the Sony Bravia has no HDMI out but has 3 Ins so for now I feed the Wharfale DVDR to it.
I think theres a Scart out of the TV, and possibly composite R G B out, but no HDMI,

I need To Record to SDHC or Harddisc from the Xacti and have a built in Freeview tuner, I dont want to have to run another PC, another DVDR and a Haupauge thing, I'm looking to buy 1 box with a Freeview RF connector and tuner for Freeview outside Antenna and record to HardDisc and edit and copy to SDHC with some editing like split, join, delete, functions simple! or No Harddisc just SDHC should make it portable, BUT it must have HDMI-In socket with record function to record at 25-30fps at 1080i 1920,
I should be able to record from the Xacti no problem no?. dont tell me HDMI-IN in the UK is illegal??? I'll flippin leave the country.

[raverscout]

As an alternative to the Hauppage HD is AverMedia Capture HD. Can make MPEG2 file using software compression. It can`t compress hardware h264 like Hauppage HD PVR, but is cheaper.
http://www.avermedia.com/avertv/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?Id=499

Hi Danno this ones great , but no HDMI out ? guess I will need to buy Dedicated Media Tower PC that can run Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz and 4gb Ram one of these CaptureHD cards and another decent Intel Gforce graphics card with HDMI-Out to run along side it with 2x 1TB Harddrives? yeh ok sounds nice.
and Windows Media Centre runnning onit maybe. I would be able to make decent vidoes on this and music as well.
It could get very expensive.

I need Something like an Archos media device but with 250GB Space and Full HDMI-IN recording or dubbing from HDcams! -
FULL HDMI OUT Socket to TV or Monitor. Must be able to record to internal harddisc with copy to SDHC function and simple edit functions, split, join, delete, rename, Built in Freeview Chip, 3.5mm RF Antenna JAck, come on designers it aint rocket science! a £29 NokiaN95 equivelent Screen would be good enough.
My Cowon D2 has DAB Recording and is tiny , DAB Radio with Record to any bitrate Includes colour Pictures and SLide shows, FM Radio with record to any bitrate, 8GB internal 16GB SDHC card, to many featuers to mention,
thanks for all your suggestions so far youve all been very helpful.