Some basic questions

[Garyp]

I've spent the time (hours trying to find the answers to a few simple questions, but I think they may be too simple for this forum to have posted.
Here goes

I'm using Ulead VideoStudio 6 basic (free with my firewire card) (The help and online help is pitifull). It seems to be a pretty good program. Is the full store bought version enough of an improvement to justify buying it?
(does the full version come with good instructions?)

#2
I'm reading about TMPGENc. and it sounds pretty good (although somewhat complicated) Is this simply another program or do I have the wrong idea?

#3
This may be the stupidest one
Capture cards I have a Pyro Basi DV firewire card. Is this the actual capture card and is a firewire card the best way to go.

Thanks in advance. Hope someone can help me

[KingJohn]

1, I think there is no difference to UVS 6 free with your card, it does not have a time limit does it ?, then its the same

Whats instructions , the help file

Aeditor.hlp 198K
Cg.hlp 416K
Vcapture.hlp 194K
Veditor.hlp 837K

Lots more...

2, TMPGEnc is used mostly editing work, and is far easier to use than UVS 6
3, Yes, Probably

[Allan55]

#3 Capture cards I have a Pyro Basi DV firewire card. Is this the actual capture card and is a firewire card the best way to go.

Firewire is not a capture device. It is much closer to a network interface. In fact, under WinXP (at least) it can be used as a network device if you want to pay for a firewire hub.

When your camera is connected to your computer using Firewire, the camera is the capture device (sometimes you record to tape and then "play" to Firewire). Some high-end cameras allow you to connect a VCR and "play" that through the camera which then captures and encodes to DV (this is sometimes called "pass-through").

Without that feature in your camera, you need a capture device that outputs DV over Firewire. For what it's worth, I use a Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge.