capturing from my digital camcorder

[Noek]

wondering which software is the easiest and best to us to catpure via firewire

[MOVIEGEEK]

WinDV

[thecoalman]

There is no best unless you are looking for options such as splitting the files by scenes, file sizes, etc.. Can't offer suggestions because I use the capture program that came with my editor.

[Noek]

If I use Windv, can I author them to dvd as well?

[edDV]

No WinDv is only a DV transfer program.

What do you want to do and how much learning effort vs. money do you want to spend?

DV to DVD authoring programs listed here.
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=2#2

Some are inclusive, some require a separate MPeg2 encoder.
If you want to edit, you may need other software. Describe what you want to do.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Ulead VideoStudio,Ulead DVD MovieFactory,Pinnacle Studio,NeroVision Express are a few "all-in-ones".

[redwudz]

ConvertXtoDVD, XvidToDVD are also easy converters for DV to DVD, though for better control and quality, you would want to use standalone encoders and authoring programs.

My process:

Transfer to the computer with WinDV.
Edit and filter in VirtualDub Mod. (Using the Panasonic DV codec.)
Save out audio as a WAV. Encode that to AC3 with ffmpeggui.
Encode the video only to DVD compliant MPEG-2 with TMPGEnc Plus.
Select the MPEG-2 and the AC3 in TMPGEnc DVD Author. Create chapters and menus.
Burn to DVD.

[MI6]

Try "Scenalyzer", it's the best choice.
Regards.