Capture card or Fireware..??

[anty2002]

Hello friends,

I am new to this forum and still trying to understand capturing and related stuff..

I have Sony HC-40E(PAL format) MiniDV handycam and desktop powered by AMD 2.XGB processor. I want to download the video from my handycam to PC and write into CD or DVD. Please help me finding a capture card or fireware for doing this.

Other doubts I have in my mind are..
1. I am in US. So if I download PAL format into CD or DVD, can I use it. OR do I need any convertor for PAL <-> NTSC??
2. What are major differences between Capture card and Fireware. Which quality is best?
3. I tried to connect my handycam to PC thru USB streaming and used Windows Movie Maker to capture video, but quality was very bad. Picture Package software comes along with Sony Handycam is useless (I heard somewhere in this forum and I realized by using it). I want some better quality viewable in TV screen.

Please suggest me some gud Capture card or Fireware (I dont want expensive one). I would be thankful to all.

Thanks in advance for your time and valuable suggestions.

Warm Regards,
Anty

[JohnnyMalaria]

For a Firewire card:

$21 - http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=SEARCH&Ntt=firewire&N=0&Dx=mode+m...eo_Editing_Kit

May need to buy a 4-pin to 6-pin Firewire cable.

As far as PAL goes, many/most DVD players will happily play PAL DVDs and display them correctly on NTSC TVs (and vice versa).

[mats.hogberg]

Capture card is analog, so the digital DV video is converted to analog, then the computer turns this into digital format again.
FireWire is 100% digital - it's just data transfer from the camera to the computer. I'm sure you see what's the best route...

/Mats

[edDV]

Please explain your total intent.

Did you just move here from a PAL country? PAL camcorders are rare in the USA. Are your TV displays NTSC or PAL?

Also, you say you are downloading PAL. Is this for display on a NTSC TV?

As for PAL DV camcorder transfer, start by using IEEE-1394 (firewire) to get an exact copy of the DV tape file to your hard drive. WinDV is the easiest way.

I ask this because PAL in an NTSC country is the most difficult situation.

[anty2002]

My sincere thanks to fellow members.

I have moved from PAL world. I want to share my experience in USA, with my friends and family in my country. But at the same time, if I want to view here in my TV, will it work?

Is there any hardware or software available to convert from PAL<->NTSC after downloading using Fireware.

I am planning to buy Fireware after seeing your valuable suggestions.

Anty

[JohnnyMalaria]

My sincere thanks to fellow members.

I have moved from PAL world. I want to share my experience in USA, with my friends and family in my country. But at the same time, if I want to view here in my TV, will it work?

Is there any hardware or software available to convert from PAL<->NTSC after downloading using Fireware.

I am planning to buy Fireware after seeing your valuable suggestions.

Anty

I'm a former PALite living in NTSCville, too, so understand your concern.

If your move is permanent, I would strongly recommend going with NTSC equipment - otherwise you will have nothing but headaches.

Compared to a few years ago, options for sharing video originally shot in NTSC with folk in PAL-land are better and cheaper:

After transfering your DV from the camcorder to your computer, convert the video to DVD (this forum/website has lots and lots of information about doing that). Send the DVDs to your friends/family. They can either watch them on a PC (Windows, Mac, Linux) or with a standalone DVD player. As I mentioned earlier, most DVD players can play NTSC and PAL.

OR - instead of creating a DVD as such, create MPEG files and send those on CD or DVD.

Finally, you could buy a standalone DVD recorder (for $100!!!) and connect your camcorder directly to it. That way you can create the DVD without the headaches/frustrations often encountered using the PC route.

In the meantime, since you already have a PAL MiniDV camcorder, you can still create DVDs that your friends and family can watch. To watch them in the US on a standard TV, though, you probably won't have much luck directly from the camcorder. You will probably have to create DVDs for you own use. Higher-tech TVs are more flexible and can probably handle PAL directly.

Most consumer electronics stores (Best Buy, Circuit City etc) will let you plug your PAL camcorder into the TVs to see if they will work properly or not.

[anty2002]

Hi John,

Thanks for detailed info. Though I hav plan to get one NTSC Cam, I am using my PAL MiniDV for time being and I have lot of MiniDV cassettes piled up in my home. For converting that I need Fireware.

I have seen one 1394 port in my PC. Can I simply buy a fireware cable and use OR do I need to go for Fireware Card, which you suggested in your previous reply. Please advise me.

Thanks to all folks.

Anty

[mats.hogberg]

If you have a 1394 port, you've got all you need.

/Mats

[JohnnyMalaria]

Hi John,

Thanks for detailed info. Though I hav plan to get one NTSC Cam, I am using my PAL MiniDV for time being and I have lot of MiniDV cassettes piled up in my home. For converting that I need Fireware.

I have seen one 1394 port in my PC. Can I simply buy a fireware cable and use OR do I need to go for Fireware Card, which you suggested in your previous reply. Please advise me.

Thanks to all folks.

Anty

You just need to buy the cable. Most likely your 1394 port is a 6-pin variety (similar size to a USB port). Your camcorder will most likely have a 4-pin connection.

[anty2002]

Hi Friends,

My hearful thanks to all.

Today I received IEEE 1394 card and I could download crystal clear video to my PC within 5 min, without any problem.

I wonder how I missed this group all these days to get experts advise. In my country, I spend lot of time running btn pillars and poles to download one cassette. Here with all your help, I could do it in 5 min.

Once again thanks to all for your wonderful help. I am going to suggest this site to all my friends to get expert help.

Warm Regards,
Anty