How can I get camcorder to dvd?

[rpgman]

I have a Sony camcorder (model DCR-TRV350) that comes with MYDVD, it has a USB connection and a firewire connection....

I have a homegrown PC that is the following:

2.4 P4 Intel chip
Albatron PX845E Pro II Motherboard
1 gig of PC2100 DDR Memory
XFX nVidia Geforce4 MX 440 64mb DDR Video Card
2 Western Digital 80gig harddrives
1 DVD-CD Reader (cheap brand)
1 Sony DVD Writer model DRU500AX
6 2.0 USB ports

but, no firewire port....

I want to copy my Camcorder home movies striaght to the Sony Writer....

can I just install a plain firewire port and MYDVD software will reconize this firewire port and write the movie right to the Sony writer??? It didn't reconize the USB port.

or, do I have to buy an expensive capture firewire board?

what I have done so far is download the camcorder movie via the image-station software and the USB cable provided by the Sony camcorder to an mpeg movie (what kind I don't know), then burned that onto the dvd with MYDVD software....but, the quality was poor, was that because I used USB to dowanload?? Also, it was a slow process for a 4 minute movie....I would much rather go right to the Sony DVD.

Any help would be great.

Thanks,

rpgman

[Tommyknocker]

Since quality is a big issue for you, I would suggest getting a firewire card, as they start at around $15.00. Windows Media Encoder 9 is freeware and should fit your bill if you do not have a capture program that can capture firewire.

Also, you can capture directly to your DVD writer. Read this guide.

[rpgman]

so what your saying is:

your giving out 2 options....

1. buy a $15.00 firewire pci port that MYDVD or Windows Media Encoder 9 will use to write directly to the Sony DVD without any editing....correct?

2. Use Intervideo WinDVD Recorder(Free Trial Available)
but, it seems the quality wasn't as good doing that.

and I should burn these on what kind of DVD? DVD-R? or DVD+R?

Thanks,

rpgman

[Tommyknocker]

Well, what I am saying is think about going ahead and investing in a firewire card, period. Then try a trial version of software that can capture DV from your camera using this card. Ulead has a programs, one which I use is Video Studio 6 which has DV capture mode, which I use to capture my DV from my Sony camcorder.

Or if you like capturing directly to your writer, go I would suggest going ahead and purchasing the firewire card and capturing the DV directly to your DVD writer.

I am afraid I must beg off the DVD-R vs. DVD+R debate, as I still use (S)VCDs, but the gurus here will be more than happy to address that portion of your question. Gentlemen?

[rpgman]

well, going to the pci firewire card worked...used Mydvd to go directly to the dvd....but, I have a question?

this might seem dumb, but I noticed that it took 280mg for a 4 minute video.....the dvd's hold 120minutes....am I right thinking I won't get 120 minutes to go on the dvd?

maybe I'm not doing the math right or something....280meg divided by 4 minutes is equal to 70mg....70meg times 120 minutes is 8400 meg or 8.4 gig right?

(280/4=70x120=8400)

is that right....could it be the 'quality'? and, the lesser quality, the more you fit on a dvd.

btw, Tommyknocker...thanx for your help!

thanks,

rpgman

[donpedro]

Correct.... for bets quality mpeg2 (around 8000 kBits/sec) you can fit around 60 min to DVD. You can fit more by lowering bitrate and loosing quality.

[rpgman]

thank you donpedro !

you guys are the best...

this site is the best for anything to do with dvd

keep up the great work !

rpgman

[hoyboy]

I am using a DCRTRV340 camcorder for capture, I purchased a firewire card that came with Ulead videostudio5 and have not been having any trouble with them at all.