MiniDV to PC ?????

[P.J]

Which video/audio format should I use for capturing MiniDV (Sony HC90E) to PC ?
Please explain completely !
I use Mpeg2 DVD, 720x576 25fps (PAL), 8000Kbps VBR for video format.
But I don't know anything about audio format ! So :

Problem 1: There is too many audio format such as DTS, Dolby Digital(AC3,2.0CH,5.1CH,Pro Logic I/II). which you prefer ?
Problem 2: Sony HC90E can record "4CH/32KHz/12bit" and "2CH/48KHz/16bit". which is better with onboard microphone ?
Problem 3: Which video format should I use ?
Problem 4: Which program is the best for capturing ?
Problem 5: There's a option in HC90E : DVD creator or Click to DVD Converter (I think). What is it ?

Thanks.

[edDV]

1. MiniDV audio is always PCM uncompressed. PAL DVD can use PCM, MPeg2 or AC-3.

2. "2CH/48KHz/16bit" is the DVD standard. "4CH/32KHz/12bit" can be used but must be converted to 48KHz in your editing/DVD authoring software. The built in mic is fairly low quality.

3. DV

4. IEEE-1394 DV transfer to HDD. WinDV will do the job.

5. I have no idea.

[daamon]

Hi P.J,

Problem 1:
If your Sony isn't too old, it'll have a firewire output. Attach this to a firewire port on your PC using a firewire cable.

Use WinDV to then transfer the audio and video from the MiniDV come to the PC in DV AVI format. This way, there's absolutely no change to the data and so no quality loss.

Also, DV AVI is excellent for editing. However, be warned that DV AVI is about 13.5Gb per hour of footage.

Problem 2:
48KHz / 16 bit is the one to use if you want to put your video onto DVD to watch on TV. If you're going to watch them on the PC, then either is OK.

Problem 3:
DV AVI - see "Problem 1" answer.

Problem 4:
WinDV is good - see "Problem 1" answer.

Problem 5:
Don't know. Is it on the camera or in the software (if any) that came with it?

[ozymango]

Problem 5: There's a option in HC90E : DVD creator or Click to DVD Converter (I think). What is it ?

Special Sony proprietary feature -- with "Click to DVD," if you're connecting to a Sony Vaio with stock (Sony) build, you can literally click on one button in some program on the Vaio and it'll download the DV video and make a DVD for you. Or close enough. We've got a couple of Sony Vaio computers around here and they tout this as some cool feature. Never tried it, though, as we don't have any Sony camcorders to try it with, but if you've got a Vaio PC, you could check it out and let us know the results.

[P.J]

Problem 5: There's a option in HC90E : DVD creator or Click to DVD Converter (I think). What is it ?

Special Sony proprietary feature -- with "Click to DVD," if you're connecting to a Sony Vaio with stock (Sony) build, you can literally click on one button in some program on the Vaio and it'll download the DV video and make a DVD for you. Or close enough. We've got a couple of Sony Vaio computers around here and they tout this as some cool feature. Never tried it, though, as we don't have any Sony camcorders to try it with, but if you've got a Vaio PC, you could check it out and let us know the results.

Which program on the Vaio ???
what's your opinion about Ulead VideoStudio 10 plus (very basic and easy and good design)?

[edDV]

A very good program.

[TheFamilyMan]

I have the sony HC-96. Its owner's manual has a section on using the "click to DVD" software; hopefully yours does too. Ulead MovieFactory also has a simular feature, but I cannot figure out its benefits unless one is very impatient. It's really nice to author your home footage (add chapter points and menus) and I cannot imagine what kind of authoring gets performed on a direct-to-DVD produced DVD. My recommended miniDV to DVD processing: capture as AVI (DV2 format), edit only if necessary, convert to MPEG2, author and burn. VideoStudio probably does all of these in an integrated manner, though it might capture as MPEG2 and then re-encode the edited footage to MPEG2, which isn't a good thing quality wise. But I could be wrong here...Good Luck.

[edDV]

...

VideoStudio probably does all of these in an integrated manner, though it might capture as MPEG2 and then re-encode the edited footage to MPEG2, which isn't a good thing quality wise. But I could be wrong here...Good Luck.

Video Studio will capture and edit in DV format (Capture Format = DV). If you select Capture Format = DVD, it will try to realtime encode to MPeg2.

DV format is the best way to go for camcorder to DVD. After editing use "Share" "Create Disc" then "DVD".