Video Editing Newbie....

[xirokx]

Hi,

I would like to do the following pls kindly advise if it is possible and if yes which software I need and is it easy or hard:

1) Transferring footage from mini tapes inside camcorder to pc
2) Transferring footage from mini tapes inside camcorder to VHS
3) Transferring from pc to VHS.....

For point 3 do I need specific software or equiment?

For point 2 do I need any specific software?

I understand if I can transfer the footage to pc I can just burn it using nero as dvd video? Is this true

How hard is it to do?

Do I connect the camcorder to pc, press play on the camcorder? If yes what software do I use to copy the footage onto the pc?

Once the footage is on the pc if I use virtual dub can I add jpegs to the beginning of the footage? Will this change the quality? Or will it be jumpy?

All help would be most appreciated

Thanks in advance...

Cheers!!!

[Barnabas]

Read the guides here:

https://www.videohelp.com/capture

[xirokx]

is there like a technical term used for mini tapes you record on in a camcorder?

Can you point me towards the guides there is so many if i could get the right ones I dont mind reading them....

Thanks

[redwudz]

I think the reason Barnabas pointed you to the general guides is that you are basically asking to be taught a course in video.

But I get you started. You are likely talking about MiniDV tapes. To transfer them to your computer you need a Firewire cable and a Firewire card in your computer. WinDV is a popular program for transfers. DV is about 13GB and hour, so have a lot of hard drive space.

You can edit DV using VirtualDub or my favorite VirtualDub Mod. You will need to install a DV codec. The Panasonic DV codec works well.

After editing you need to convert the DV to MPEG-2 with an encoder if you want to put it on a DVD. TMPGEnc is one encoder, there are more.

After encoding you need to author the MPEG-2 to DVD format. TMPGEnc DVD Author is one program to do that, there are more.

If you want to put it back on VHS tape, you can output it from a video card that has composite or S-video output to a VCR. Or if you have the DVD made, you can record that with you VHS recorder.

If you wanted to put the DV from the camera directly into a VHS recorder, your camera would need composite out. This would be the same setup as hooking the camera to a TV to view the footage.

Yes, you would press play on the camcorder to transfer the DV. There may be other settings needed.

Adding JPEGs can be done during editing, encoding or authoring, depending on what you want to do with them.

One question would help us, though. What camcorder a you talking about? Brand and model?

[xirokx]

Thanks for your reply.....

As its not my camcorder I am unable to specify the model...All I know is its a latest panasonic NVG digicam....

I will of course find out and get back to you asap...

More importantly how long do these processes take on average?

1) Transferring footage from mini tapes inside camcorder to pc
2) Transferring footage from mini tapes inside camcorder to VHS
3) Transferring from pc to VHS.....

Please confirm

Thanks alot for your help I really appreciate your time and patience

[xirokx]

After editing you need to convert the DV to MPEG-2 with an encoder if you want to put it on a DVD. TMPGEnc is one encoder, there are more.

After encoding you need to author the MPEG-2 to DVD format. TMPGEnc DVD Author is one program to do that, there are more.

Thats your response....

However long would that take....

Video footage would be 45mins to 1 hr for each miniDV tape....

Thanks once again

[redwudz]

DV is transferred in real time. If the video is 45 minutes long, that's how long the transfer will take.

The speed of encoding varies with your CPU speed and your encoder settings. The fastest would usually be real time, but more likely 2X or more real time. Sometimes 3X-6X, depending on your settings and CPU speed. The encoder will usually tell you how long it will take when you start the encode.

Authoring usually only takes a short time, maybe 20 minutes, depending on your settings, probably less.

All the transfers you mention will be in real time, the length of the video.

If you want to do this a little easier, at least the encoding/authoring, you can use a program like ConvertXToDVD after you edit. It doesn't give you the control or the higher quality of the individual programs, but it's much simpler to learn if you are just starting out.

The basic steps for DV>DVD are:

>Transfer DV to the Computer
>Edit the video
>Encode to MPEG-2
>Author to DVD
>Burn to DVD

There are guides for each of those operations.
And you might want to look to the upper left for 'What is' DVD. <<<<<< That will give you information about the DVD format.

[xirokx]

45mins to 1hr from camcorder to pc
2hrs 15mins for encoding (calculated at 3x encoding time)
30mins for authoring....

so for transferring from dv to pc then encoding and authoring to burn as dvd video in nero for around 45mins dv footage would take around 3 hours.....

Thanks for your help I really really appreciate the time you have taken to share your knowledge