Mini-DV to computer with Windows Movie Maker--now how to DVD?

[Darrell KSR]

Obvious newbie here. I have a borrowed mini-DV Sony camcorder, and have uploaded two hours of mini-DV tape to my computer's hard drive using Windows Movie Maker. It used about 24 gb of hard drive space.

I'd like to copy one hour of video on a single DVD, which I understand is limited to 4.7gb, so it'll have to be compressed somehow. And I have no idea if the format (.avi, I think) that it is in now will work in a television DVD player (my ultimate goal), or if it will need to be changed.

Equipment I have--Sony mini-DV camcorder, Dell laptop with Duo Core processor.
Software on the computer includes Windows Movie Maker, and DVD Shrink (if that helps).
Software I have purchased that is not yet loaded is the latest version of Nero.

Will this combination allow me to do what I want? I am truly an idiot here--I surfed around in the DV forum for answers, but could not understand most of the questions.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[JohnnyMalaria]

To find out ways of doing this on your PC, start here:

https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?searchtext=&tools=&madeby=&formatconversionselect=DV+to+DVD

Prepare to be overwhelmed with options and a pretty steep learning curve!

As an alternative, if you are in a hurry and don't need fancy titles/menus etc., you can do this (for a lot less frustration but a few extra $$):

Buy a standalone DVD recorder (you can get them for $99 - which never ceases to amaze me).
Have WMM play your edited DV material back to your camcorder via Firewire
Connect the analog audio/video output from the camcorder to the inputs on the DVD recorder.
Record!

[SingSing]

If you buy a DVD recorder with firewire input, then you can hook your camcorder to the DVD recorder directly and transfer the video.

If you decided to get a DVD recorder without firewire inoput, then you can hook the camcorder audio/video output to the DVD recorder, and record the video.

One or two hours of video per DVD yields pretty good quality.

Note : You want to look at Sony DVD recorder last, many other brand/make are much better than Sony.

[Darrell KSR]

Sounds like the standalone DVD recorder is a good option for someone like me. $99? Really?

I'm going to go check out the ways of doing it on my PC as well, dive in at that link, and see what happens. My level is so low of understanding this stuff that I'm not optimistic--probably consistent with your thoughts--that I'll "get it." But I'd like to try to see if I could figure it out on the PC without buying anything else.

Much thanks for the replies. Looking forward to visiting this forum a lot in the coming days. I'm a "one project at a time" kinda guy, but I am going to be purchasing a new camcorder for myself, mini-DV or hard drive, I have probably 100 old 8mm tapes I'm fearful of losing that need to be converted, and a couple of other projects. Thanks for letting me start out on the newbie General Discussion forum and get my feet wet.

I'll be checking this thread in case there are any other suggestions, too, but I thank you already.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Sounds like the standalone DVD recorder is a good option for someone like me. $99? Really?

Yup - I got an Insignia NS-DVDR1 from Best Buy for $99 (though it is currently listed at $115 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7669007&type=product&id=1134701703281 )

Even has the DV input if you want to go directly from the camcorder to the DVD recorder.

[edDV]

If you want to use WMM2 + want nice authored menus first transfer DV to WMM2 in DV-AVI format and export your project in DV-AVI format when you have finished editing. Then use an authoring program like ULead Movie Factory 5 and you are done.

The DVD recorder option will be much faster. If you want an editing program that is a big step up from WMM2 try one of the following.

Adobe Premiere Elements
Sony Vegas Movie Studio
ULead Video Studio

[JohnnyMalaria]

BTW, Windows Vista comes with Windows DVD Maker. If you can get hold of Vista RC1 (and have the time and determination to install it etc), that is another option.

There's even a web site dedicated to it: http://www.windowsdvdmaker.com/

I tried it briefly - pretty decent for a freebie.

[SingSing]

I have probably 100 old 8mm tapes I'm fearful of losing that need to be converted, and a couple of other projects.

Typically, you have to sit in front of the PC to do transfer, edit, author, burn..etc. After a while you give up, because this process tie you down.

A DVD recorder is pretty much like VCR. Start the 8mm camcorder, and the DVD recorder, and both of them will stop/shut off, when the transfer is done. Since it takes less than 5 minutes to setup each transfer, you have a better chance to actually doing it instead of worring about it.

[redwudz]

A software method I have used for easy DV to DVD is ConvertXToDVD. You will likely need to do some editing first, WMM or my choice, VirtualDub Mod works well.

The downside of using a DVD recorder is ending up with MPEG video, which can be difficult to do extensive editing on. DV, on the other hand, is 'made' for editing. You can cut anywhere you want and there are lots of filters available. Filtering can be important with old video, like 8mm transfers.

I assume you may use a DV camcorder with passthrough and DV output to copy the projected film images, so you can work on the video in the computer? You may have to correct the colors or clean up scratches and noise. VD Mod is good for that. You could edit the DV first in the computer, then send the DV over to a DVD recorder. Ones with DV input may cost a little more than $99US, though.

Just a few options to consider. Anyway you decide to go, there may be a lot of reading involved.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Ones with DV input may cost a little more than $99US, though.

The unit I referenced above has DV input - it was $99 at the time (currently lists for $115).

Only downside is that it only works with camcorders, not with a connection to a PC.