video camera rec's needed

[gracecore]

Hello, this is all quite new to me, so I need to ask a very basic question to get up and running for what i need to do.


I am looking at purchasing a new video recorder but don't know where to begin, I would like to stay with budget og 1500.00 - 2000.00 range.

what i would like to do is show an info video for my daughters clubs, thus having just someone speak and be recorded.

Ideally, a video camera that would allow me to capture audio/ video and stream it into my windows computer directly then edit it through video editing software.

Can anyone recommend a good starting machine that will:

record / stream to my hard drives
stream audio in as well
recommend a good clip mic for the audio that will go through the camera

Also, if anyone is in Toronto Canada a good recommendation as to where i can purchase back drops

Thanks in advance

[Soopafresh]

Canon HV20 or HV30. Direct Streaming to Computer Hard drive via HDMI cable. Better have tons of disk space for realtime capturing to PC and 3 drives in Raid 0 configuration to be fast enough to actually record, plus a BlackMagic Intensity card for the HDMI connection. The hardware requirements are significant.

Why do you want direct streaming to your PC?

[gracecore]

Im not truely sure why, it was recommended to me by obviously someone thats more a newbie then me .Thanks for this, I though I could just record to the camera then transfer via firewire for editing.

any rec's on good clip mics ?

Cheers

[Soopafresh]

Thanks for this, I though I could just record to the camera then transfer via firewire for editing.

AKA the easiest and least CPU and hard drive intensive way. That's how I do it.

Wireless lav mic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYlhDGrw_eA&fmt=18

[JohnnyMalaria]

gracecore - pretty much any HDV camcorder will work for you. They have FireWire and can send either regular DV (standard TV) or the higher def HDV. DV is natively supported by Windows and even my aging 600MHz Sony laptop can manage it. With a modern PC, it will have Windows Movie Maker built in and when you connect the camcorder (in DV mode, not HDV) it will take you straight to where you need to start capturing (using Windows Movie Maker). Storage - about 13GB per hour. A 500GB or 1TB external hard drive (USB2.0 to prevent conflicts with the FireWire) will be ample.

For HDV, you need the same storage space. It uses the same amount per hour. But you need more ooomph to make everything come together. Windows does not come with HDV software but it does provide all the things behind the scenes. The free VLC can capture HDV with Windows.

I can't recommend a good mic. I'd have a browse around B&H's site (http://www.bhphoto.com) to see what they have in your price range.

BTW, if you get a FireWire-based camcorder always follow these two simple rules:

Plug the cable into the computer first and then into the camcorder. Otherwise you can create a static discharge that can (and does) fry either or both ends. Don't force the cable. There have been a lot of cases of people trying to force the cable into the wrong kind of socket or upside down. This, too, can frazzle things.

[zoobie]

I like a cam with LANC and using a tripod for semi-pro shots...maybe a wireless mic, too
www.camcorderinfo.com