Capture DV with datestamp please - exploring options Pinnacle Exsate Ensoft

[Nicola-Pickle]

Hi, I am putting old family video from mini-DV tapes onto the computer to store long-term on external hard drive, using the two internal hard drives while capturing and working on the video. I plan to save the video as mpeg so that the storage is manageable avi seemed too bulky with no appreciably different appearance to my eye, also I’ll probably store on DVDs for watching on DVD player too. I would love to show the date on my video and have been exploring my options. My camcorder is Panasonic NV-GS180 EB.

I had bought Pinnacle Studio 12 Ultimate and their support initially said my camcorder isn't sending the info across, but trying Exsate DV Capture and Enosoft that I read about in a forum I could see that the data is clearly available through firewire. Pinnacle support have then advised me to "go in studio to video effects-> camera POV-> generic camcorder. And at that scene it will show you the time and date. This is the only way" but I haven't quite found out how to do that and am awaiting their further advice. (I’ve also had some burning errors so will be reinstalling Pinnacle).

I REALLY like the idea of Exsate DV Capture in that it is (1) more attractive than in Enosoft where it is rather too functional for my home family video and (2) can just appear with change of scene (or day?) for a few seconds before disappearing again. But when I used Exsate DV Capture there were lots of dropped frames – about 30-40% but sl fewer when tried again. But looked unacceptably jerky. I tried to download Exsate VideoExpress but a broken link and then later version but I was afraid to buy the software in case same problem. I’ve not tried DV/Photo Time Stamp.

I am new to all of this so hope I’ve given the info you need. Thank you so much for any help you can suggest. I may give up and stick with basic video without date on it, but would be interested in your advice on my options.

Nicola-Pickle

[JohnnyMalaria]

Hello,

Thanks for considering our software. I understand your comment about it being too functional. It can be made to look much simpler and do all kinds of things beyond the those provided with the direct interface. We are always on the look-out for new demos to provide with the software that show what it can do. It would be quite simple to create a program that has just a couple of buttons and automatically find the camcorder, detect scene breaks, burn the time/date into the video for a few seconds and create the AVI file.

I'd be quite happy to pull something together if you are interested.

John.

[Safesurfer]

Not to take anything away from you John, but there is an app that might already fit the bill - CaptureFlux, or for already captured files DVDate. You can set the duration of display and also have it display at each scene break.

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/captureflux_en.htm

[Nicola-Pickle]

Hi, thanks very much for your comments.

JonnyMalaria - yes might be very interesting to try anything else that you can point me to of yours - thanks

And SafeSurfer I'm interested in what you suggest too - sorry can't try anything just now got work and the children to see to but may be tonight...

Is it reasonable then to capture through firewire as avi then change as output (?) straight to mpeg with any of these optons? Or would I need to put into something like Pinnacle Studio or other programme and then output to mpeg in that?

THank you again so much, and please excuse my newness to all this, Nicola-Pickle

[JohnnyMalaria]

Not to take anything away from you John, but there is an app that might already fit the bill - CaptureFlux, or for already captured files DVDate. You can set the duration of display and also have it display at each scene break.

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/captureflux_en.htm

Good to know. Paul has some interesting programs. And I'd never dare argue with Ena Sharples

Nicola - do you mean take an AVI file and then add the info when creating the MPEG as opposed to adding the info to the AVI file and then creating the MPEG from that?

[Safesurfer]

And I'd never dare argue with Ena Sharples

OK, now I'm seriously impressed. 1. You know who Ena Sharples is, and 2. You know what a battleaxe she was.

You must be as old as dirt (like me), I doubt most Brits (again like me) would remember her character from Corrie.


@Nicola-Pickle

I wouldn't suggest realtime encoding of DV capture to MPEG it might result in lost frames due to the load on the system. You're better off capturing first then encoding to MPEG in your video editor, also gives you more control over output quality. Surely there's something you want to cut out.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Don't be too impressed. I'm a displaced Brit - hence the redcoat in my avatar. I guess I must be older than I'd care to think, though.

[Nicola-Pickle]

Hi, thanks for the advice.

So I should make sure I capture as dv or avi then later put it into project and make into mpeg if that's howI want to store it? Thanks! Mostly I'm just wanting to keep the video for posterity and am not planning to be particularly creative - even kept in the annoying bits of videoing the ground or having a slight argument etc which are embarrassing but slightly funny later!

I'll try those programmes you've suggested; sorry not done so already but everyone's been after the computer and also some problems with PC's smooth running!

Thanks very much again, Nicola-Pickle

[JohnnyMalaria]

Yes, capture your video as a DV AVI file. Just to confuse things, there are two types imaginatively called Type-1 and Type-2. Depending on the software you use to convert to MPEG, it may not like one type but like the other. Most modern apps use the Type-1. If it doesn't like it, you'll get a message along the lines of "format unknown", "not suitable decompressor found" etc. If so, capture to the other type (if the capture software permits it).

[Nicola-Pickle]

Hi, just trying DVdate and wondering how I can show just date and NOT time (for 5 seconds at the start of each new day) - I've found the "edit the inlay" section and tried putting %D in the top box and leaving the second one blank but still the timecode shows. If anyone can help me I'd be very grateful. Or likewise if Exsate DV Capture can be used to show date but not time. Thank you.

[Safesurfer]

Hi, just trying DVdate and wondering how I can show just date and NOT time for 5 seconds at the start of each new day - found the "edit the inlay" section and tried putting %D in the top box and leaving the second one blank but still the timecode shows. If anyone can help me I'd be very grateful. Thank you.

It should be pretty easy, select the personalized template button, and deselect the other buttons above. In the image below, I just used %D and set the format in the format box.

[Nicola-Pickle]

Hi, thanks - had tried that - BUT now I see that I had also to click on the "Aa" to apply this - thanks for leaving that little info showing - fantastic! Bye Nicola