Mini DV camcorders

[Mus]

Hello all,

New here.

I have Vegas Audio 2 and thinking of moving up to Vegas Video 3 and specifying a new PC, so what do I need to get video into the computer to add to my musical endeavours?

I heard that maybe there were mini DV camcorders with DV and Analogue I/O which could handle conversion to and from VHS/DVD into the PC via firewire as well as footage straight from the camera.

Have I got the right end of the stick? How cheap can I go to get started with video? (UK based)

TIA

Regards

Mus

[droolian01]

Hi there.
Recently got a dv camcorder, but havent had time to do anything with it, not even used firewire yet!
I got the panasonic nv-ds38b as i liked the fetures and it had ANALOGUE PASS T0HOUGH (can use it to cap without recording to tape) and dv in and out. You will have to pay for this feature as you live in the e.u.
All camcoreders are produced outside of the eu, but any camcorder that has dv in and/or analogue pass though is considered as a vcr and thus the importer has to pay extra import duty. So all the manufacturers produce model ranges specifically for the eu, elsewhere in the world these don't exist as even basic models there have dv in and out.
The difference between these models is usually just a software thing, and things called 'widgets' can activate this supressed function. Sometimes this enables analogue thogh too (sony digit 8 cams i think).

so you will have to pay extra either way. search for widget on google and go from there.

[droolian01]

a couple of links
http://uk.pricerunner.com/
good for comparison prices


http://www.letsgodigital.co.uk/
Got mine from here, quick good service.

N.B. read reviews and check manufactures websites. Don't take shop assistants advice, iwas told many times that "they all do analogue capture" rubbish,only some do pass though.
When you've found one you like off the net, check if dixons/currys etc stock it to get a hands on real feel before u buy, i did.

[Mus]

Thanks for the help droolian, I read about those ec rules somewhere.

Does the Panasonic have the pass through enabled when you bought it or do you have to do the widget thing (not sure I see where to get this or how much extra to pay)?

The spec on http://www.letsgodigital.co.uk/ mentions D.V. In / Out (Plus analog in). Can you also get Analog out to send edited pics and sound to normal VCR?

Sorry, I really am a total newbie!

TIA and Regards

Mus

[videoalaska]

I recent got a Canon ZR-20 DV Camera. I have a SIIG Firewire card and have absolutely no problems. This particular camera has analog video inputs (VSH or Other Analog source) so converting is not a problem plus you have the option of using DV from what you currently shot. A big plus. It was very easy to do most things. Video capture; I use Ulead products, Convert; either Ulead or TMPGEnc; Burn Ulead or Nero. I have convinced both my brother and father into buing the little APEX-1500's I can burn them VCD or SVCD to my hearts content. Read the how to's and the forum's and you'll be doing whatever you want in little to no time. Enjoy!


Jim - Alaska

[SkinnyDog]

Hey alaska, I also have the same dv camcorder, Cannon ZR-20. do you use it for analog capture and if so, do you use it as a pass through or do you capture to mini dv tape and then do a capture. How does it work as compared to using a capture card? if the camcorder is a good capture solution I'll probably buy the Pyro platinum firewire card to get Adobe Premiere for only $300.

[vhelp]

I have the Canon ZR-10 (floor model) for $199 by accident

I've figure out how to pass my Satalete signal to the unit, and
even on the 2.5" LCD screen, it looks stunning. Yes, the
quality of this tiny 2.5" screens is fantasic, but don't look
above the window, but rather slightly lower, as quality is much
better.

I've done a number of capures to DV tape already,
ie,
* New Creed video,
* Creed video (water video)
* latest Jennefer Lopez - really good quality stuff!!

My next hurdle is to figure out how to transfer via firewire
(720x480) and encode to vcd and svcd. Once I figure this out
for my windows 98 (not SE) they'll be NO STOPPING me in my DV
endevers!!

I'm having driver issues right now. I'm currently trying the
Studio 7 firewire card and there Studio 7SE software. I'm
trying to capture with it, but it's not working.
all I want to do now, if get it to transfer my DV tape over my
firewire and onto my harddrive, for encoding in tmpg.

Oh, I've already done one capture from the DV tape (Jeneffer Lopez)
and quality wasn't so bad, but the firewire transfer must be the
ultimate.

Any help would be appreciated.
-vhelp

[droolian01]

Hello again mus.
All minidv camcorders have dv out and analogue out. This is so you can transfer dv video into your computer via a firewire link (sony call it iLINK) for editing. Analogue out (of the camcorder) is so that you can make vhs backups of your dv tapes to send to relatives etc... this also enables you to view your dv tapes on a tv by either useing composite or s-vhs plugs.

So the basic model (cheap) dv camcorder with dv out (only) and analogue out (only) is esentially a dv tape PLAYER. The only way you can get data/pictures in is by pointing it and shooting live action/people/puppys/wedding receptions etc...

This is crap though. So you have edited your kiddies birthday party (via firewire link) on your computer with an expensive video editing application and you try to export it but OPPS, you cant because your camcorder will not accept the dv signal back in!!!! Because it is a dv out only device you cannot get the edited video back in to pass to a vcr!!! So unless you have a tv out on your graphics card there is no point getting a dv camcorder.

Basic requirement - dv out and IN buy a cheaper (dv out only) camcorder and spend £50 on a widget to enable dv in or buy the dearer model initially. Your call, price vs possible warranty invalidation, tough call.

gone from basic spec dv-out and analogue-out to wanting dv-in+out. But the next stage up is to have analogue out AND IN. this means you can use yor camcore=der as a vcr - so? It enables you to do tv captures via firewire. so connect camcorder to analogue source via cable/satelite box or vcr composite out and record to tape. Then later import via firewire into computer. Camcoreder is essentiolly a delayed capture devise (not real time).

To get real time analogue (tv or vcr) video you need analogue PASS THOUGH, whic is as above but is real time, no tape is actually used and you are using your expensive toy as an analogue to digital converter to get the video captured to your computer, at a very high quality.

[droolian01]

I got my camcorder because it has dv out and in plus analogue out and in and , very important to me, analogue pass though. Remember that not all camcorders that have analogue out/in neccesarrily have analogue pass though - just depends on the model. The only way you can find out is to visit the manufacturers websites as i did - it is a lot of money to spend and you don't want to be frustrated in a few months - but there again spending more on functions you will never use is also wasteful - depends what you want to do.

You are going to have to do a lot of googling but to start you off
reviews - http://www.simplydv.co.uk/
2 widget suppliers -
http://www.smartdv.co.uk/shop/dvin.htm

http://www.datavision.co.uk/

side by side comparisons - http://www.techtronics.com/uk/shop/851-00-dv-camcorder-handycam-digicam-sum.html
(home page)-http://www.techtronics.com/uk/shop/index.html

Start reading and good luck.

[droolian01]

Even manufactures websites are unclear about the analogue pass through, seems that most punters aren't into our type of stuff (idiots!) and most reviews/e-tailers are just as vague too.

You will have to download user manuals or in the case of any sony product (too mean to allow this, have to buy the manual!!) you will have to go to currys/dixons/argos etc...

[Mus]

Thanks again droolian for the huge info - I'll start my research right now and report back...

Cheers

M