Want to purchase video recorder for Sports/editing, no clue please help!

[triguy]

I am training for an Ironman and I want to buy a small/mid size video recorder (not sure if that is the technical term) to record my training/progress/races. I want the camera to be waterproof and be able to carry with me (not on races) not too large. I also want the camera to have editing software so I can edit clips/string them together and add my own music say from Itunes in the background and to be able to upload to Youtube. All for under $1000

Any suggestions? I am no editing pro either if you can't tell something that is user friendly on both ends. Thanks!

[TreeTops]

Go-Pro is one suggestion. I think there is a waterproof housing for the Go-Pros. I suggest you use a NLE for editing. Vegas Movie Studio is one that works with Go-Pro if you use Cineform first. I have noticed that Go-pro vids displays barrel distortion on long shots. You can go to youtube to see examples. But it may be OK for your sports shots.

[triguy]

Go-Pro is one suggestion. I think there is a waterproof housing for the Go-Pros. I suggest you use a NLE for editing. Vegas Movie Studio is one that works with Go-Pro if you use Cineform first. I have noticed that Go-pro vids displays barrel distortion on long shots. You can go to youtube to see examples. But it may be OK for your sports shots.

Treetops-

thanks for the reply. so if I buy a GoPRO I can use that and instead of using their software I would purcahse the NLS for editing? Do you think it matters which GoPro I buy black/White/Silver?

Thanks

[TreeTops]

It's NLE (Non-linear Editing). It's just the term we use to edit videos on a computer. You can google it for more info on the definition. The Black version of GoPro is the most expensive and has the most features. You need to decide which one you need. You should go to their website gopro.com to see the differences between models.

[Cornucopia]

This all seems doable, the only gotcha being "using your own music from iTunes". Unless you are also a composer/musician with your ACTUAL personal compositions on iTunes, then those musics that you like to call your own ARE NOT YOURS. Think of it this way: you are just renting them. They officially belong to the actual artist/producer/music-distributor. So, when you try to upload something like this to Youtube, there is a likelihood that you will at some point have them taken down because of copyright violation. The music isn't yours to copy, and one form of "copying" is when adding/mixing it with an audiovisual program.

To avoid this problem, your choices are:
1. Get official clearance to use the music (usually costs $$$$)
2. Create your OWN music/sounds, or hire a friend to create some for you
3. Use "licensed" music (still costs $$, but less than the popular stuff, just not very memorable)
4. Use copy-left/public domain music (free, but may not have style/type you want)
5. Barter a deal with an up-and-coming band for mutual exposure

Scott