best software for capturing from a dv camcorder?

[downer]

what is the best, software that will let you capture from your dv camcorder?

thanks.

[Tommyknocker]

You are a little vcague. What kind of connections does your camcorder have?

[downer]

I have a sharp vl-ds20u miniDV camcorder. It has a DV firewire port, and it also has s-video/composit connections.

what i am trying to actually do is hook my vcr up to the dv camera then capture what is playing on the vcr.
or
play something i taped from my minDV and then capture it on my computer with some sort of program.

I able to do the second thing with ease (just using plain old windows movie maker, but i know there are better programs, hence the question)

But i am having problems getting my vcr to hook up to the miniDV. i hooked up the composite cables to the video out, and audio out, but when i try and play i don't see anything on my miniDV??

any help would be appreciated.. thanks

[Tommyknocker]

Is there a way to capture to your computer directly from your VCR? That is, say VCR's video out and audio out, to computer's capture card video in, and audio in.

If not, are you sure your camera has video IN and audio IN ports? If you are routing your video/audio outputs from your VCR to your camcorder's outputs, you are just spinning your wheels.

I tried to look up your camcorder on the web, but the only hit I got was an oriental site.

[downer]

I have searched google for my camera and came up with a few hits. But not really to much info. I might just call tech support. I think you are right though, i don't think my camcorder has in's... can s-video do in and out?

i have no problem doing it from a capture card, i just heard that it was better quality going through the digital camera.

but i can capture my miniDV tapes through the firewire port to the computer. what is the best program you think to do the capture?

[Tommyknocker]

As far as S-Video being two-way, I do not think so. Remember to read your owner's manual. You can learn a lot from it, and can avoid doing some serious damage to your camera.

I have to beg off answering the DV capture question. I capture in analog, but I know the Gurus here will be more than happy to help you. How about it, gentlemen?

[demers669]

Most MiniDV camcorders will only output on the s-video/composite connectors. You can capture to your computer from the camcorder through your fire wire port, but you can not go directly from your VCR to your camcorder without a converter box such as a Hollywood Dazzle. hope this helps.

[TuxOmatic]

All digital cameras are not created equal. I have a Sony Digital8 that allows you to send or receive video through the composite or S-video ports. Same is true for audio using the RCA connections. However, my nephew's Digital8 camera, also a Sony, only outputs through those ports. The only way to record something with his camera is either through the lens or the firewire.

As far as software for the firewire, all you are doing is sending a digital copy of the file recorded on your DV tape into the computer. You are normally using either a Microsoft driver or a Texas Instrument driver for communicating from your camera to your computer. The AVI file you end up with does not improve in quality if you use a $300 program to assist you in the transfer. Of course, what you can do with that file after it's on your hard drive will depend a lot on what software you have.

[tonyp12]

Are you sure you did not MISS-SPELL your camcorder letters??
http://www.dv-gear.com/digital-camcorder/sharp-vl-sd20u.htm

Most MiniDV camcorders will only output on the s-video/composite connectors.

I do not think that is true, 3 out of 4 do on this website (A/V input)
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/redirect/content.jsp?PATH=/Special/Samples/Reports...FADID=00000001


I have the Sharp VL-WD450 and it plays out on the S-Video and also
records to the DV-tape from the S-Video port. (Composite ports too)

So it is both in and a out-port, I have not tried to use as a pass-through
yet though. (e.g VCR ->CAMCORDER ->PC with no tape in the camcorder)

[mbellot]

downer/all,

The analog input feature is *highly* model dependant. I looked at dozens of camcorders before I found one with the features I wanted, including analog in.

Most Panasonics do not (some very expensive ones do), most Canons do (a few don't), Sony seems to mostly - but not without exception.

When in doubt, consult the manual, most "technical support" help ends at "Is it turned on" or "Are you sure the battery is charged".

Mark

[HOOKEDONTECH]

ulead 5.0 works great for me. i've been capturing analog video with my sony trv 11 minidv camcorder using it's pass through feature. "alanog>minidv>firewire". ulead works good cause it's one of the few programs i've tried that lets you temporarily disable the "device control" so that when you go to capture using the "pass through" the program doesn't try to play the tape you may have loaded in the camera. i use it for making vcd,svcd format mpegs.

[dvfan]

I Have a Sharp DV camera, I can capture from VCR to camera you just need to put your camera in VCR mode rather then camera mode, and push the button as if you were going to film, then press play on the side. As for capturing Video on your computer with your Firewire card, i use Ulead DVD Movie Factory, Ulead Media Studio Capture Program, Adobe Premiere, and if you want a free program you can use Virtual Dub, hope this helps

[downer]

tonyp12: you are right i did misspell my camera. Sorry about that.

It looks from that description that this camera will only output, and not take anything in. Which is really to bad. I am basing this on what i have read in the manual (very confusing) and what i saw on that link that was provided. Does anyone think different?

Thanks alot for everyone's help. Looks like I will have to see whats gonna give me the best quality, something like the Canopus ADVC-100, or the WinTV PVR-250...

Thanks again!