camcorder/video editing

[cricket]

here"s the situation: im getting a cannon ES8400EV Hi-8mm camcorder for xmas and want to be able to edit the movies (some of them not all) on my computer. it comes with an s-video cable. my questions are what is a good video editing software program? is microsoft movie maker beta 2 any good for an average user? i read all about it on the site and it looked easy enough to do. also what is a good firewire card that will work with my system specs (listed below)? or does anyone know of a good package deal which includes good software(editing) and a good firewire card and accessories?

1.)Dell Demension 8200 P4 2.26GHz with 533MHz system bus/ 512K L2 Cache ~768MB PC800 RDRAM~80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive~128MB DDR NVIDIA GeForce4™ Ti 4600~with 41.04 whql driver's~Direct X 8.1~24x/10x/40x CD-RW Drive~ Harman Kardon HK-395 Speakers with Subwoofer ~Sound Blaster Live~ WinXP Home edition~withSP1~~~~~3dmark 2nd edition score=12,064

[Gator]

for affordable software, MGI/Roxio Videowave is ok. But if you have the means to get Adobe Premeire it is superior software. I'm not sure how Ulead Video is, I've seen that in store shelves as well.

What did you plan to capture video with? If your camera doesn't have firewire you'll need a capture card. I recommend something from http://www.hauppauge.com

[cricket]

.

"What did you plan to capture video with? If your camera doesn't have firewire you'll need a
capture card."

you mean for the video on the camcorder to be able to go into my pc to be edited? cant the video go through the IEEE 1394 outlet that my digital camera( for taking still photo's) use's? the camcorder itself comes with some kind of AV cable(s-video connection to av-outputs to tv/vcr) that goes from camcorder to inputs on my tv/vcr but i dont see how this could connect to my pc. how does the capture connect the cam corder to my pc? im just new to all this and am trying to buy the correct stuff?
i think i like and all i need is the mircosoft movie maker editing software,but im stumped on how i connect camcorder to pc to get footage on pc...you are saying i need just this card and i will be in bussiness? can i connect the camcorder to my s-video on the back of my geforce4ti4600 card some how?...thanks for any help....maybe i better go tmy nearest radio shack and have them show me in person what i need.

[thcdru2k]

you outing from the camcorder to your computer. so for s-video to work, the s-video on your geforce4 has to be a s-video in. so unless your card is a vivo card it won't work. than you would need a capture card. unless you want to get a firewire card for your computer.

[LORD-eX-Bu]

capture cards aren't that much, a decent one costs a little more, but it ain't bad.;) If its a newer model cam then it should come with firewire if it is worth anything.:D

[cricket]

what is better in your opinions? get the firewire or the capture card? what is the difference?(other than price)

[The Baron]

Well, first of all, find out if you really can dump video from Firewire. I do not think you can if it's not a Digital8 camcorder because Hi-8 is just analog and therefore must be captured. But Digital8 and MiniDV can both be dumped straight to the computer through Firewire.

So that's step 1. If you can get it through Firewire, screw a capture card--the quality from Firewire is loads better (and I've done both, with a pretty high-end capture card circa 1997 too :p ). If you HAVE to get a capture card... go to Best Buy and browse. Find some brands, look them up, try them, take them back if they suck. :p That's what it really comes down to--it's hard to predict exactly what quality you'll get with a capture card. Depends on your computer, your camcorder, the software, etc. al.

[thcdru2k]

there is one advantage with a capture card though..especially a high quality one. you get to watch some good tv on your computer. and with the most expensives ones, experience hdtv

[cricket]

i called cannon about my hi-8 ..they sayu i need a vid cap card so i found this on http://www.dazzle.com/products/dvc100.html and was wondering if anyone knows anything about this company(DAZZLE) and /or about this specific product? from reading the reviews about product on the page it seems some people had problems with it but i like all the feature's> should i or shouldnt i buy? can you reffer a better deal/product?

[cricket]

well...i think i firgured it all out. since i have an analog camcorder i"m gonna go here http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage.asp?Product_ID=577&Langue_ID=7 and buy the deluxe version(near bottom of page...it looks highly rated and was voted highly by pc magazine. i searched around and most places are selling it for $199.00(not $299.00), or possible just the AV VERSION FOR $129.00...the deluxe version allows recording from hi-8 tapes to pc(then edit) then record to vhs tapes in vcr which is a good idea, also adds more editing software(hollywood fx).and can be used by AV OR DV CAMERA'S anyone have this software/hardware from PINNACLE that can recommend it is good?

[The Baron]

Pinnacle's an excellent company--the high-end capture card from 97 that I used (and still have lying around somewhere) was from Pinnacle.

[cricket]

do the osprey capture cards come with their own video editing software or can they be used with any video editing software? this card http://www.viewcast.com/products/osprey/osprey200.html looks sweet. (the 200 model) also these osprey cards capture video to the pc in full time uncompressed format...is this good or bad? shouldnt the movies be compressed? one last important question : if i install a pci type video capture card, do i choose which IRQ it goes to or does it do it on its own?................all this work just to make family and friends look silly on the touch up of a home movie. i also looked at videowave from roxio...looked like a good, easy to use, firstime user,.... but limited program.