Home video using DV and DVD

[videofan]

Hi,

I'm thinking about spending some bucks to buy the necessary hardware and software for making home videos using the MiniDV and DVD technologies. Basically, what I want is to:
- record the raw video using a MiniDV camcorder
- transfer the recorded material to a video editing PC
- edit and mix different video/audio recordings
- save the final video on DVD format
- play the DVD on DVD-ROM drive (PC) or standalone DVD players
Based on this approach, I would appreciate any answers, web links, suggestions, etc. to help me decide about buying the necessary hardware and software, using the following guidelines:

1. MiniDV camcorder
What I care for:
- good quality optics
- good quality CCD and AV processing, including A/D conversion, etc.
- easy to use (have the right button where you expect to find it)
- long akku life
- progressive video recording - if this enhances and makes PC video editing easier
- robust, reliable, bug-free appliance
What I don't care for:
- digital zoom
- night shots
- MPEG-4 and Internet-related features
- any kind of built-in editing features, digital effects, any other seldom-used "gadgets"

2. FireWire PC card
What I care for:
- compatibility with DV-Out from camcorder
- compatibility with video editing software
- reliable driver(s) for Windows 2000 Pro

3. Video editing software
What I care for:
- hardware and software compatibility with the MiniDV camcorder, the FireWire card and the DVD burning hardware/software
- Windows 2000 Pro compatible
- easy to use
- powerful editing tools
- free or low cost update/upgrade

4. DVD burning hardware/software
What I care for:
- compatibility with DVD-ROM drives and standalone DVD players
- high reliability, error free burning process
- support for different DVD recording technologies (DVD-R, DVD+R, etc)
- multisession-capable (if technology permits)
- burning speed

Of course, the price/performance criteria applies for all components.

Additional final question: how does the video standard of the MiniDV camcorder affect the video standard of the burned DVD video disc? In other words, if I have an NTSC MiniDV camcorder, can I burn PAL-compatible DVDs, and vice-versa?

Thanks
videofan

[bb]

Good morning, videofan,

just a few answers from my side - I'd like to delegate the majority of recommendations to the other forum members.

1. Progressive video recording is not necessary if you go for DVD. It's something you wouldn't want to miss for e.g. DivX, XviD, and for SVCD, too (because of the better compressibility). MPEG-2 can handle interlaced video, and on DVDs you have enough bitrate available to get good quality.

2. Most firewire cards will do, look for a cheap, OHCI compliant one. You can often get it bundled with a DV software.

3. My favourite is Ulead's MediaStudio, but it's not very cheap.

4. Unfortunately I don't own a DVD burner (yet). But I believe Nero is not a bad choice, if you want to burn only. For authoring software refer to the DVD authoring forum.

5. - oops, I mean, your final question:
NTSC DV camcorders record at 30fps, and the resolution is 720x480. For PAL you need 25fps @ 720x576. You can convert between the two formats, but that costs time, and you'll loose quality.

bb

[videofan]

bb,

thanks a lot for your advice. do you (or anybody else) happen to know a good brand and model of firewire card which comes with Ulead Media Studio (probably the SE or whatever it's named the "lite version") for a good price and good quality?
second, i've learnt that media studio can create a so called miniDVD, that's a burnt CD with a DVD authoring tool - as far as i've understood. i've also heard some people telling that miniDVD is not standard and therefore cannot be played on (all) standalone DVD players. could you share your experience in this area?

cheers,
videofan

[JustMark]

VideoFan,

I can tell you what I use, and I'm quite pleased with it so far...

1. MiniDVCam: I have a Canon ZR40. Its the lowest of three models but does everything I wanted. The two upper models include photo storage on an MMC/SD card, but I have a 4MP digicam so I D.G.A.F. about that feature. 18x optical (plus bogus digital, you won't find a camera without it anymore - at least Canon lets you lock it OFF). It will take analog in to tape, or act as a DV-bridge (analog straight to the PC). My only b!tch is the lame battery, but thats pretty typical. I would rate it very high for price/performance.

2. Firewire card: CompUSA sells a great (cheap too) FireWire card for just $30 + tax. It comes with Video Studio, not Media Studio - but for $30 I didn't expect *any* software... And Win2K just started using it, not even a message about "New Hardware Found"... I had to check the Device Manager before I believed it was installed correctly (talk about painless). I would rate it extremely high for price/performance (its $30!!!)

I would avoid cards based on the TI chipset, I have heard a lot of problems, esp. with non-Intel chipset mobo's. I even helped a friend with one that came with his Pyro "kit". Refused to talk to his Panasonic DVCam, but when we dropped my CompUSA card in his system it started working right away...

3. Software: I use Scenalyzer (sp?) to transfer over Firewire, and then various stuff to actually edit. I have tried Premiere, but it seems overly complicated (probably because its sooo good, right Adobe?)

4. DVD Burning hardware: I have a Pioneer 104 that has been great, but honestly I think (in your position) I would wait to see how the Sony "All in One" (can't remember the model) shakes out. It sure would be nice not to be tied to just one media standard since eventually someone is going to fade away...

miniDVD is indeed a low compatability format. My Daewoo standalone (which plays just about everything) brings up a really ugly directory listing and forces you to select VOBs individually (hey, at least it works poorly).

I think you can convert NTSC to PAL, but have never tried, so its beyond my ability to answer (although I do think there is a quality penalty to be paid).

Mark

[theReal]

1. Progressive video recording is not necessary if you go for DVD. It's something you wouldn't want to miss for e.g. DivX, XviD, and for SVCD, too (because of the better compressibility). MPEG-2 can handle interlaced video, and on DVDs you have enough bitrate available to get good quality.

2. Most firewire cards will do, look for a cheap, OHCI compliant one. You can often get it bundled with a DV software.

3. My favourite is Ulead's MediaStudio, but it's not very cheap.

I absolutely agree with this. I've tried three different Firewire cards so far - all of them were no-name and cheap, but they were all working perfectly with Ulead Media Studio and a Sony camcorder in Win2k.

As a camcorder I can recommend the Sony PC100E - it has Zeiss optics and natively supports DV-in and analog-in.

[Xesdeeni]

Here's what I use:

1. MiniDV camcorder
Canon Optura Pi
- optical stabilization & 10x (optical) zoom
- best single-CCD available two years ago, A/D conversion
- easy to use
- battery life is poor (45 minutes with 3.5" LCD, >1hr with internal LCD)
- progressive video recording
- tape mechanism sometimes jams and you have to remove and re-insert tape (extremely annoying)
- digital zoom (dunno how much...that's what post is for)
- no night shots, but best low-light camera two years ago
- no MPEG4
- some digital effects (dunno which ones...that's what post is for)

2. FireWire PC card
Sorry, can't recall. It's one of the cheap ($50?) with no frills. Uses TI chip (that's the driver). Works perfectly.

3. Video editing software
Premiere 6.x
- compatible with camcorder, including batch capture with camera control!
- dunno about DVD compatibility...other tools are better
- anything but free

4. DVD burning hardware/software
Ricoh DVD+R(W) 5125
- same compatiblity as - (+R is same as -R, +RW is same as -RW)
- if you want both + & -, get the Sony or NEC
- multisession is a bad idea right now...your DVD-ROM won't read it
- 2.4x
Nero 5.5.9.x
- nothing else needed!

5. MPEG Encoding software
CCE 2.64
- fastest
- best quality

6. How much per DVD
1.5 hours max (6.5Mbps) for close-to-DVD quality.

Additional final question: how does the video standard of the MiniDV camcorder affect the video standard of the burned DVD video disc? In other words, if I have an NTSC MiniDV camcorder, can I burn PAL-compatible DVDs, and vice-versa?Yes, but you'll have to do a standards conversion. See my conversion script: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?threadid=35387

Xesdeeni

[Richard Iredale]

My two cents worth:

(1) Camera
Any DV camera is fine, but my money is with Sony miniDV. Terrific Zeiss lens, tiny camera body, excellent optical stabilization. You can probably find a TRV-something for way under $1000.

(2) Software
I would strongly recommend Studio8. It is a full-function DV editing package, and will also burn DVDs. You can get a version that comes with a firewire card. Lots of other editors are out there, but Studio8 is very easy to learn.

(3) miniDVD
If you like to tinker, go ahead and play with this format. If you want a disk that can be viewed 10 years from now, deal only with VCD or DVD.

(4) burner
Any + or - burner is fine. I have the Pioneer -04, which burns at 2X. A 4X model is about to be released, which means the 2X will be dropping in price shortly.