Newbie with first camcorder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roln
  • Start date Start date
R

Roln

Finally decided to bite the bullet and get a camcorder, a Sony TRV-260,
which I think will be okay to learn movie making.

I've been lurking here for a week, reading a lot of messages and it appears
most beginners are having a terrible time burning a DVD. Well, I'm not
anywhere near doing that, cuz I'm still on page one. I haven't installed
the Sony software or connected the USB cable. I am aware I'll need to get a
Firewire cable eventually, if I need one. For the present, I hope to make a
VCD.....IF I get everything to work!

Question is, should I install the Sony software? Seems I read somewhere
the Sony software is worthless. I'm guessing I will still have to install
the Sony drivers?? Could use some quick advice on this, please.

As for using WMM, I have made two short movies using photos and am getting
comfortable with editing, etc. I hope I can use video clips without any
problems.

Roln
 
I don't think the Sony software conflicts with Movie Maker.. you have a leg
up on it if you realize that connecting the camcorder to the computer via
the supplied USB cable and using the Sony software is different than using
Movie Maker with a firewire connection...

You can do one or the other, or both... and to cross over from one to the
other you will have to take some conversion steps.
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
Photo Story 3 - use the menu branch at www.papajohn.org

..
 
Hello,
I am not an expert or anything, just a consumer...I too bought a Sony Trv
camcorder (mine is like 3something, I forget which one at the moment) and I
did install the software that came along with it. I find the software to be
useless, I actually deleted it because I was so displeased with it. It had
no where near the freedom of creativity that movie maker has. The only think
I would see that it would be useful is for transfering of digital photos
taken by the camcorder onto the memory card...that is of course if your sony
has that capability. So yeah, I would say don't waste your time or space on
your computer. Also I found and read in other places that the USB cable did
not transfer as good as the fireware? cable. Yup, thats my opinion :o) (oh
and for me, movie maker and my computer recognizes my camcorder without
having having the software on my computer...maybe it is because I initially
installed the cd software or because my computer is just brilliant...but I
say just hook her up and see what happens)
 
Jennafur,

I did not install the Sony software as you suggested. I am able to import
any video from the camera to my hard drive, using WMM. Works perfectly!
Thanks for you post!
Roln


"> Hello,
 
I have a Sony TRV-460. The Direct to VCD software did not
work. I have not touched the Sony software since. Yes,
the USB cable works for the Sony's and mine you can even
use it streaming on the web.

Stick w MM and forget the sony software!

Get yourself a firewire card. I ordered a Belkin card (w
3 firewire inputs) and cable from Amazon for about $30.
The DVD burners have really plumeted in price. I thought
my External 8x I got last year for about $120 was a good
deal, the dual layers are pushing under $100.

Steve
 
Hi Steve,

If I understand correctly, a firewire cable will speed up the download to
the computer, compared to the USB cable??
I was told it will also improve the image quality??
I checked the specs on my computer Motherboard, and I do have Firewire
capabilities, but will need to get a Belkin card and cable. Do you know if
I need the four or six wire cable?? or, will either work?

I don't have a DVD burner yet, but will probably get one in a few months.
Perhaps the price will be less then. I don't plan to make any movies over
two minutes long, so a DVD burner wouldn't do me much good.

Thanks for your post and info, Steve

Roln
 
USB may be fast but the key is that all the camcorders use iLink/firewire,
so you need to align with it.... the USB port of a camcorder isn't used to
pass full digital video.

The cable needs to fit... might be 4 or 6 pins... most camcorders have 4 pin
connections, laptops have 4 pin and desktops 6 pins. But they can vary so
get the cable that matches your camcorder and computer..... if you don't
have a capture card yet, decide that first before deciding on the cable,
again so it matches the connections.
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
Photo Story 3 - use the menu branch at www.papajohn.org

..
 
Hi PapaJohn,

If I read your post correctly, you're saying I need a "video capture" card?
I'm not familiar with those, so will do a Google and check it out.

At present, I'm transferring the video from the camera via the USB port,
using the cable that came with the camcorder. Seems to work fine, but I've
only transfered
one 30 second movie so far. I suppose my question is, why do I need a video
capture card?
Does a capture card come with a Fireware connector and the cable? What
improvements will
one of these cards do, over my present setup? What are the advantages of
using Firewire and
a capture card?
Is there a web site explaining what a person needs? The Sony operating
manual is not
informative

Roln
 
Some computers come with firewire/iLink capture devices in them... if you
have a place to plug firewire in, then you have a capture device/card.

The firewire card may or may not be bundled with a cable... I bought mine
separately, but the best prices are with the bundles.

Again, if your computer came with a firewire connection, use it... you might
just need the cable. My Toshiba laptop had it included and many of the newer
computers have firewire built into it.

One advantage of firewire is that it works with camcorders that have
firewire connections.... it gets you full DV-AVI files, while USB
connections to camcorders are usually for transferring still pix or lower
quality MPEG files.
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org
Photo Story 3 - use the menu branch at www.papajohn.org

..
 
I did research and found Firewire has a transfer rate of 400mbs, whereas USB
2.0 has a rate of 480mbs.

My computer has six USB 2.0 outputs. The Motherboard has three ieee-1394
sockets which would need a small interface cable to use it with my
camcorder. Or, I can get a PCI card with the Firewire output plugs on it,
ready to use.

For the time being, I will not get the Firewire components.

Roln
 
Don't be fooled by the speed of USB vs Firewire. Firewire
is what you need if you want to keep the integrity of the
original video. If I am correct I believe USB's rate is
more of a top burst speed and firewire is constant. You
absolutely need firewire if you want to put movies to DVD.
I would still get the firewire card and cable (for Sony
its a 4 to 6 pin - 4 at the camcorder, 6 at the card).
Then you can save your movie at whatever lower quality you
need for your application. If you use USB you will lose
much quality off the bat.

If you don't have a firewire port on the back of your PC
(not sure what you meant by mother board has 3 sockets,
I'll assume you mean slots for PCI card) then by a bundle
with card and cable for about $30 or so and retain the
quality of your movies.
 
I have a Sony model camera too and I had all kinds of trouble capturing video
with ilink/firewire...until I removed the Sony software and USB driver that
came with the camera. I'm not sure why, but it was bad news.
 
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