Very Basic Questions from Newbie

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Guest

I just received as a gift a digital camcorder, Samsung D353, if thats
important and I have some very basic questions.

1. Can I copy whatever I record on the camcorder to a DVD or CD using Movie
Maker or do I need to get a separate commercial product? I have heard about
and seen something called Studio AV/DV from Pinnicle. I am not trying to
outdue Speilburg but just copy from the camcorder tape to a CD.

2. I have a CD burner. Is this sufficient to copy the movies to a CD/DVD or
do I need to get a separate DVD burner?

3. What kinds of CDs do I need to use. Can I use a regular CD or do I have
to get a special DVD CD? I know the DVD discs have more memory but like I
said I am not recording Star Wars.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

John
 
Grandpa,

For starters, what kind of system do you have? That may limit you in what
you can do. I would recommend at least a 2GB processor, 512MB RAM and at
least a 30GB hard drive space free.

If you have the above then this is what I would recommend.

1- Get a firewire card and cable. For about $35, you will have the ability
to capture digital video (DV-AVI format) with minimal loss from the original
tape. Its easier than you think to install. The USB connection will not
allow the high quality you need for DVD.
2-Get a DVD burner. I think I saw in Staples a Pacific Digital 16x dual
layer burner for $50. Just to give you an idea how they have plumetted in
price. Get a burner that comes with burning software (something like Sonic
MyDVD for instance).
3-Capture your video w MM and either edit (then save again as DV-AVI) or
burn the captured DV-AVI file as is with the software that comes with your
burner. MM will not burn DVDs. You can fit about an hour (13GB) onto a
standard DVD (4.7GB). The software does the compression during the rendering
process.
Note: if you choose not to buy a DVD burner you can still burn a VCD (video
CD) or SVCD (super). You only need a CD burner and standard CD-Rs for that,
but the quality will be more like a VHS tape.

Hope this gets you started on the right path.
Steve
 
Grandpa said:
I just received as a gift a digital camcorder, Samsung D353, if thats
important and I have some very basic questions.

1. Can I copy whatever I record on the camcorder to a DVD or CD using
Movie
Maker or do I need to get a separate commercial product? I have heard
about
and seen something called Studio AV/DV from Pinnicle. I am not trying to
outdue Speilburg but just copy from the camcorder tape to a CD.
Click to expand...

You need a DVD authoring program to create a DVD or VCD with menus etc...
There is a list of most of the popular ones on my website in the "DVD
Programs" section
www.remember-christopher.dostweb.com/Wojo's_Place/
2. I have a CD burner. Is this sufficient to copy the movies to a CD/DVD
or
do I need to get a separate DVD burner?
Click to expand...

A CD burner is only sufficient if you create a VCD which is a video disk
that will play on a home DVD player but if you want high quality video or
you have long videos/home movies then I suggest a DVD Burner. They are
relatively inexpensive these days. You can get a dual layer internal burner
for $100 or so.
3. What kinds of CDs do I need to use. Can I use a regular CD or do I have
to get a special DVD CD? I know the DVD discs have more memory but like I
said I am not recording Star Wars.
Click to expand...

If using your current CD burner then standard CDR disks are all you need.
If you go with the DVD burner, which is what I recommend, then you need
DVD+/-R disks.
Here is where it can get tricky. Some cheaper DVD burners will only work
with DVD+R and this is different than DVD-R so you would need to be careful.
I have not seen a dual layered DVD burner on the market that doesn't accept
+ and - R disks. But with the dual layered burners it depends on the length
of your movie as far as which disks to buy. You can get the standard 4.7GB
DVD+/-R disks or the dual layered disks depending on your needs.
 
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