Capturing Video from Digital Camcorder.....

[Garet Jax]

Hello all,

I have been playing around with this stuff the last couple of weeks in preparation for the arrival of my little baby. I have a Sony TRV17 camcorder and a generic firewire PCI card. I am currently using the default MGI Video Wave III software that came with the camcorder.

I have been able to capture the video no problem, but I am a little confused:

1) The AVI file is very large - 450 Megs for around 2 minutes of footage. Is this normal? I can't figure out a way to reduce the quality and the size.
2) Even though the AVI file is very large, the playback size is very small. Is this normal?
3) I can't seem to find a way to edit the AVI after is has been captured (to cut off the trailing video from another recording). Are capture and editing software packages normally combined or separated?
4) Is it standard to capture video as an AVI or can other capture programs offer other capture formats?
5) What are the differences between the various video formats (AVI, MPEG, MWV, ....) excluding VCDs and SVCDs? Is there a site to help me understand this?
6) Related to the previous question, why would I ever want to change the format from AVI?
7) Should I look into getting other capture software? If so what? I have seen the links from VCDHelp's site, but I have also been told to avoid the free software like the plague.

Thanks.

 

[Delbert]

450 MB for 2 minutes sound right for DV as the data rate is 3.6 MB/sec. The DV resolution is 720 by 480 pixels. Is that the size of your AVI? Sorry I cant help you with some of the other question as I use Adobe Premiere and Media Cleaner 5 but they are rather expensive. I havent spent any time with it there is dv software that comes with Win ME and XP. Windows movie maker or something.

 

[LethalWolfe]

1. Yes, that is normal size. DV has a set data rate of 3.6 MB/s. Also, when you use FireWire to get the video onto yer computer you aren't "capturing" the video in the traditional/analog sense. You are performing a file copy from yer camera to yer computer via Firewire (that's why you cannot adjust settings 'cause they are no settings to adjust since it is just copying the digital file).

2. The playback is small 'cause playing full screen, DV quality video is a pain. It's easier for the computer to play it in a small window.

3. I'd suggest going to CompUSA or something and paying $100 for a consumer editing program. Or do a search for video editing (in video, general hardware, software, and OT).

4. AVI is just a generic wraper, it's not a format or codec. Other programs might capture using a different codec, but file could still have the .avi extension.

5. The different codecs and video formats has a lot to do w/compression and varing levels of compatibility.

6. It depends. If you want to burn DVDs or S/VCDs or post things on the web then yes. You would want to compression and use something other than yer "raw DV" avi.

7. See #3


Lethal