Do I have to install Sony's software for my miniDV

[veetron]

OK I'm really green at this and would appreciate any help. Just got a Sony DCR-TRV25 mini DV camcorder. I want to save our tapes to the computer and cd's and someday DVD. On my pc I will be able to use firewire or USB but my wife's system which I prefer to use is older and slower but does have usb. I put in an AIW 64 to do video capture of all our old vhs tapes and that's working just fine. I also installed the usb drivers that Sony insists are necessary for this camera. My question first off is do I have to install Pixela software or can I use something else if it would work better. The ULead software that came with the AIW doesn't seem to support USB streaming, just the firewire which of course she doesn't have. I've found lots of help on the web about video capture and making vcd's and such but now that I just got this camera today I'm a bit fuzzy on how this works. What file format will it be in. Should I just resolve to save it on my pc using the IEEE 1394 (what Sony calls i.LINK) and if other software is available what would you recomend. The manual decribes how after I install PIXELA I will need the cd disk in the player when I first hook the camera up so that the pc can find the camera. I'm wondering if that software will have any effect on the AIW software that is currently working fine. We are both useing Windows 98se and I'm not ready to move onto XP if it can be avoided. Also any websites that might address this issue or forums would be welcome.
Thanks

 

[veetron]

Bump

 

[LethalWolfe]

Always use Firewire if you can. Video over USB=the suck. You'll need some sort of program to capture the video using Firewire. Can you install the Ulead software on your PC, or will it only work on a PC w/the AIW installed?


Lethal

 

[veetron]

thanks for the reply. Well I didn't want to do it but had a feeling that I might end up using my pc for this. I will have to go out and buy the cable. I wonder if I ask for an i-Link cable if it will cost twice as much as a firewire cable? I knew that the memory card was proprietary but was a bit dissapointed to find out that the "infoLITHIUM" battery is proprietary and the only one that works with it. It's nice to have an accurate readout in minutes not only for use left but remaining charge time as well but wonder how much more that will cost will I buy another.
When I first started looking at camcorders I didn't even concider Sony at all because of their way of making proprietary devices necessary but as I looked a bit further I realized that they do make good camcorders. Then when I discovered that they offered a $100 rebate I gave in. Guess I'll end up spending the $100 back to Sony!

 

[hans007]

sony has waaay too many proprietary things (i.e. crap like, digital 8, memory stick, infolithium, MD tapes, etc). i tend to not buy their stuff just out of principle, there is always a worthy competitor that is standard (i.e. canon).



i have a sharp mini DV cam (which i barely use and am currently selling).

but from what i used of it, if you have firewire, you can use windows movie maker (ASF, and raw avi only) , premiere, studio DV or whatever, not just sony's software.