Help: transfer of video from camcorder to PC

[GroundedSailor]

We have just bought a Digital Camcorder at work. The idea to record before, progress and after video of the worksites, and adjacent areas, on each project (our work is Marine Construction). We have recenly been hit with false claims by people living in the vicinity and not having detailed 'before' photographic evidence has made our defence very weak.

My Q is: How can I transfer the video to the PC so it can be burned on CD-R's (as avi's?) that we can distribute to all involved in the project.

The video camera is Panasonic PV-DC252.

The computers at work are running Windows 98 SE. The 2 computers on which any video transfer will be done have CD writers.

Will I need any particular software? Or any add-on card?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Ben88]

You will need a firewire port on the computer. If there isn't one you have to buy an ieee 1394 card and a 4 to 6 pin 1394 cable. You can use a program like Pinnacle Studio 8 or Adobe Premiere 6.5 to edit the video and save it as an svcd, mpeg, or avi onto a cd-rom for playing on computers.

Here is a link to the card/cable that I use in my personal system with win98se.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=EUR-0811

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: Ben88
You will need a firewire port on the computer. If there isn't one you have to buy an ieee 1394 card and a 4 to 6 pin 1394 cable. You can use a program like Pinnacle Studio 8 or Adobe Premiere 6.5 to edit the video and save it as an svcd, mpeg, or avi onto a cd-rom for playing on computers.

Here is a link to the card/cable that I use in my personal system with win98se.

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=EUR-0811

Thanks for your reply.

Those computers don't have firewire ports. I built them using MSI K7T Turbo 2 cards and that MoBo did not come with a firewire port. Shall check when I get to the office tomorrow.

That card seems like a good deal. What do you think of this card/cable/software combination Pinnacle Studio DV Version 8 for $96?

I'm thinking I could get the Pinnacle on one computer (preferably mine ) and install the firewire card on the other as redunduncy.


Any comments appreciated.

 

[Pauli]

The Pinnacle Studio 8 package should work very nicely for you. It's got very highly rated software for ease of use and power (Well, I use PS 7.15 -- I haven't tried Version 8 of the software yet, but I am assuming they didn't butcher it in one release cycle).

 

[AnitaPeterson]

if you're using windows 98, be aware that there is a limit of 4GB to the size of the video files you create (or capture) This means you'll have to capture in MPEG-2 or MPEG-1, because otherwise you'll only be able to work with short clips.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies.

I intend to go with the Pinnacle Studio 8 package and the other firewire card.

As to the 4 Gig limit, MPEG files should work fine as all windows computers will have the media player which can handle MPEG. Most people in my industry are stuck in the stone age - still awed by the capability of the calculator! So I gotta keep it simple.