[Elecraft] Polar Bear #1 Needs Help!

[Edward R. Breneiser]

What's the term firewire mean?
I keep seeing this word when referring to video.
Do you think that if I record from my camcorder into
an external dvd recorder it will work? I plan to just 
go out and buy a dvd recorder and input the video and 
sound onto a dvd  from my camcorder. Then buy a software package for
WinXP to edit the dvd.

Does anyone have a better idea? 

The DVD recorder should run me around $180. I have no idea what a
software editing package will cost. 

Does someone make just an external DVD Recorder? All I see in the stores
are VHS/DVD Recorders. I plan to edit more videos etc for the 
Polar Bears, AT hikes, ARCBS Events and ARLHS Events. It would be nice
to have a reasonably priced video recording studio in my shack.

72,
Ed, WA3WSJ
Polar Bear #1


-----Original Message-----
From: Lambs, Dick & Judy [mailto:rlamb at slamb.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 9:31 AM
To: Edward R. Breneiser
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Polar Bear #1 Needs Help!

One thing I forgot to mention in my last email:  Don't get one of the  
devices in the $50 to $100 class that  plug into a PC with USB, and  
take the video and audio out of the camcorder.  They work, but the  
quality is terrible in comparison to what you'd get with going  
directly into a PC with firewire, or into a digital DVD recorder with  
firewire.

Dick



On Dec 20, 2005, at 8:26 AM, Lambs, Dick & Judy wrote:

> I didn't see that you got a reply, so I'll offer some suggestions.   
> I've gone through the conversion process recently with both min-DV  
> and analog tapes.
>
> Your best bet is to use a Mac.  They come with the best software  
> for this purpose.
>
> If you don't have access to a Mac,  you'll need a PC with a  
> firewire port.  USB (and USB2) will not work except to give very  
> poor quality.  The instructions with cameras are often confusing on  
> this point.  You've got to have a firewire port.  But the good news  
> is that you can find them cheap online and at some stores.  Bestbuy  
> is very expensive.
>
> Next, you'll need special software.  XP usually comes with a low- 
> end package that will work well enough for transfer and some simple  
> editing.  The package, as I recall, is called "Move Maker" (or  
> something close), and is in the "accessory" group of software in  
> the programs menu.  I can give more specific directions if you need  
> them.  Right now I'm using a Mac, but I can fire up an XP machine  
> and give the exact steps.
>
> Another approach is to write directly from the camcorder to a DVD  
> recorder.  These have gone down in price lately:  I got one for  
> about $100.  You can't do much in the way of editing except to  
> pause the recorder while the camera plays scenes you don't want.
>
> Let me know if I can help.  Good luck.
>
> Dick, K0KK
>
>
>
> On Dec 19, 2005, at 2:20 PM, Edward R. Breneiser wrote:
>
>> Hello all!
>>
>> I'm looking for a way to take my camcorder tape
>> (mini-DV)and put it on a DVD or CD. I then need
>> some sort of software package to edit the video
>> and sound.
>> I recorded Ron's, WB3AAL, and myself, WA3WSJ's
>> hike up the mountain to Pulpit Rock etc. I now want
>> to create a video with sound. Anyone have any ideas?
>>
>> Please response directly to me.
>>
>> 72,
>> Ed, WA3WSJ
>>
>>
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