I need hardware and software - What should I get?

dadof3boys · Post by **dadof3boys** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 11:09 am

A friend of mine just started copying his home movies to DVD and editing them. I was going to buy the same product but he recommended I ask this forum as he said people had suggested he could or should have bought something better.

I'm not looking to become a professonal. I just want to convert my vodeo 8 movies before they degrade. My questions are, what difference is there between a "firewire" conncection and a digital converter that just connects to a USB port? What difference will the different hardware make? What is the likely cost as I probably don't want to spend more than about $400 on new hardware and software. What is likely to be the most suitable software for me?

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 11:21 am

The hardware you have got could suffice although the Creative sound may or may not cause you some grief.

Difference firewire/digital converter:

Firewire is used to connect DV camcorders to the PC via the iLink connection to capture what is known as DV-AVI, really just copying the digital data from the miniDV tape to the PC. Excellent quality, as good as the source, no loss.

Digital converter is used to convert the analog signal to digital. I would be careful though and really ask some people in the know before I would buy any of these devices. There is a lot of crap around. personally I would not use it.

Having said all that, let me ask you a question: Do you intend to go into digital videography at all? If you do and you do not yet have a digital camcorder, get one with the AV through port. You connect your video8 camcorder or player to the AV In jacks on the digital camera and either record the analog footage to miniDV tape or feed it right through the camera to your PC via th iLink port and firewire connection of the digital camcorder. Like this, you will be killing two birds with one stone.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 11:59 am

What is likely to be the most suitable software for me?

There are 3 stages involved in creating a DVD.
1. Getting whatever it is you have onto the computer's hard drive
2. Editing that video (optional) such as cutting out adverts in a TV program
3. Authoring a DVD - ie creating a DVD Menu just like the one's you buy complete with navigation buttons and 'chapters'.
All of the below products can perform stage 1 and also stage 3.
Stage 2 is best left to the two products Media Studio Pro or Video Studio.

The 4 Major Ulead products for this purpose are

1. Media Studio Pro 8
For somone new to this 'Hobby' this is likely to be too complicated.
It is the expensive Video Editor which would be used at stage 2 above.
This one has multiple sound and video tracks and is ideal if you want to create picture in picture effects - a bit like when you watch "24" with Kiefer Sutherland.

2. Video Studio 9
This is similar to Media Studio Pro but a lot cheaper and is aimed at the Casual user, the Home user or someone who doesn't need to create lots of special effects to the degree seen in a program like "24" mentioned above. It has two video tracks. The second video track is termed an overlay track and so you can have a picture in picture effect but (without a lot of work) not to the degree of its more expensive Big Brother Media Studio.

Both above products enable you to cut the video up as if it was old fashioned film cut with scissors, and then stich it all back together again with lots of transitions like crossfades. Obviously there are more transitions in MSP but then again it is 4 times the price.

3. Movie Factory 4.
This item is aimed more those who do not want to edit the video and are happy to just get what they have onto a DVD. There is some limited editing available but very restricted.
Movie Factory is also ideal if you have a digital camera and want to create DVD slideshows of your pictures.

4. DVD Workshop 2.
This is to the authoring stage, what Media Studio Pro is to the editing stage. This software is purpose built to create a DVD Menu from a blank screen and you can recreate almost any commercial DVD menu.
It is expensive and more for the professional or serious hobbyist.

Before anyone points out Picture Show 4. This is the only piece of Ulead software I don't have, so perhaps someone out there can add onto this thread a description of that item.

Thank you

Steve J