Anyone used HDD video camcorders with Videostudio 10 +?

Drumovski · Post by **Drumovski** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 5:53 am

Looking at getting a new camera for doing web and possibly dvd production. Are there any issues anyone knows about with HDD cameras and Videostudio 10+ ?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:59 am

Hi

I think John Hunter is the man

Try this link from the tutorial section

http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=13872

Trevor

Drumovski · Post by **Drumovski** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:30 pm

I think you may have missunderstood... Sorry I ment hard disk drives not high def video.

Post by **Ron P.** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 1:43 pm

There have been a few discussions about HDD camcorders, just do a search using "HDD", hard disk drives". What I recall about them is they're not a favored camcorder to use. What you need to look at is what format the camcorder records to, and if that format can be edited without major problems.

I would have to say if the camcorder recorded to MPEG-2 DVD compatible, then you would be alright. However I suspect that they record to a higher compressed format such as MPEG-4, DivX or Xvid. If so then based on the problems posted regarding editing those formats with VS, you would spend more time trying to figure out why things are not working as you would like.

Ron P.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:21 pm

Hi Drumovski

sorry about that--though it does make good reading

Trevor

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:26 pm

Hi Drumovski

I would go for Mini Dv and capture via firewire to dv-avi
Get a model that is capable of ‘throughput/passthrough’

Personal choice

Trevor

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:14 pm

Drumovski,
There are several advantages to hard disk drive camcorders that encode DVD-compliant Mpeg2 video format.

First, capturing is simplified and much faster because the hard disk drive looks like an external hard disk drive. You can capture an hour of video in a couple of minutes, instead of the full hour that is required for DV tape capture.

The second advantage is the the original video encoding is the format that you will need to burn a DVD. Video Studio 10+ can edit that format and "smart-render" a DVD compliant video file quickly, with good picture quality. No video format transcodings are necessary.

There is some confusion on this forum between Mpeg2 and Mpeg4 formats on these camcorders. Mpeg4 is not quite ready for prime time, when it comes to editing with 10+. I would avoid this format until the software catches up.

IMO, your best reference on HDD camcorders is http://www.camcorderinfo.com There are excellent reviews of most camcorders on the market.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Aug 16, 2006 10:53 pm

According to some users, the JVC Everio series of HDD cameras is to be avoided since it uses a proprietary format which can only be transferred using JVC software. Moreover, it is complicated to then convert this to a format which VS can 'see'.

Drumovski · Post by **Drumovski** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:06 am

Thanks very much for all your posts.
Looks like I might be going tape afterall.
It records in better quality so I can always use it for other things if I need too.

Cheers
Drumovski

Sektionschef · Post by **Sektionschef** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 6:23 pm

Hi
I use a Panasonic Camcorder that records to SD memory cards together with UVS10+.
The cam produces,like many other HDD cams, mpeg2 files.
I have no problems editing them with UVS10+ except that there are some problems with the smart-renderer(see this thread:http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... highlight=)
Regards
Sektionschef[/url]

Stephen Quick · Post by **Stephen Quick** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:52 pm

I am using Video Studio 10+ With my Sony DSR-SR90 HDD (Hard Drive Camcorder). With no problems. The video is MPEG-2 DVD compatible, very good quality output and reletivley quick edit burn etc.

I dont use the sftware that came with the camcorder "PIEXELA Image mixer" as it is utter rubbish!

I have setup Video Studio 10+ to Access the camcorder as if it is a Mobile Device and it then displays thubnails of the secenes stored on the HDD, I choose which ones I want and it copys them th my PC HDD.

HDD Camcorders are the way forward TAPE has had its day!

Has anyone else got a Sony DSR-SR90 who could share some tips?

Wintings · Post by **Wintings** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 6:53 pm

[quote="Stephen Quick"]

I have setup Video Studio 10+ to Access the camcorder as if it is a Mobile Device and it then displays thubnails of the secenes stored on the HDD, I choose which ones I want and it copys them th my PC HDD.

quote]

An EXCELLENT solution to the import problem I was having with my JVC Everio HDD camcorder. Thank you very much!!!!

What I don't understand is why, if VS10 can import JVC's MOD files from the camcorder by treating it as a "Mobile Device", it can't recognize the camcorder straight off and import the files, without your having to fiddle around like that. The Everio range is becoming quite popular, so this is something Ulead should look at for v11 of the program.

lespurgeon · Post by **lespurgeon** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:03 am

New Sony AVCHD format HDD camera looks like a good bet (HDR-S1 I believe) as being the best video quality disk based camera ever. Not sure Videostudio can deal with the AVCHD format yet, however.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 7:25 am

Actually JC Hunter is your man for this one.
Please view Sony Announces High Definition, Hard Disc Camcorder HDR-SR1

dave_angel · Post by **dave_angel** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:13 am

Stephen Quick wrote:I am using Video Studio 10+ With my Sony DSR-SR90 HDD (Hard Drive Camcorder). With no problems. The video is MPEG-2 DVD compatible, very good quality output and reletivley quick edit burn etc.

I dont use the sftware that came with the camcorder "PIEXELA Image mixer" as it is utter rubbish!

I have setup Video Studio 10+ to Access the camcorder as if it is a Mobile Device and it then displays thubnails of the secenes stored on the HDD, I choose which ones I want and it copys them th my PC HDD.

HDD Camcorders are the way forward TAPE has had its day!

Has anyone else got a Sony DSR-SR90 who could share some tips?

Hi Stphen - i have got a SR90 and have just started using Ulead

Have been using it and started trying to burn some simple projects etc with the camcorder files.

The format of 16:9 seems a little bit strange. I have used a 16.9 ratio on all settings and it seems to give a decent aspect and quality on my clips but i think it does crop quite a lot off the edges. I have tried other pieces of software but all seem to have problems in getting the correct ratio and getting a decent output onto a widescreen tv.

I managed it with the imagemixer software but that seems to crop some of the edges and also it is actually a useless piece of editing and authoring software, hence the use of ulead.

I am finding it takes a long time to complete these using the "share" project to dvd route.

Have a feeling i am doing something wrong still. The files i am using (after importing to my C Drive) are MPEG format - was not expecting the rendering process to take such a long time.

I finally got something that looks half decent (50 mins of various chapters with transitions etc) - i left it running overnight and this time it didn't fail with an error. I think i need to do more playing about but i think the problems i have had is when then disc size comes close to the max 4.7gb of the DVD.