Date and time information with MovieFactory 5.6 ??

[ambikas]

I have some recordings with my Canon HD camcorder. And I can see date and time embedded when I watch it directly plugged into TV.
But when I write into DVD using DVD movie factory 5.6 , I dont see any date.
I believe there should be some way to embed the date and time white writing the DVD.

Or is there any other way to do it?
Any suggestion would be greatly appreaciated.

Thank you.

[Ron P.]

The time/date stamp was used a lot with the old analog VHS tapes. The data is still there (as you know) on the DV tapes. However when inserting them into programs such as DVDMF or VS it is not seen, unless you tell the program you want to see it.

I don't have your version of DVDMF, however in DVDMF 6+ I don't find any setting like in VS's Preferences Settings, "Display DV Timecode in Preview Window".

[ambikas]

Yes, I dont see this option in DVD MovieFactory 5.6 and as I consulted Ulead technical help also, I dont think it's possible to embed date and time using DVD MovieFactory 5.6.

Thanks anyway.

[Ron P.]

You could try a free program called DV Date. It can burn the date/time code into the video. It can display and burn the date/time code into the video (DV only), and you can set the display duration the date/timecode is displayed per scene in your video. For example if you just want to see the date and time a clip was shot for about 5 secs in the scene, when DV Date detects the scene, it will display the date and time. You can position this overlay display anywhere on the screen.

It can also do some conversions, like DV to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, and claims to do NTSC to PAL or presumably PAL To NTSC as well.

It's a very light weight program, and it's free...

http://paul.glagla.free.fr/dvdate_en.htm

Sorry I had forgot about this little app when I posted earlier..

[ambikas]

Thank you Sir. I will try this one.
In fact, this is just the side problem. The main problem is the pause between the clips when I write into the DVD (I have posted in another topic in this forum).

I wonder if you can help me in this.
Basically my camcorder has stores in clips in the hard disk. And after I transfer the files into my PC , the files are in interVideo media files(it's using the Ulead software to move from camcorder to PC).
And when I join some of the clips (I join because max no. of allowed clips is 99) , and then write a DVD , and play this DVD, I get a pause of 3-4 seconds, which is really disturbing. I am still searching a solution for this.

Thank you.

[Ron P.]

This pause between clips, or rather between titles is common, and normal behavior on a DVD.

In order to not have this slight pause, is to combine the clips into a single title, or clip. This image provided in Steve's tutorial From Camcorder to DVD with VS explains the difference between titles and chapters.



To combine some clips in DVDMF, select the clips you want to join on the time line. Then select the Export Selected Clips option. Then if your clips are already MPEG-2 DVD Compliant choose Fast Export DVD Compliant Video. This will create a new video file, joining those clips. Once that is complete, you can insert that video clip, which would give you a single title, that you can choose to add Chapters to.

[ambikas]

Thank you Sir.
Sir I have some doubts regarding the steps you told.
What I understand is:
1) I need to select all the clips and click on "Export selected clips" (Now the checkbox "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" is checked).
2) I didnt do "Fast Export DVD compliant video" , I was not sure that the recording clips done are DVD compliant. So I just did with HQ 4:3 (Dolby Digital setting)
3) After all the files are exported , these are stored in MPG files in my PC.
4) Now what do I need to do? If I do, "Add media files" in MovieFactory5.6 , and put all the exported files, then it brings up all the files. But it's not a single file... it's again the same no. of files. if I write now to a DVD , it would be the same problem of pause, right?

Sir, do I need to join them now? Or have I done anything wrong?
Please advice.

Thanks

[Ron P.]

I'm sorry for providing the incorrect method..

You found the correct method, which is selecting all the clips on the time-line that you want to join, then press the Join button. The clips are then joined into one Title, which would eliminate the pause.

[Anita]

I have same problem that date and time is not displayed on my DVD movies. I downloaded DV date but it uses only AVI files and does not recognize files downloaded from camera. Could you tell me what I do wrong. How I can use thus program to display a date on my movies. Also how I can display them on still pictures? Please respond!!!!

[Ron P.]

As far as I know, the time code is not maintained with MPEG files. You're not doing anything wrong, the data is just not there, unless your camcorder has a way to burn the time code to the video file.

[Anita]

Thank you, Ron, for your responce!I have the time pictures are taking in my camera diplayed, but it disapear when I transfer to movie using corel program DVDMF 5.6. is any way I can transform these files to AVI and then use DV data? Would it help to buy a some kind of different software Like pennical? Do other ways exist when i can display time of clips were taken on my DVD movies. I have a newborn and so much want the date on his movies. Thanks again!

[Ron P.]

Anita,

Even if you convert your MPEG-2 to DV, that data would not be there. With MPEG compresssion that date/timecode data is stripped away. I'm not aware of any video editing program that would be able to get that from an MPEG file.

This may be more work, but since you can see it in your camcorder, you could jot down the times/dates and create a Text/Title to be displayed over your clip. Most people do not like seeing the date/time code constantly throughout the entire video. However just having it appear every now and then is much more professional, and pleasing.

I guess I should ask first, what make and model is your camcorder? There might be a remote chance that it has the ability to transfer your video using Firewire (IEEE-1394 or what Sony calls i-Link). If your camcorder has a Firewire port (not USB), then you would be able to capture/transfer your video in DV format.

[Anita]

Thanks, Ron. I have an HG10 HDD camcorder. To my best knowleadge it does not have I-link or DV pluging. I do have this i-link cord and it does not feet anywere in this camcorder. I tried to put date in each clip, but it disapeared when I join clips together. So frustrating! The downloaded files from camera are dated, but the video is not. I wonder if I am the only one who wants the date to be displayd on the movie.... Any other suggestions?

[etech6355]

I have some recordings with my Canon HD camcorder. And I can see date and time embedded when I watch it directly plugged into TV.

That's an internal function of the cam, you can turn it on or off, it's in the setup menu or maybe a button on your remote.

I haven't worked to sub-titles very much. I have a program that does create sub-titles from scratch and save them as a sub-titles file to use in dvd authoring applications.. After learning this new program I'll see if I can help out with making sub-titles.

The Sub-Titles I'm speaking about are accessed from a dvd remote control. You turn them on & off using the dvd remote control. The same as a hearing impaired person would watch TV that broadcasts sub-titles.