videostudio importing camcorder stuff

[dmz]

Hi,
Im running VS12 and am wondering about whether a new camcorder purchase will work with it. I currently have a panasonic nv-gs300 and I can connect via firewire and use VS to import all my video to an avi file.
My son bought a jvc everio and when I connected that, VS wouldnt recognise it and it appears that you have to use their proprietary program to read data from the camcorder which is not very user friendly.
So I am looking to buy a panasonic sdr-h85. What I need to know is how can you tell whether a camcorder will work with VS or whether it requires supplied software to read the camcorder info?

Thanks

David

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi David
Doing a google on the SDR-H85.

It is a High Definition camera

It has a Hard Disc Drive and a memory card slot, card sold separately, ( Unlike the GS 300 which is MiniDV tape)

It records to MPEG2, H.264.

The video files are copied to the computer via USB, (drag and drop) not firewire like the GS300.
Then imported to Video Studio for editing.

The package comes bundled with VideoCam Suite 3.0.
In some cases it is recommended to use this software to import your video to the pc. Then edit with Video Studio.

I use the GS 300, not ready to jump to HD not having a bluray burner or player I would only convert back to standard DVD format.

Editing HD is a little harder on the pc, you do not give any details of your pc spec’ in your profile

[Ken Berry]

Trevor -- my own research on the sdr-h85 on the Panasonic website indicates that it is in fact a standard definition camcorder (and the price certainly reflects that). Moreover, while it shoots in mpeg-2 (standard definition), it can also be set to film standard definition mpeg-4 using the AVC/h.264 codec. The latter always produces mpeg-4 but of course in its AVCHD/h.264 version produces high definition video. However, as I say, the sdr-h85 does not.

dmz -- certainly VS 12 should be able to import both formats from that camera. However, our advice is usually that if you have any trouble doing so, then use the software which comes with the camera, as Trevor suggested.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Thanks Ken

I just saw the reference to AVC/h.264 codec and assumed HD, confusing all these codecs.

In that case I would stay with my GS 300, even got that wrong should read 400.
Not having a good day am I

[dmz]

Thanks guys.
What I am concerned about is that currently I can import directly to a non-lossy avi format. I am worried that if VS doesnt recognise the camcorder that their supplied program will only import to MPEG format. That would throw the quality out somewhat when doing heavy editing. btw my pc is extremely high end.

David

[dmz]

I also just noticed this about the supplied software:
"About VideoCam Suite 3.0: Operation is not guaranteed with 64 bit editions of Windows® XP and Windows Vista®. Operation is not guaranteed on Windows XP Media Center Edition, Tablet PC Edition,Windows Vista Enterprise or Windows 7 Enterprise."

I have windows 7 ultimate 64 bit which still begs the question - how do you know if VS will recognise and import to an avi file for any camcorder you consider purchasing?

[BrianCee]

I think you have missed a point in both Trevors and Kens answers dmz - the sdr-h85 records in mpeg - so the best results will be obtained by keeping it in mpeg, there is nothing to be gained (in fact there may be a loss) if you try to do a conversion to .avi

Also - do not think there is any thing special about 'importing' to VideoStudio - all VS is doing is transferring the video from your camcorder to your computer, and putting an icon in your VS library - the video is not *in* VideoStudio , it is in a folder which you can have anywhere on your HDD.

Therefore it is not important (as long as the method does not lose quality) how you transfer the video from camcorder to computer - if the option exists to simply copy from camcorder to computer by any means (such as simple drag & drop) then use it, and then simply add the video to one of your libraries in VS or even directly to the timeline as the video does not need to be *in* VS in order to edit it.

It does not matter if VS cannot recognise your camcorder - what matters is can Windows see your camcorder and show it as a removable drive in Windows Explorer - if it can then just transfer the video by drag and drop.

[Ken Berry]

Just to endorse Brian's comment, it also depends what your ultimate intention is. If you intend to produce standard def DVDs, which of course use standard def mpeg-2, then it would obviously make sense both to use the Panasonic's native format (DVD-compatible mpeg-2), and to 'capture' (really, 'import') and edit in that format. No sense at all trying to capture from native mpeg-2 to some other format (regardless of what it is -- that conversion will be lossy), editing in that other format and reconverting back to mpeg-2. That would just be a couple of generations of quality loss.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Just a note regarding DV-Avi on the NV GS 300
It’s a Mini DV type camcorder.
The video is recorded to tape in DV-Avi form, very high quality.
When you transfer/capture using Video Studio (firewire) you use the DV capture format option. As it’s a tape it has to be played in real time.
This literally copies the video data without recoding, what you have in the camera is what you get on the pc DV-Avi.

The new sdr-h85 records to memory card or the HDD within the camera.
To transfer/capture, the hard drive/memory card will be seen by the pc and you will be able to drag and drop the video files in the same way that you get still images from a camera to the pc.

What you have in the camera is what you get on the pc Mpeg2, no recoding.
Once on the pc you insert to VS to edit.

[dmz]

Thanks everyone.
What I thought was - capture to avi file = good, capture to mpg file = not as good.
And what I couldnt understand that my gs300 with old tape technology would be better than a recent HDD camcorder which appears to only capture to mpg.

Cheers

David

[skier-hughes]

Thanks everyone.
What I thought was - capture to avi file = good, capture to mpg file = not as good. Only if you start with a dv.avi file, which is what is written to the tape.
And what I couldnt understand that my gs300 with old tape technology would be better than a recent HDD camcorder which appears to only capture to mpg. Same as millions of others mate !!!!! The drive is to make more info fit on a smaller space adn less and less people are editing adn more are bothered about just watching. Are 99% of youtube videos crap quality? Yes, but the content is what you watch. Do the BBC now show phone video footage? Yes, becuase they want to be able to show you exactly what went on. Is this good or bad? Both really.

Cheers

David