VS11+, Hi8 and VS-X5

[nocam]

I first bought VS at v4. Since then I have updated every year (but never used the program) and Iam now at v11+. I decided that I was not going to upgrade any further if I was not going to use the program. Well, I finally used v11+, was happy with the results and want to do more.

I have put togeather my first movie using a SONY HandyCam DCR-HC1000 using my IEEE-1394 Cable and all went well bringing everything into VS11+. NOWWWW, I have an older Sony CCD-TRV81"Hi8" video camera with video I want to get into VS11+. I do not have an internal analog capture card or a TV tuner card in my computer as required acording to the VS11+ manual. MY QUESTION: Is there another way to get the "Hi8" converted to DV that would allow me to use my IEEE-1394 Cable to bring the info into VS11+. Far fetched maybe but could I record directly from the Sony CCD-TRV81"Hi8" video camera TO the SONY HandyCam DCR-HC1000 video camera in a way that would automatically do the conversion?

Another thought, is it possible that VS-X5 has a way of converting what I have if the info is brought in using my IEEE-1394 Cable? I like what I managed to accomplish with VS11+ and I am very interested in upgrading to VS-X5 if my computer can handle it.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Ken Berry]

Fortunately your SONY HandyCam DCR-HC1000 includes analogue to digital passthrough, meaning you should be able to connect the old Hi8 using its RCA (yellow and red/black and white) out connection to the Sony's AV-in port on the back of the camcorder. Then connect the Sony via Firewire to your computer. I am not sure, though, if you have to have a tape in the Sony or not. Maybe the Manual would clarify that if you still have it; otherwise it would be trial and error on your part. You should be able to pick up an RCA to AV cable in any electrical store like Radio Shack.

Personally, for such an operation as this I use my old Sony Digital 8 DCR-TRV480 camcorder, which apart from filming in DV, also accepts analogue 8mm and Hi8 tapes. It then connects via Firewire, so the capture is more direct and notionally higher quality. It produces excellent results and has been the way I saved my old analogue collection of video tapes shot over the years.

As for upgrading to X5, I wonder if there is really a need if all you intend to do is use the DV/Firewire route and produce standard def DVDs. Sure X5 has extra bells and whistles, particularly in the high definition area, but for basic editing of standard DV-to-DVD, VS11+ will do much the same job. Your computer should be fine with X5 for standard def editing using XP. However, it would be pushing it for some high def editing, should you upgrade your camcorder to high def. And in fact it could not even play, or edit, AVCHD video even using VS's SmartProxy feature. So if you went the AVCHD route, you would also need to upgrade your computer.

[nocam]

Ken,

Thanks a LOT for the excellant information. Now, all I have to do is make it work. It is getting to the point where I am going to have to get another computer in order to keep up with things but that may be a while. I see that VS-X5 is NOT right for now and as far as VS is concerned I need to get better with what I have. However, ( I don't know what came after VS11+) if X1 or X2, or something before X5 would work well and do more than VS11+ with what I have then I would upgrade to one of those if one is avaliable somewhere.

[teknisyan]

If that computer that you mention is the computer that you listed on your forum profile, I'm afraid that can be a problem since according VS X5 system requirements -- http://www.corel.com/corel/product/inde ... 50075#tab4 -- you should at least have Intel® Core™ Duo 1.83 GHz, AMD Dual-Core 2.0 GHz and a 2 GB RAM.

Now about your Sony CCD-TRV81"Hi8" video camera, you may want to try using capture devices like this -- http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/creat ... rview.html

[Ken Berry]

Whatever you do, avoid X3 like the plague. Its burning engine was the pits and users had to download a special version of Movie Factory 7 to get around the problems.

[nocam]

Was VS-X1 the next version after VS11? Anyone know if X1 or X2 would work with my system and be better than what I have. If so, can you still buy X1 or X2 from Corel and if not there is there a place where they can be purchased?

[Ken Berry]

No -- Vs 11 was in effect X1, though it was never called that. Corel took over Ulead which previously produced VS a bit before then, and Corel's product naming policy had by then switched to the somewhat gimmicky use of the Roman X to donote 10, followed by an Arabic number. So in effect X2 was version 12, and so on. (Corel does the same thing, for instance, with the Corel Draw suite.) X2 was a bit better than VS11+, but again the improvements were mostly in the high definition area... So you should still be OK with VS11+ if for the time being you only intend to edit DV/AVI...

[nocam]

ABIEL

Thanks for the mention of Roxio. I see they also have software for converting VHS to digital.

KEN

I really appreciate all you help. I am glad to know that with my system I am in a good position with VS11+. I can get on with learning how to use what I have better and not buy into something that will cause a beginner like me a lot of problems and confusion. If I could use VS11+ to its fullest capability I will be able to create things that will be great for me and those I will show things to.

[nocam]

KEN, you said

"you should be able to connect the old Hi8 using its RCA (yellow and red/black and white) out connection to the Sony's AV-in port on the back of the camcorder. Then connect the Sony via Firewire to your computer. I am not sure, though, if you have to have a tape in the Sony or not."

What you said here sounded great but if I am interpreting it correctly I am not able to make it happen. As I understand it you are suggesting that a pass-thru would be going thru my SONY DCR-HC1000 firewire directly into the computer and I assume by CAPTURE with VS. To do this may or may not require a tape being in place in the SONY DCR-HC1000. The tape, as you mention it, is not being used for anything but may need to be in place. I have tried with and without the tape and a multitude of things but I cannot get the data to go into the computer. SOO00... I must be doing something wrong. I f you have any suggestion as to what I might be doing wrong please let me know.

WHAT I CAN MAKE HAPPEN.
I can record from the Sony Hi8 camera onto a tape in the SONY DCR-HC1000
camera AND THEN via the Firewire CAPTURE to the computer with VS. This is a lot better than having to get/install etc. a capture card into my old computer but I wonder if Iam losing much quality. If a direct pass-thru method would work that would be great for it would eliminate one step.

[Ken Berry]

I don't know your Sony personally, and was only going on the reviews of it which included a specific reference to its capacity for passthrough... Normally that means direct passthrough, but my first Canon DV camcorder could only operate in the two-step way you have found works with your Sony, so you may in fact be limited to that.

When you connect all the cables, does VS actually detect the Sony? Normally it would come up with a name -- something like Sony Handicam detected, or the equivalent? Sometimes you have to have everything turned on before opening VS; sometimes you have to first turn on VS and then switch on the camcorder...

Do you have the Sony set to PLAY mode (which is the correct one for passthrough) or to REC?

[nocam]

Ken,

I have the Sony's set to play. I tried all your suggestions but nothing worked. I guess my Sony works like the Canon you mentioned and that is OK if it can do no more.

Thanks again for your help!

[canuck]

Ken,

I have the Sony's set to play. I tried all your suggestions but nothing worked. I guess my Sony works like the Canon you mentioned and that is OK if it can do no more.

Thanks again for your help!

I have never had a problem capturing analog video from my analog Sony camcorder using the "pass-thru" method of my Sony digital camcorder. I found that I had to have a tape (use a blank or scratch tape) in the digital cam for it to work though.

Perhaps this link to the Sony Tutorial might be of help
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/tutori ... l=DCRPC350

[nocam]

canuck

Thanks for the tut link. I am going to now try that.