Copy DV tapes to DVD

[MkII]

It's that time of year again - setup a PC to create DVDs of GCSE Drama productions onto DVD.

 

Long story short... I'm having a hell of a job getting this going, and wondered how everyone else goes about this?

 

Do you use DVD Camcorders? I understand they're lower quality and of course those mini DVDs only take 30 minutes.

 

Do you copy direct from the camera to DVD?

 

The English department want to spend some money on this, they're thinking around £400

 

Suggestions please

[miller9]

best way would be to invest in a good quality capture card like say a matrox, some software, we use adobe premier, and possibly some extra hard disks for storage. We use Mini DV type cameras which have firewire output and this set up i find best for taking from tape to pc, edit and burn all from within premier

 

hope this helps

[localzuk]

Get an imac or mac mini and use imovie. Makes it very easy and manageable I would say.

[mac_shinobi]

I know this is off topic here, but I have some dv tapes that I want to convert to dvd etc and was curious what do I need hardware wise to get the dv tapes onto my g4 power book ?

 

Im guessing just a cam corder that supports dv tapes ?

[MkII]

I've got a PC with firewire so getting the tape to PC is sorted - it's more the processing I'm having trouble with.

 

I currently:

 

1. Capture as AVI

 

2. Minor edit with Virtual Dub ...which has been excellent, although it's sensitive and I just can't get it to work sometimes

 

3. Convert to DVD using AVI2DVD

 

 

Both these proggies i've had problems with, so I just want something very reliable to replace them.

[mac_shinobi]

http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/

 

also http://www.videohelp.com and http://www.doom9.org are good sites to refer to

[localzuk]

I've got a PC with firewire so getting the tape to PC is sorted - it's more the processing I'm having trouble with.

 

I currently:

 

1. Capture as AVI

 

2. Minor edit with Virtual Dub ...which has been excellent, although it's sensitive and I just can't get it to work sometimes

 

3. Convert to DVD using AVI2DVD

 

 

Both these proggies i've had problems with, so I just want something very reliable to replace them.

 

Thats why I said get a mac - to get a movie from dv to dvd requires the following:

 

Import into imovie, save as a dvd. Done.

 

You can get a mac mini for about £300, and it will give you a solution which is, IMO, easier to manage than any PC based software.

[MkII]

ok i'm interested localzuk

 

a basic superdrve one costs £450.21 + vat tho' - but it still is very attractive

[GrumbleDook]

If it does not require any editting just use a DVD recorder (we have a combo VHS / DVD recorder from Argos ... £180) This is how we send them off to the exam board ... nothing fancy.

[mac_shinobi]

I've got a PC with firewire so getting the tape to PC is sorted - it's more the processing I'm having trouble with.

 

I currently:

 

1. Capture as AVI

 

2. Minor edit with Virtual Dub ...which has been excellent, although it's sensitive and I just can't get it to work sometimes

 

3. Convert to DVD using AVI2DVD

 

 

Both these proggies i've had problems with, so I just want something very reliable to replace them.

 

Thats why I said get a mac - to get a movie from dv to dvd requires the following:

 

Import into imovie, save as a dvd. Done.

 

You can get a mac mini for about £300, and it will give you a solution which is, IMO, easier to manage than any PC based software.

 

I agree with the mac suggestion, and if you are still dieing to use pc or should I say windows , you can with the new intel macs so even if you do go with a mac mini you can still use windows on it

[localzuk]

ok i'm interested localzuk

 

a basic superdrve one costs £450.21 + vat tho' - but it still is very attractive

 

You should be able to knock at least £50 off that if you get it via a decent supplier. And it will save you an awful lot of time

 

If it does not require any editting just use a DVD recorder (we have a combo VHS / DVD recorder from Argos ... £180) This is how we send them off to the exam board ... nothing fancy.

 

That is another possibility. But you will not get DV quality onto the DVD would you?

[MkII]

If it does not require any editting just use a DVD recorder (we have a combo VHS / DVD recorder from Argos ... £180) This is how we send them off to the exam board ... nothing fancy.

 

DV Camera to DVD or do you have a VHS Camera? We only have DV Cameras

 

I suppose quality isn't realy an issue, and I understand now it's only for reference, a backup of 'what the examiner saw' - and probably never checked.

I could chop up the tapes roughtly if I knew what was on them. Problem is I usually dont, but i'm sure this is the answer - just do it roughly.

Thanks for that.

[localzuk]

Well a dvd recorder should have some form of input, be it scart, s-video or composite and pretty much all cameras (dv or otherwise) allow you to play it through some form of tv. Connecting the 2 together should do the trick.

 

The thing to remember is that other than doing the copying like this your dvd recorder will lie dormant most of the time whereas a mac could be used for various multimedia projects by the kids.

[bishopsgarthstockton]

I've just done this for drama, nice peice of kit i have is called dazzle. google it, should come at the top of your search results. you plug the digital cameracorder to the dazzle device and dazzle to pc. then you run both the software and dv tape. you can then burn it to dvd. nice and easy.

[MkII]

I recommended a Dazzle to a friend almost 10 years ago now - and he still loves it - I'd forgotten about that!

[PeterW]

Well a dvd recorder should have some form of input, be it scart, s-video or composite and pretty much all cameras (dv or otherwise) allow you to play it through some form of tv. Connecting the 2 together should do the trick.

 

Most DVD recorders will have a DV input so no loss of quality, that will also give you DV deck control over the camera so select source DV and just hit Record

 

These cost about £80.00 max

[projector1]

interesting thread

i have used a firewire card to capture to a pc. I hate the quality loss with apps such as nero vision and windows movie maker (still ok for most)

whats the best way to ensure the dv quality is retained even after editing the video and exporting to a dvd

[MkII]

The cheapest DVD Recorder with DV in I could find was the Liteon DDA100X DivX DVD Recorder at eBuyer for £65.02

 

Looking in Argos they have a Canon DVD Camcorder for £279.97 that takes 60 minute 8cm DVDs for £29.99 for 10

 

I'd never need see these damn drama productions ever again!!!

[john]

The DVD Camcorders are ok, but if you want to ever edit the footage they are a bit of a pain in the ass, as you have to rip the footage from the DVD to the Video Editing program and then edit it etc. They look good on paper for just record and file but not quite as flexible as they could be.

[becktonboy]

On a laptop with no firewire I tried a USB video capture cable (was £30ish but I think might be cheaper now), it captures DV from camcorder very easily and I can then edit in MM2, quality is acceptable for the kinds of purpose mentioned here.

[MkII]

But to get it from MM2 onto a DVD isn't easy - you need special s/w.

[becktonboy]

I just used the roxio stuff that came with the usb burner I borrowed, not a problem really.

[MkII]

From memory MM2 doesn't compress the AVI, so can be a pain with longish clips.

[MkII]

Head of English wants to go with the £70 DVD Recorder option - just because it's cheapest... getting nervous now!

[Robin_M]

I'd never need see these damn drama productions ever again!!!

 

Haha! Or maybe they'll be wanting you to rip from the DVD, cut out the bits they don't want, and remake it!