getting footage off Mini DVD's

[Kalvin]

Does anyone know how lol, all my footage before i got injured is on my friends mini DVD but we are clueless as to how we could get the footage, nether his computer nor mine, plays them, is there a different way or am i fucked ?

[Sakanem]

The camera my parents have requires a special program to get the files onto the pc (I think it came with the camera; also, you I needed to connect the camera to the pc via USB, one would think that simply putting the dvd into the drive would be sufficient, but no... unnecessary complicating ftw). To edit it you need to convert the footage to .avi , I used RAD video tools.

[Anima]

The camera my parents have requires a special program to get the files onto the pc (I think it came with the camera; also, you I needed to connect the camera to the pc via USB, one would think that simply putting the dvd into the drive would be sufficient, but no... unnecessary complicating ftw). To edit it you need to convert the footage to .avi , I used RAD video tools.

That sounds simple enough. Although, I do think it would be really cool just to put the DVD in the DVD drive haha.

[Reim]

Depending on the camera it can be either of those replies, either you have to get it's special program, or just pop it in the tray.

www.google.com.. use it

[Sakanem]

My parents have got a Panasonic by the way. It might be a different procedure for other brands, as Reim said.

[Kalvin]

thanks guy, i haven't tried it cuz its my friends camera, christmas season so hard to get ahold of him n such... but appreciate all the idea's!

[[RozoN]]

Pray for dear god that the camera has an USB or firewire exit, cuz if it doesn't you'll have to nimble your ass through several progs, just to convert all of the clips into a format you can work with...At least that's what I had to do with my old mini DVD cam. It also depends if you're using DVD-R or DVD-RW. DVD-Rs were easier to transfer vids from then DVD-RWs. With RWs I had to pull the videos through 2 programs to get a format I could work with, and the quality was shit after that. mini DVD cameras are meant for "instant watch" where you basically just record something and just jam it into the DVD player right away...it doesn't imply you working with and editing the footage on PC.
I hate mini DVD. I find them so unnecessary complicated. I'm much more happy with my mini DV cam where I just record on the mini DV tape and use firewire to bring it into Premiere...

[AsoBit]

For my parents Mini DVD camera, you have to finalize the disc in-camera. Then I can put it into my computer DVD Drive, and get the clips with the program "Magic DVD Ripper"

[Anima]

So, does the program come with the Camera ?

[Anima]

Will this Camcorder be difficult to get all the video off it and onto my pc ?
and will I lose a shit load of quality ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000PXK7VE/interactiveda3024-21

I'm getting it tomorrow you see.

[AsoBit]

No it does not.

[Anima]

Shit ! :sad:

[[RozoN]]

For my parents Mini DVD camera, you have to finalize the disc in-camera. Then I can put it into my computer DVD Drive, and get the clips with the program "Magic DVD Ripper"

Yeah...that's ok when you use the DVD-R, but you can't finalize a DVD-RW disc, so you have to rape the living hell from it before getting the clips

Will this Camcorder be difficult to get all the video off it and onto my pc ?
and will I lose a shit load of quality ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000PXK7VE/interactiveda3024-21

I'm getting it tomorrow you see.

Naahh dude...as long as it has a firewire exit, you're good :). I was only reffering to mini DVD cams and not DV cams...

[Anima]

Isn't firewire only for MACs ?

[AsoBit]

Nope

[[RozoN]]

nope...it works good on windows too...my Acer RC950 that has an Windows XP home edition, supports two firewire exits. Both for "laptop exit" and "normal exit"...and it works perfectly for transferring vids into Adobe Premiere :)

[Anima]

I don't think my PC has a firewire port then. It has like 4 USB ports but no firewire. Can you buy a firewire - USB port adapter ?

[AsoBit]

You can buy firewire ports to put in your PCI slot.

Edit: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2431794&CatId=51

[Anima]

Whats PCI ?

[AsoBit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_Component_Interconnect

It's quite standard.

[Sakanem]

Will this Camcorder be difficult to get all the video off it and onto my pc ?
and will I lose a shit load of quality ?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000PXK7VE/interactiveda3024-21

I'm getting it tomorrow you see.

that camera works with mini DVs, not DVDs, so there shouldn't be a problem :pineapple:

[[RozoN]]

dunno...although I can't remember shit of the Firewire ports, but I think that a USB 2.0 port supports firewire...but I'm sitting on my laptop miles away from my main pc, so I might just be talking smack here lol:tongue:.

[[RozoN]]

Whats PCI ?

Hmmm...to put it simple, that's where your videocard should sit, if you even have a PCI slot on your motherboard...not all motherboards have PCI slots and not all videocards work on PCI slots...

Edit: sry the dbl post :tongue:

[Anima]

ahh OK. So whats so good about this firewire buisness ? Is it just faster or something, because I mean I send a lot of stuff via USB and it's pritty damn fast.

[AsoBit]

It is faster. Haven't used it myself, but I hear it's a hell of a lot faster.

Edit: off of some website:

Read Test:
* 5000 files (300 MB total) FireWire was 33% faster than USB 2.0
* 160 files (650MB total) FireWire was 70% faster than USB 2.0

Write Test:
* 5000 files (300 MB total) FireWire was 16% faster than USB 2.0
* 160 files (650MB total) FireWire was 48% faster than USB 2.0

[[RozoN]]

yes...it's faster and better quality :)

[Anima]

Wicked! I'll get myself some sort of Firewire adapter then.