Transferring video to DVD-help please

veruccasalt

TASK: transfer video captured by camcorder onto DVD

PROBLEM: dont have a clue how to do it.

QUESTION: Help please

BACKGROUND:

I want to transfer all my camcorder video tapes on to DVD. THe video is on Hi-8 cassettes from an old Sony camcorder that I want to get rid of. So I need to transfer all the tapes onto DVD.

Only problem is I have no idea how to. I have various programmes on my computer to help with this, I think (Pinnacle is one I have used with my digital camcorder), and I also have a Sony DVD recorder that may be of use?

I have no idea how to connect the camcorder to the computer or DVD recorder or how to make them 'talk' to one another.

If any one has any advice, I would be hugely grateful. Many thanks!

Backbiter

Your camera should come with leads to connect it to the DVD recorder - normally a lead with white and yellow plugs on the end. These plug into the corresponding white and yellow sockets on the DVD recorder, but sometimes they aren't there so you'll need a scart adapter, which has a scart plug and sockets for your coloured pins. Plug this into the scart socket, press play on your camcorder and you should see the image through your TV (This assumes your DVD recorder is connected to the TV - if not, connect it with a scart lead).

If you haven't got the original leads you can buy a pack with all sorts in for £5-10.

You may have to click up and down on your TV remote using the Channel Up/ Down button before you see it.

You will also have to set the DVD recorder to the correct channel - AV1, AV2 or similar should be displayed, depending on your model.

Once that's working, insert a blank DVD and press record. If you've taped a TV prog and not your camcorder, play with the channels again and have another go.

Check you've got the right discs for your DVD - read the manual! They'll normally be DVD+r or DVD-R. Buy a cheap pack of 10 or so from Aldi or Lidl before you start as you may waste a few while trying.

Remember to finalise the dics when you've finished each one - again, read the manual on how to do this. If you don't they will only work on the machine you've made them on.

veruccasalt

Thanks very much. I know the leads you mean, so will have a go.

Do you think it is better to do it striaght to the DVD recorder than via the computer?

I guess it will be more straightforward, but I wont be able to edit it at all. Is that about right?

imho

I think Nero 6 does what you want.

TheFaqqer

There are a couple of ways that you could do this.

The most straightforward is to plug the camcorder into the DVD recorder. There should be either component cables (yellow, red and white) from the camcorder into the DVD recorder, or an S-Video cable between the two, or a FireWire cable. My camcorder can connect to my DVD recorder using either FireWire or component cables. Link the two together, and on the DVD recorder, select the appropriate input - start the camcorder playing, and then check what comes up on the TV through the DVD recorder to make sure that the recorder is looking at the right source.

Alternatively, connect the camcorder to a PC using a FireWire cable (some camcorders supply them, but Belkin do a good one - Staples or PC World). Then use Pinnacle to import the files - if you start Pinnacle then it can control the camcorder to start playing and stop. Then you can edit it in Pinnacle to remove the bits that you don't want, add transitions, change the sound, add music, add still photos etc. etc. Once the project is complete, Pinnacle offers you a range of options on how to burn it, and can create the DVD for you - you can also create chapter points, titles, menus etc. through the software first.

I always use Pinnacle for my editing - but you need to have plenty of disk space available to you to do it.

HTH,

Faqqer

veruccasalt

I have connected my newer digital camcorder to my pc with a firewire cable and used pinnnacle.

My problem is I dont know how to connect the older analogue camcorder to the PC as it doesnt have a socket for a firewire (I dont think-it is about 9 years old now?)

TheFaqqer

Are the tapes different? I assume so - if not, then just play the old tapes through the new camcorder.

If you can't do that, then you need to connect the old camcorder to the DVD recorder and transfer them that way. Once you have recorded the DVD, you could then manipulate that in Pinnacle if you wanted to re-edit it to include different transitions etc. It's just another way to get content onto the PC.

donny-gal

Well if you copy them to, PC or a HD DVD Recorder you can edit them first.