If Your Camera Doesn't Have a USB Connection--?

14 Jun 2006 7:20 PM

mutefan

Can you use an external DVD writer to capture video to your computer?
The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD camcorders are too much for
my brain to handle, and right now I'm advising someone which to buy.
The two models that seem appropriate (for her price range) do not have
USB connections (Panasonic VDR-D100 and Panasonic VRD53-Something).

If you take the mini DVD, put it in an external DVD burner (HP Movie
Writer), can you sort of backwards-download the file to your computer?

If you're laughing that's okay, because I don't really even know what
I'm asking.

15 Jun 2006 12:43 PM

Tzortzakakis Dimitrios

? <mute***@yahoo.com> ?????? ??? ??????

news:1150312856.364877.253110@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Can you use an external DVD writer to capture video to your computer?
> The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD camcorders are too much for
> my brain to handle, and right now I'm advising someone which to buy.
> The two models that seem appropriate (for her price range) do not have
> USB connections (Panasonic VDR-D100 and Panasonic VRD53-Something).
>

You mean firewire connection?Digital streaming is done by IEEE1394 or
firewire.The USB is for low-quality webcamera usage.

> If you take the mini DVD, put it in an
>external DVD burner (HP Movie

you mean of course a regular DVD-ROM computer drive?The DVD disc is
considered the final "product" of all video-recording, and from I what've
heard from others in this group is very difficult to edit.

> Writer), can you sort of backwards-download the file to your computer?
>

You mean take the MPEG-2 file, which is the DVD standard, and edit it?From
other regulars of this group, I know that DVD camcorders have that editing
problem, and if you really want to edit, stick to mini DV

> If you're laughing that's okay, because I don't really even know what
> I'm asking.
>

DVD camcorders are expensive, anyway.If she already has a (fast) computer,
why not get a good mini DV camcorder, and do the edit at her leisure, and
maybe add menus etc. to the DVD?The only things she might need would be a
firewire PCI card (15 euros) and a standard DVD burner (50 euros).Now that
mini DV cameras have become as cheap as 339 euros, for a sony DCR-HC17-E
complete with carl zeiss leins, 800 kpixel and all bells and whistles.

--
Tzortzakakis Dimitrios
major in electrical engineering,freelance electrician
542nd mechanized infantry batallion
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr

15 Jun 2006 2:37 PM

PTravel

<mute***@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1150312856.364877.253110@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Can you use an external DVD writer to capture video to your computer?
> The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD camcorders are too much for
> my brain to handle, and right now I'm advising someone which to buy.
> The two models that seem appropriate (for her price range) do not have
> USB connections (Panasonic VDR-D100 and Panasonic VRD53-Something).
>
> If you take the mini DVD, put it in an external DVD burner (HP Movie
> Writer), can you sort of backwards-download the file to your computer?

First of all, if you're planning to do editing to the video beyond simple
cuts, you should avoid a DVD camcorder entirely. Second, if you care about
the quality of the finished product, you should avoid a DVD camcorder
entirely. These things are consumer toys that are incapable of approaching
the video quality of a decent consumer miniDV camcorder.

Now for the technical answer to your question:

Video on DVDs is stored in mpeg2-encoded VOB files. There is software
around that will "rip" the video from the VOB files and, in many cases, it
is possible to simply rename the VOB extension to MPG and just copy the file
to the computer. Once the file is on the computer, whether ripped or
copied, it will be in the form of an mpeg2 file. It is possible to perform
crude edits on it, but if you want to add titles, effects, transitions or
corrections, you will have considerable difficulty in doing so, and will be
limited to one or two cheapie consumer editing programs. MPEG2 is a
_delivery_ vehicle for video, not a capture or editing vehicle.

Show quoteHide quote

>
> If you're laughing that's okay, because I don't really even know what
> I'm asking.
>

16 Jun 2006 10:24 AM

mutefan

PTravel wrote:

>
> Video on DVDs is stored in mpeg2-encoded VOB files. There is software
> around that will "rip" the video from the VOB files and, in many cases, it
> is possible to simply rename the VOB extension to MPG and just copy the file
> to the computer. Once the file is on the computer, whether ripped or
> copied, it will be in the form of an mpeg2 file. It is possible to perform
> crude edits on it, but if you want to add titles, effects, transitions or
> corrections, you will have considerable difficulty in doing so, and will be
> limited to one or two cheapie consumer editing programs. MPEG2 is a
> _delivery_ vehicle for video, not a capture or editing vehicle.

I suppose if I explained the reason for this angst, it might make
things clearer. My Pentium M (class 3) laptop did not come with a DVD
burner (possibly because it's a class 3, 1.4GH). I therefore use a HP
Movie Writer to burn DVDs, but external ANYTHING is about as much use
as a gold-plated bowling ball. The only external peripherals I use
with any regularity at all are a Mad Dog A-drive for copying floppies
(because it's so lightweight) and a scanner (because scanners are as of
yet the one peripheral not built in to a PC...unless of course they're
built in to tablet PCs).

So even though I know what you're saying is true, true, true, I still
am leaning toward point-and-shoot because for me, dumping the (better)
Mini*DV* tape into my computer would involve not only the dumping but
then the hooking up of the external Movie Writer (which I have held on
to because I assume I may still come across some stray VCR tape
somewhere that beckons to be burned to a DVD).

My even dumber relative bought her R40 at the same time and uses my
Movie Writer. She's hell bent for leather on a DVD camcorder for the
same reasons I would be if I had the money for one. In any event,
thank you for the response.

15 Jun 2006 7:13 PM

Gene E. Bloch

On 6/14/2006, mute***@yahoo.com posted this:

> Can you use an external DVD writer to capture video to your computer?
> The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD camcorders are too much for
> my brain to handle, and right now I'm advising someone which to buy.
> The two models that seem appropriate (for her price range) do not have
> USB connections (Panasonic VDR-D100 and Panasonic VRD53-Something).
>
> If you take the mini DVD, put it in an external DVD burner (HP Movie
> Writer), can you sort of backwards-download the file to your computer?
>
> If you're laughing that's okay, because I don't really even know what
> I'm asking.

This sentence: "The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD camcorders
are too much for my brain to handle, and right now I'm advising someone
which to buy" kind of scares me. If the first part is true, then you
shouldn't be doing the second...

Since the media are removable, you certainly don't really need USB to
copy the data to a computer.

I have digital still cameras with USB connections and removable media.
I *always* put the card into a card reader slot, rather than try to
copy the pictures from the camera. Much easier - for me. YMMV, of
course.

I can also understand why you might feel cheated without the extra
connection :-)

BTW, the opposite of 'download' is 'upload', but people often use the
two interchangeably. In the context of copying to or from a DVD,
though, I'd just call it ... copying.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino)
letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")

16 Jun 2006 10:30 AM

mutefan

Gene E. Bloch wrote:

>
> This sentence: "The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD camcorders
> are too much for my brain to handle, and right now I'm advising someone
> which to buy" kind of scares me. If the first part is true, then you
> shouldn't be doing the second...

True, true. This is what happens when irresistable dumbness meets an
implacable stupidity.

> Since the media are removable, you certainly don't really need USB to
> copy the data to a computer.

Says I to myself, that's what I thought. So why all the sturm und
drang on camcorder review sites as well as "consumer reviews" at
Amazon, Overstock, etc., about DVDs not having USB cables? (Maybe
that's what happens when irresistable dumbness meets an empty wallet.)

> BTW, the opposite of 'download' is 'upload', but people often use the
> two interchangeably. In the context of copying to or from a DVD,
> though, I'd just call it ... copying.

Ha. I k-now it's called uploading. My primitive mind was just trying
to be original and figure out if my vestigial Movie Writer, with its
shiny red/yellow/white rear inputs, dark obsidian S-video holes, and (I
think) USB port could possibly have any real use in 2006 at all.

16 Jun 2006 6:50 PM

Gene E. Bloch

mute***@yahoo.com wrote in
Show quoteHide quote

news:1150453810.902073.295770@y41g2000cwy.googlegroups.com:

> Gene E. Bloch wrote:
>>
>> This sentence: "The arcana and why's and wherefore's of DVD
>> camcorders are too much for my brain to handle, and right now I'm
>> advising someone which to buy" kind of scares me. If the first
>> part is true, then you shouldn't be doing the second...
>
> True, true. This is what happens when irresistable dumbness meets
> an implacable stupidity.
>
>> Since the media are removable, you certainly don't really need
>> USB to copy the data to a computer.
>
> Says I to myself, that's what I thought. So why all the sturm und
> drang on camcorder review sites as well as "consumer reviews" at
> Amazon, Overstock, etc., about DVDs not having USB cables? (Maybe
> that's what happens when irresistable dumbness meets an empty
> wallet.)
>
>> BTW, the opposite of 'download' is 'upload', but people often use
>> the two interchangeably. In the context of copying to or from a
>> DVD, though, I'd just call it ... copying.
>
> Ha. I k-now it's called uploading. My primitive mind was just
> trying to be original and figure out if my vestigial Movie Writer,
> with its shiny red/yellow/white rear inputs, dark obsidian S-video
> holes, and (I think) USB port could possibly have any real use in
> 2006 at all.
>

With a sense of humor like yours, you make it hard for me to figure out
what perspective I need in order to reply to you :-)

Your post is sort of the opposite of "no good deed goes unpunished" -
you rewarded my slightly snippy tone with your fun and intelligent
reply.

It sounds to me like you will manage to learn a lot and eventually get
it all sorted, and even your relative will be happy, unless she sees
this thread :-)

Gino

--
Gene E. Bloch (Gino) ... letters617blochg3251
(replace the numbers by "at" and "dotcom")