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[Nickbat]

For some months I've been using a Canon MV 900 Mini DV camcorder to record the antics of my two offspring. Now is the time to edit the footage and burn the DVDs to send them off to relatives.

I think I need to get a DV cable (EEE1394?) and a Firewire card to connect to my PC. (Neither my oldish mobo, nor video card has DV in).

I also need to get some video editing software. I got a Nero package with my DVD recorder and that has an option to upgrade to the full package for about £20 (thanks to the weak USD).

Before I start shopping on Ebay for the cable & Firewire card, and upgrading the Nero package, has anyone got any helpful tips? I have tight budget, so the cheaper the tips the better!!      

[Marks DTM Calib]

RobinHood is your man......he edited the cambelt DVD

[Martin_1962]

Depends on what you want to do, I bought early this year the latest ULEAD Video Studio and use that but I have a better after market MPEG encoder.

I used to use ULEAD DVD Movie Factory.

As to the Nero package at £20 it is worth a gamble - it could be good it could be poor.

The Movie Factory packages are OK for basic chop out duff bits and master a basic DVD. Post the details of the Nero product here and we will have a look

[Nickbat]

Depends on what you want to do, I bought early this year the latest ULEAD Video Studio and use that but I have a better after market MPEG encoder.

I used to use ULEAD DVD Movie Factory.

As to the Nero package at £20 it is worth a gamble - it could be good it could be poor.

The Movie Factory packages are OK for basic chop out duff bits and master a basic DVD. Post the details of the Nero product here and we will have a look

Thanks Martin.

Here's the link for the Nero 7 Ultra Edition:

http://www.nero.com/nero7/enu/index.html?NeroSID=1f3485c9046e1890e76899665828697e,

Actually, my upgrade would cost $59.99, so nearer 30 quid rather than 20. Still looks pretty good though.

Nick

[tunnie]

Nick, first off yep you need a DV cable but for gods sake, NEVER EVER get it from dixons or PC world!!!

You need something like this for the cable:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/88031 That is £1.29 on eBuyer, they are around £20 in Dixons or currys.sh!te

And somethink like this for the card:

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/78455 again mega cheap there, mega bucks in the Dixons Group

I have used eBuyer for years, very good never had a problem.

The card is easy to install just open up the PC and wack the card in a spare PCI slot, you may need to install the drivers first. So do some don't so double check the instructions.

As Martin said it depends what u want to do, Windows build in movie editor, is very, very basic. However you can do transitions, scenes, and insert backgrounds with animated text. Has options to burn to DVD video CD and so on.

If you want to do more advanced stuff, try Ulead, Pinnacle or Adobe Premiere.

[tunnie]

forgot to add, most of the above packages have burning software built in.... however a decent version of Nero is always handy.

[theolodian]

Robin Hood is your man......he edited the cambelt DVD

He he  

I'm causing problems everywhere!

[Martin_1962]

Your link fails but I found a small print - send them an email

† Includes Free 30-day trial of patented codecs {Nero Digital (MPEG-4/AVC), MP3, MPEG-2)}

Not sure if it is the product you want or not

In other words the MPEG2 encoder runs out after 30 days

However may be wrong product

Also no sign of a video editor.

I use a right mix but encode using TMPGENC XP which cost me around £40

[Martin_1962]

It might be worth a read at www.videohelp.com

Definately email Nero before purchase, there may be editing but not well documented

[Nickbat]

Thanks Martin & Tunnie, really useful tips. I'll check up on the MPEG2 encoder bit.
Sorry about the duff link earlier. Hopefully this one will work:

http://www.nero.com/nero7/enu/index.html

Cheers
Nick

[Martin_1962]

Includes Free 30-day trial of patented codecs {Nero Digital (MPEG-4/AVC), MP3, MPEG-2)}

Oh dear

30 day trial not full - please email them to confirm or look at one of Tunnies suggestions

[Nickbat]

Includes Free 30-day trial of patented codecs {Nero Digital (MPEG-4/AVC), MP3, MPEG-2)}

Oh dear

30 day trial not full - please email them to confirm or look at one of Tunnies suggestions

OK, just had closer look and when I click on my upgrade button I get details of the Nero 7 Ultra Edition ENHANCED, which includes MPEG-4. There is no sign of a 30-day trial. I've been all over the site and am now sure this is to do with the 30-day try-out version of Nero 7.

[Robin Hood]

I’ve only ever bought one firewire card but I wouldn’t recommend that, it was 10 years ago, cost nearly twice as much as Adobe’s Premiere and only ever had Win95/NT drivers.  

If I was buying today I would go with Tunnie's recommendations.  

[Robin Hood]

Robin Hood is your man......he edited the cambelt DVD

He he  

I'm causing problems everywhere!

As soon as I saw the filters had been changed I knew it was only a matter of time.  

[Martin_1962]

Includes Free 30-day trial of patented codecs {Nero Digital (MPEG-4/AVC), MP3, MPEG-2)}

Oh dear

30 day trial not full - please email them to confirm or look at one of Tunnies suggestions

OK, just had closer look and when I click on my upgrade button I get details of the Nero 7 Ultra Edition ENHANCED, which includes MPEG-4. There is no sign of a 30-day trial. I've been all over the site and am now sure this is to do with the 30-day try-out version of Nero 7.

Still check with an email - best to be sure and you need MPEG2 for DVD