Postings on this and other sites have asked how or what equipment is available to start the process of making a VCD, in my view the digital camera format is the best kickoff point.

A lot has been written about the relative merits of the D8 cameras v's the mini DV's - well here is one for those people considering getting into VCD's and/or updating from analogue at an extremely small outlay beyond the camera.

The D8 camera (mine is a TRV 110E) does an on-the-fly conversion to DV which can be captured direct to the hhd without making a DV tape first - you simply play your hi8 tape in the Digital 8 camera.

So anyone with lots of hi8 or Video 8 vision can go direct to DV at 3.6M/s and edit it in DV (premiere or another NLE program) and get it back to tape OR process it into a VCD. For a $100US plus the camera that is something to think about - ADS Pyro 1394 Digital Video Card!

-- Ross McL (rmclennan@esc.net.au), February 04, 2000

Answers

Ross McL,

I bought a Digital8 DCR-TR310 last October and love it. I just found this site a couple days ago and am learning alot. I have read most responses to questions and I have a high opinion of your responses. I was hoping you could give me your opinion on what combination of hardware and software to use. I have been looking and reading for a couple months and am getting close to decisions. Anyone else's opinion would also be appreciated.

I have been looking for a format to upgrade my vhs and 8mm and will use VideoCD. DVD hardware and software for a TVset player is still too expensive. I am trying to plan ahead and burn VCD for my use now and possibly an additional data disc. If wise to do so, I would use the additional disc to convert to DVD...when a encoding format is finalized and affordable. Do you think this would be wise or wasted time to create a MPEG2 data disc? If mpeg2, what encoding format/encoder would work best for upgrade later? I am having trouble deciding what to buy to capture, encode, edit, and burn(software). I have a Dell system XPS B533r with a Pentium3 533mhz with the new 128busram(RDram), 27G 7200rpm hard drive, Sony 8x 4x 32x burner and Windows98. I like the card (analog and dv inputs and outputs)and software(prem 5.1) in the Pinnacle Systems DV500. I don't have a clue on an software encoder with good flexability. I like the Adobe Premiere 5.1 and have not read about anything better for the money. My burner came with the standard adaptec software and will need to upgrade/change to get VideoCD. Opinions? Suggestions? Thanks, Darryl.

-- Darryl (darryl_1965@yahoo.com), February 04, 2000.

Darryl

I will answer this off line because it is complex and requires an answer which will be to long for here. I have some proven ideas based on the results of testing and experience that come entirely from being an experienced NLE video editor and the mention of Adobe Premiere, Photoshop and the likes will scare most off this site. Since you mention those NLE type programs you deserve an answer because by starting at that level your home brewed VCD's will be of a higher quality.

-- Ross McL (rmclennan@esc.net.au), February 05, 2000.