I don't know if I'm on the right topic, but I find no topic area for a DVD Camcorder. I have tried on two computers using Windows XP to get the computer to recognize this hardware, after using the installation software CD provided by the manufacturer. The camera is just not being recognized. Windows XP recognizes that there is a CD-DVD Ram, but it does not recognize that there's a camera attached and will not perform any "capture" functions.
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..um, what are you trying to do?
If you want to transfer footage you've filmed (? recorded, since it's DVD ;)
to the computer, couldn't you just get the disc out and read it in the computer DVD drive?
It should be standard DVD MPEG2, so any DVD-equipped PC should handle it.
You can then use the video wherever you want, ie. import it to Windows Movie Maker or
any other video editing program and edit it.
ZaSSeR
I tried the disk in the same two computers - one has a tray that accomodates that size and one has a sort of spindle in the center over which the center hole can be placed. In neither instance was the disk recognized. Both are running Windows XP. Also, even if I can get the disk recognized, this doesn't address the issue of why the manufacturer's recommended firewire / USB connection is not working with their software. Any clues? I've sent an e-mail to customer support at Hitachi.
ZaSSeR
Something you said made me go back and do some looking at the functions associated with different types of medium available for this camera. In the fine print was a comment that the disc had to be finalized before it could be viewed on anything other than the camera. Although I can't check it right now, I'm wondering if the disc must also be finalized before it can be transferred via firewire. Some of the functions of the programs that come with this camera require that data be moved via firewire. Interesting!
Finalizing is often required for DVDs. Although DVD-recorders that use DVD+VR -format are readable without finalizing.
Don't know which format your camera uses, but if it's some sort of DVD-Video -hack that allows it to add video until
you finalize the disc, then this is surely what you need to do. (normally DVD-Video can not be added, so you make a disc in one go)
Hope you get it working!
Glad to hear that.
Now that your disc is finalized, have you checked whether it shows as a removable drive under My Computer when connected via USB?
For firewire capture you would need a DV compliant software, which may be bundled, but you can also use Windows Moviemaker to test this.
Find it on your Start menu.
Even before the disc was finalized, the computer always recognized the camera, listing it as DVD_CAMERA(E:) When I look under "properties," it shows "This device is working properly." Using the "Capture from video device" function under Windows Movie Maker, the message is "A video capture device was not detected. Verify that a device is turned on and connected properly, and then try again."
I'm reviewing the documentation that comes with Panasonic DVD-MovieAlbumSE3, software that comes bundled with this Hitachi DVD-RAM/R camera. It says "NOTE: The following function is not supported by this version of the DVD-MovieAlbum: DV Capture"
What's the most straight-forward way in which to save the video data into the hard drive so that it can be edited and then saved to a blank DVD-R disc for storage and playback?
Ah yes, silly me. DVDcams are not DV compatible, since they record in MPEG2 and not in DV. :)
I would still say the most straightforward method is to read the disc itself in the computer.
So you said the disc was readable, why can't you import the video from there?
For example movie maker, while not a very good program for editing, does have a feature to import DVD video.
Now when you edit DVD Video, it will have to be recompressed, which means worse quality.
For this reason, a DV cam with a DV tape would be better for editing. But it can be done with a DVDcam,
and the quality will be good, although maybe not perfect.
From http://forum.videohelp.com
that Panasonic (and Hitachi?) may be using VRO format and not the usual DVD video.
--> What kind of files do you see on the DVD disc on PC?
It does say in http://reviews.cnet.com/Hi
There are some suggestions on the above link, but if it's not standard DVD video, then it will of course be more
difficult to edit. If you ever buy a new camera, get one that is standards compliant, so you'll have less problems.
Anyway, I found a troubleshooter at http://dvdcam-pc.support.h
- did you check this out already?
It says in http://dvdcam-pc.support.h
that "If you don't have the PC kit "DZ-WINPC3W", you need to use third-party software since DVD-MovieAlbumSE nor MyDVD does not support capturing finalized DVD-R video from the DVD CAM." In other words, it sucks. :)
However, the same link tells us that if you use DVD-RAM discs, you are recording in DVD-VR.
Now, there are programs out there (just not bundled with your camera) that can read DVD Video and DVD-VR, edit them, and burn them on DVD.
I personally use Ulead DVD Moviefactory from http://www.ulead.com/dmf/r
the Nero7 suite from www.nero.com which I hear is good. They are both less than $100 and offer a 30-day trial version.
I would recommend trying out one of these - looking at the price of your camera you can probably live with the cost,
as no sufficient program was bundled with your camera.
However, if you only need limited editing, you should be able to do this with the instructions given at
http://dvdcam-pc.support.h
*IF* you are using DVD-RAM discs and don't need to 'really' edit your footage.
(to be exact, for 'real' editing you need Adobe Premiere which is several hundreds of dollars -- most do with the tools above)
Hope I was able to tell you what you needed. Get back with questions and info on what exactly you want to do if necessary. :)
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Answer for Membership
by: TOPIOPosted on 2006-02-14 at 11:00:08ID: 15953652
Hi JohnnySax,
We need a bit of info
brand model and date of mfg of the camera
software used and/or installed
date of mfg
OS version that you're using (with what SP)
Version of the software
OS that the software says that it supports.
Cheers!