Digital video--getting started?

[>:^|]

Anybody here work with digital video? What would I need (both hardware and software) if I would like to convert some VHS tapes and do some basic editing?

In the past, I've taken short digital clips, compiled them and added transitions and titles using Adobe Premiere. But I don't have access to Premiere anymore, and it's a very expensive program. Also, it has some kind of glitch where after you have done a certain number of projects, it seems to lock up and not accept any more imported files. When I browsed the Adobe forums, I found many people had the same problem.

I would also at some time like to buy a digital camcorder.

Any thoughts on what would be a good system? And would I have to buy a VCR?

[mr. x]

macs are good for film editing i hear

but i own one and i duno how to use imovie so yeah

[nameless]

yeah, i also heard macs are the best when it comes to media.

from watching my friend edit stuff...you can use any standard vcr.

[sinisterpanda]

There's this hardware item that looks like a diamond, and it has the 3 prongs ( red white and yellow) holes and it hooks up to your computer for photoediting from a vcr or camcorder. Software wise, there's a poop load of products out there (i don't think any are free legally) such as; Ulead, and...my memory is giving me nothing. I hope that helps.l

[FrankieY18]

you can get a tv tuner that has composite or s-video input (depends on what output your vcr has)..and the hardware comes with the software for you to capture (or convert) from VHS to computer format (usually avi)...tried to do it for my friend one time..bought the dazzled (brand name) thing from Bestbuy and it didn't really work...but i didn't try hard enough to find out why...but theoretically it should work...the box says it would work..i just don't know what i did wrong...but i tried converting from a digital camcorder to computer format..it worked fine...so..try it out....buy it and if it works, great...otherwise, return it....good luck!

Edit: here's the link of the thing from bestbuy
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1069297834888&skuId=5870649&type=product

[Chester]

If you just want to dabble, just get a Pinnacle Studio AV/DV (http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage_n.asp?Product_ID=1883&Langue_ID=7) capture card, which will come with their editing software. It'll go in a PCI slot and you get a breakout I/O box with RCA/S-Video/Firewire ports (sound is fed through your existing sound card's line-in, unless you use Firewire). If you get more serious about stuff, then there are higher-priced options, but that's the right thing to get for fooling around.

(Or, if you need a new video card anyway, you could go with an ATI All-in-Wonder package).

bought the dazzled (brand name) thing from Bestbuy and it didn't really work...but i didn't try hard enough to find out why... The Dazzle products are cool for convenience, but I wouldn't try and do video capture via a USB 1.x unit, due to the narrow throughput and high latency of the original USB bus. It ought to at least be USB 2.0 or Firewire and the best thing would be something that goes into a PCI slot.

[FrankieY18]

The Dazzle products are cool for convenience, but I wouldn't try and do video capture via a USB 1.x unit, due to the narrow throughput and high latency of the original USB bus. It ought to at least be USB 2.0 or Firewire and the best thing would be something that goes into a PCI slot.

hmm...i tried it on usb 2.0 port..but still didn't work
but yeah...the card that goes into a PCI slot works the best...

[Faithless]

Will software like that from Pinnacle help me edit digital video, so that I can isolate "frames" as pics?