[ajg]

Think i already know what i have done wrong, but just like to make sure. Bought the above camcorder for incar footage and hired a second cam (Sony HV30 i think with bullet) for more exciting footage.
Right, got 10 full tapes that need t be put onto the PC, edited and hacked about.
I decided for ease to use Sonys own capture program that came with the cam and it seems to work okay except that all the files come out at 320 by 240 pixels, way below what the cam does or even below the bullet cam. Also there is jerkyness although i know my pc is plenty beefy enough to handle this.
I think it MAY be because i am using the dreaded USB cable and it cannot handle the data flow, but i dont get why its 320 x 240. I got confused in the handbook because it says you can only transfer over usb or ilink cable and as i dont have ilink in my pc i thought usb was the only solution. Can i just buy a 6pin to 4 pin firewire and use that for this model? It has a cradle with DV on it.
Also once on the PC are the files DV AVI? They are huge at 3 odd gig for 10 mins but with little image quality. Also the Sony software will only copy 10 minutes at a time before it shuts off. Thats annoying too...
Finally what is the best compression to use to reduce the file sizes. Is Divx the most universally accepted compression?
Sorry for the dumb questions and thanks for any help anyone can give me

[redsox_mark]

The problem is you need to use Firewire (same as I.link), not USB. With the HC96, you can only capture low quality (320x240) "webcam" video via USB.

If you have a Firewire port on your PC, yes all you need is a 6 pin to 4 pin firewire cable.

[senu]

Originally Posted by ajg

I decided for ease to use Sonys own capture program that came with the cam and it seems to work okay except that all the files come out at 320 by 240 pixels, way below what the cam does or even below the bullet cam. Also there is jerkyness although i know my pc is plenty beefy enough to handle this.

I think it MAY be because i am using the dreaded USB cable and it cannot handle the data flow, but i dont get why its 320 x 240.

Can i just buy a 6pin to 4 pin firewire and use that for this model? It has a cradle with DV on it.

Get yourself firewire as advised above, and maybe use something else ( even Windows Movie Maker) to capture if you are still unhappy with the quality. Most PCI firewire card/ Ilink cable wont set you back more than £10.. And only slightly more for a PCMCIA solution for a laptop

Also once on the PC are the files DV AVI? They are huge at 3 odd gig for 10 mins but with little image quality. Also the Sony software will only copy 10 minutes at a time before it shuts off. Thats annoying too

...
DV AVI is 13 Gb for 1 hr .. so 3Gb for 10 mins is about right but not at that small size. As for the Sony software allowing 10min.. ,You may well be better off simply capturing with your intended editing software program

Finally what is the best compression to use to reduce the file sizes. Is Divx the most universally accepted compression?

Divx or any of the mpeg4 formats is indeed a very good compression format.
but
Not before editing and not if you want to turn the footage to DVD later
It is best used as an "end format" not a start or intermediate format as any editing, re-saving to it almost invariably results in drop in IQ. It is also not that easy to edit
However, WMV, Quicktime, mpeg1 ( or even mpeg2 ( depending on pixel dimension) are all valid formats for compression and are just as "universally accepted" as DIVX

[ajg]

Thank you for the information, i really appreciate it. All new to me so still finding my feet here.
I didnt know i didnt have to use Sonys own capture stuff so i will try and do the tapes again using Windows XP free software. I can always keep the tapes and try again with a bought program if i really get into this video editing stuff
I am glad i have not done anything wrong like set the pixel count on low quality or something, glad the issue IS USB PHEW!
Off to PC RIPOFF World then later to get a cable. Hopefully that will make the pics shine a bit more. I will let you know how i get on. Many thanks

[ajg]

Got the Firewire cable and bingo, top draw. Much happier with the Sony 96 footage now
What software (if any) can do picture in picture?

[senu]

Originally Posted by ajg

Got the Firewire cable and bingo, top draw. Much happier with the Sony 96 footage now
What software (if any) can do picture in picture?

Most of the mainstream software
All you need is to have more than one video track ( and they all do in the main)
Note that with UleadVideo Studio and Pinnacle Studio the plus versions are the ones to go for , but the likes of Adobe Premiere Elements, Sony Vegas Movie Studio , Serif Movie plus , Magix Video Deluxe have multiple video/ Audio tracks as standard.
All the midrange software do as well
The differences are the ease with which you can do it

[ajg]

Thanks. I will try the free Ulead application for 30 days then and see how i get on with it