Hi Peter,

Probably the cheapest and simplest way would be to install the Morgan MJPEG codec and use Vegas to convert to DV. Primarily because the Sonic Foundry DV codec looks so good. Another way to do it that would cost a bit more initially, but be more useful in the long run, would be to install a third-party DV codec like the one from Main Concept and then use Virtual Dub to do the conversions. Virtual Dub has a built-in MJPEG decoder. Plus, if he ever wants to use anything else like Virtual Dub or After Effects, he'll need a DV codec anyway. DC30 files are usually 704x480 and use upper field first, plus the audio is 44k not 48k, so there is a bit more to it than just converting from MJPEG to DV. Here's something I wrote on the Pinnacle DV500 forum a while ago about doing the DC30 to DV conversions (assuming he installs the Main Concept DV codec.)

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Go to www.virtualdub.org, download and install Virtual Dub, it has a built-in MJPEG decoder. This is the video format that your DC30 files are in and you can use Virtual Dub to convert your files.

Open one of your DC30 files in Virtual Dub, use the slider on the bottom of the screen to make sure you can actually see your video. Then go to "File" > "File Information." You will want to note a few parameters here to use later. First is "Frame Size" it will probably be either 640x480 or 704x480 if you're working in NTSC. (Otherwise it might say, 640x576 or 704x576 if you're working in PAL) The other parameters you need to note are the audio stream "Sampling rate" and channels, this will probably be 44100 and 2 channels. Finally, make sure the file is less than 18 minutes under "Time." Anyway, write all this down.

Then go to "Video" > "Filters", click on "ADD" and select "Field Swap." Click OK. (Swapping the fields is necessary because the DC30 captured "Upper Field First" and DV is "Lower Field First.")

Click on "ADD" again and select "Resize"

If your video is 640x480, then type in 720 for the "New Width" and 480 for the "New Height." Under "Filter Mode" select "Precise Bucubic (A=1.00)" Click OK.

If your video is 704x480, then type in 704 for the "New Width" and 480 for the "New Height." Then click on "Expand frame and letterbox image" enter 720 for "Frame width" and 480 for "Frame height." Click OK.

(In the two paragraphs above, substitute 576 in place of 480 if you're working in PAL.)

You should now have two filters listed. "Field Swap" and "Resize." Click OK.

Go to "Video" > "Compression" and select the DV codec. Click OK.

Now we'll deal with the audio... Go to "Audio" and select "Full Processing Mode." Go to "Audio" again and select "Conversion." Click on "48000", "High Quality", also select "16-bit" and "Stereo" just to make sure.

OK, we're almost done... Now, go to "File" > "Save as AVI." Select a folder on a drive that has a lot of space, the DV file will need about 222 megabytes per minute of video. Give the file a name and click on "Save." It will start converting the file from DC30 MJPEG format to DV format. This will take a while, but you should be able to import the resulting file and use it in Vegas.

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By the way, there is a new version of the Main Concept DV codec (v2.4.4) that supports HyperThreading and looks better than the older version. It's a free upgrade for those that have purchased it previously.

John