Capture Quality Questionable...

Crawlings wrote on 4/1/2005, 7:07 PM
I just got my new Sony DCR-HC32 camera, and so far im enjoying it. I haven't been too impressed with the software that came with it however, so I am seeking out some alternatives. I have downloaded the trial version of Media Studio+DVD and I have a couple questions regarding the capture quality.

My setup is as follows.
1.7Ghz processor
512MB ram
currently using USB 2.0 for capturing(should I upgrade to firewire?)

BTW I am recording on SP on my camera, not LP. I'm not exactly sure what those stand for, but SP means better quality video, correct?

1. This is the specs it recorded at, is this the best that I am going to get with my camera? Or is this limited by the software? If so I am very unimpressed with the video quality.
Frames Dropped: 17
Length of Session: 00:14:05;07
Average Frame Rate: 29.95fps
Average Data Rate: 6.58MB/sec

2. Under the capture options I changed the Output Frame to 640x480, the default was set at 320x240 and I thought this was a terrible resolution, or is this the norm for video?

3. Also I recorded it in Widescreen(16:9) on the camera, yet when I try to transfer it to the computer, it records it in 320x240 which is 4:3. How do I correct this problem?

I realize some of the problems I am having may have to do with the trial version not having all the bells and whistles, I just want to make sure before I buy it and decide that it sucks and doesn't have what I want. Also, will I get a better quality capture using Firewire, I have heard very conflicting reports in this aspect.

Thank you in advance,
Chad

Comments

jimmyz wrote on 4/1/2005, 10:12 PM
"3. Also I recorded it in Widescreen(16:9) on the camera, yet when I try to transfer it to the computer, it records it in 320x240 which is 4:3. How do I correct this problem?"

When you bring it into vms you need to make your project widescreen.
Top left click file
project properties
change to widescreen

As to your capture problem I only use firewire and the capture is identicle to
the video. Where does it give the option for capture size? Have you dragged the video into a project? It may be a capture card problem also.
Crawlings wrote on 4/2/2005, 7:40 AM
Capture Card problem? Is this inside the camera? I do not have a "capture card" in my PC. I will try setting it to a widescreen project and see if that helps that though.

IanG wrote on 4/2/2005, 8:17 AM
>currently using USB 2.0 for capturing(should I upgrade to firewire?)

Yes!! USB captures tend to give problems like audio and video getting out of synch. There doesn't seem to be much difference between them, so just get the cheapest you can. You should be able to find one for <$20.

Ian G.