Probably the same question as every newbee but if you could help with your opinions and links, I would be grateful.
SETUP I: I want to do mini DV (camcorder) to PC -> then edit -> then burn to DVD -> distribute to family and friends. I'm a little more then a beginner and plan to go much further but not go to a true (broadcast) professional level. Kind of a step up from home video to planned amateur mini productions, so to speak. All output to DVD, Web and an occasional VHS.
SETUP II: Buying the G3 iMac in Nov. 01 has burned me. If you don't know, Apple makes it real hard to burn DVDs from iMovie output onto drives that don't come from Apple and the Catch22 here is that they don't and won't make an external DVD burner for the G3. Their solution (and reason Apple stops 3rd parties from the iMovie -> DVD encode solution) is for me to buy a new G4 iMac with the internal burner. I'm so angry at Apple that I want to avoid doing business with them ever again, so I'm researching a PC solution, and that's how I came to be here with ya'll today. :)
Questions
1) Anyone doing my thing already and want to pass some experience along?
2) The camcorder/edit/burn DVD path vis-à-vis Vegas Video 3. Can I do it w/ VV3, should I do it w/ VV3, What (exactly) do I need, setup wise, to do it - Hardware and software?
3) Anybody got recommendations as to the PC configuration and/or vendor for the desktop setup?
4) Money - The Apple solution (PowerMac, FinalCut) is about $4000/4500. Gateway has a bundled config (2.4ghz, 256ram) with Pinnacle Studio8 (weak for my needs) for $2000. I would expect to pay about $3000/3300 for a 3ghz PC and editing Software solution from Sonic (VV3, + Sonic add on's, + DVD burner software). Am I thinking correctly about the price in the PC world?
Thanks in advance for tolerating yet another Newbee. All responses are appreciated.
SETUP I: I want to do mini DV (camcorder) to PC -> then edit -> then burn to DVD -> distribute to family and friends. I'm a little more then a beginner and plan to go much further but not go to a true (broadcast) professional level. Kind of a step up from home video to planned amateur mini productions, so to speak. All output to DVD, Web and an occasional VHS.
SETUP II: Buying the G3 iMac in Nov. 01 has burned me. If you don't know, Apple makes it real hard to burn DVDs from iMovie output onto drives that don't come from Apple and the Catch22 here is that they don't and won't make an external DVD burner for the G3. Their solution (and reason Apple stops 3rd parties from the iMovie -> DVD encode solution) is for me to buy a new G4 iMac with the internal burner. I'm so angry at Apple that I want to avoid doing business with them ever again, so I'm researching a PC solution, and that's how I came to be here with ya'll today. :)
Questions
1) Anyone doing my thing already and want to pass some experience along?
2) The camcorder/edit/burn DVD path vis-à-vis Vegas Video 3. Can I do it w/ VV3, should I do it w/ VV3, What (exactly) do I need, setup wise, to do it - Hardware and software?
3) Anybody got recommendations as to the PC configuration and/or vendor for the desktop setup?
4) Money - The Apple solution (PowerMac, FinalCut) is about $4000/4500. Gateway has a bundled config (2.4ghz, 256ram) with Pinnacle Studio8 (weak for my needs) for $2000. I would expect to pay about $3000/3300 for a 3ghz PC and editing Software solution from Sonic (VV3, + Sonic add on's, + DVD burner software). Am I thinking correctly about the price in the PC world?
Thanks in advance for tolerating yet another Newbee. All responses are appreciated.