Not adding the effects to your video during capture is a good thing! As Storyman says, you can add them in VMS - this will give you much more control, including the ability to use multiple effects and to remove them altogether if you don't like them.

Ian G.

Firewire DV capture is basically a file transfer. It is like copying a disk, you cannot alter the copy.

But you can add any effects available after capture with the software.

Dave T2

hey! replies! cool!

thanks for replying. yeah adding them afterwards with the software was my first thought too. but i have not been able to find these particular effects within what seems to be available in movie studio. the desired digital effects are (for those familiar with sony cameras - or more specifically - the dcr-trv 320): STILL, FLASH, LUMINESCENT AND TRAIL. FLASH and TRAIL being the ones most sought. then there are also non digital effects like SOLARIZE, SLIM (vert. stretch) etc.. is anyone familiar with these camera effects? (i originally bought the dcr-trv 320 largely because of it's impressive onboard effects.)

thanks,
st

You could use the same clip on the overlay tracks, slightly offset, to do the trail effect. If 3 images aren't enough you could render the trailed section to avi, import it and use that on one of your tracks.

Getting the flash effect would mean extracting a series of stills and then putting them back on the time line. I don't know a quick way of doing that, but then I guess you wouldn't want to do it very often.

Ian G.

You mention that you used ID2 for importing before using Vegas Studio. Is there any reason you can't continue to use that to get the effects you want with your camera.

Maybe a cheap analog capture card would help. As mentioned in another recent thread it would be best if the capture card created AVI files.

Have you tried contacting technical support for the Sony camera? Maybe there is something you need to do with DV to get the effects.

A possible compromise is to import everything with DV, then go back and capture just the areas you want to have the special effects with the analog capture card. Absolute worse case scenario is to capture the effects on video, re-record back onto the camera, then export with DV to Vegas Studio. At least you can give it a shot to see if it'll work.

thanks. very thoughtful replies. seems like the capture card is shaping up to be the most practical route to explore. i'm assuming i'd be going out the ID-2 jack of the camera. i had viewed that other thread previously and was thinking it might prove relative. kind of bummed though, just when i thought i'd spent all i needed to get rolling. the card mentioned in the thread (Canopus) is close to $500! that's only slightly less than my whole computer cost. - though you spoke of cheaper ones? sounds like the Canopus is unsurpassed, could there be anything near it's league under $100ish (in keeping with the cost of the software and all)?

i guess there's no such thing as simply a cord with an ID-2 jack on one end and a firewire jack on the other? two different worlds?

my newbieness is showing here :) but also, what is an AVI file and why is it to be desired additionally in a card?

yeah, maybe i do need to get on the phone with sony as well. it's funny, taking advantage of the cameras effects is the one very basic manuever i assumed i'd be able to do when i upgraded from a lowly vcr to a computer and software.

very helpful you guys - thanks!
tayp

You'd only need a card like the Canapus if you are planning to sell your project for broadcast or have a need for large image projection in something like a large seminar program. This is the main reason for using AVI. Just a warning depending on compression ratio AVI files can become quite large.

I've seen capture cards for under $50, but they don't import as AVI. Pinnacle has a low end card, but the problem with Pinnacle (they aren't the only ones guilty of this) is that the imported footage will only work with their software. With this consideration, I'd suggest a generic card. I'm not absolutely positive that this is the case with their newer products so double check if you can return the product.

For home use the low end card should be okay. The quality surpasses that of of super VHS.

For the best price locally check shoplocal.com.

i'll be checking back regularly to see if anyone has any further insight or experience to offer on this one.

thanks!