Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 10/23/2004, 11:02 AM
Your selection of camcorder is unfortunate. DVD camcorders are targeted at users who want to “shoot and view”. They are not meant for editing. If you can return your purchase, get a MiniDV camcorder. While Vegas can consume an impressive array of media types, Vegas primarily a DV editor and you bought a DVD camcorder that records MPEG2 format.

If you want to see your footage in Vegas you can drag the VOB file from the DVD on to the Vegas timeline and it should recognize the video stream as MPEG2. You cannot, however, get the audio into Vegas because its AC3 and Vegas only outputs AC3 it cannot read it. If you edit the video, you will be very disappointed at the poor quality because MPEG2 is a final finishing format, not really an editing format (unless its all I-frame MPEG2)

The bottom line is, if you want to edit your videos, you bought the right software but the wrong camera.

~jr
JL wrote on 10/23/2004, 11:33 AM
Further discussion on this topic:

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=227613&Page=0

JL

rbm wrote on 10/23/2004, 11:55 AM
Wow! I guess Best Buy just made a sucker out of me! I specifically asked the guy for a camcorder that would allow me to edit (filming medical procedures) and he said that this was it. Also said Vegas was it too. Have owned this for 1 week. Guess its time to go back to Best Buy.
Stonefield wrote on 10/23/2004, 12:04 PM
Please don't let this dampen your view of Sony Vegas. Once you get a mini DV Camcorder, you'll be off and running. It's a fantastic program.

If you're a newbie as indicated...first of all welcome !!! And a couple things to make sure your new MiniDV camcorder has...

-A firewire out jack to transfer your tape onto your computer's hard drive
-A firewire IN card for your computer to Input your video.

and if you can...

A camcorder that allows you to set the focus and exposure ( darkness/brightness ) manually on your cam. Not totally necessary but very helpful.
A Separate hard drive on your computer JUST for capturing video.

If all this is obvious, my apologies, but if the Best Buy salesman doen't know what he's talking about, it's best these things are mentioned. Getting into home computer video editing can be daunting but there's lots of help on forums like this one.

Good luck and come back and let us know how it went.

Stonefield
JohnnyRoy wrote on 10/23/2004, 6:49 PM
For less than what you probably paid, you could get a Panasonic PV-GS120 3CCD MiniDV Camcorder ($629) which I know Best Buy does sell because I tried one while I as there and it was gorgeous. Obviously every has their favorites, but that one is on my Christmas list. ;-)

~jr