VF in use with Dazzle DVC questions

MoBi wrote on 8/30/2002, 3:35 PM
Greetings,

I haven't purchased VF as yet...just checking things out. I'm an hobbiest just wanting to create some VCR tapes for family. I recently purchased a Dazzle Digtal Video Creator (USB). Been able to get it up an running as advertized. But I don't like the limits of the editor. If I purchased VF could I capture video via Dazzle or import the MPEG files into VF (if I were to capture using Dazzles s/w), edit in VF, then send the DV back out to the VCR via Dazzle/USB?

Thanks for any info.

fwiw: PII450/128 megs of ram.

MoBi

Comments

randy-stewart wrote on 8/30/2002, 11:46 PM
MoBi,

I own the DVC USB external card and used it for about 6 months before I discovered the quality improvements of an IEEE 1394 firewire card and digital 8 camcorder. I can't tell you how much better the quality is. I haven't even looked at the Dazzle card since. But that doesn't help you. Here's what I learned from my short experience with the Dazzle DVC USB.

It's MPEG-1 quality. You will never get an output better than what looks like a 3rd or 4th generation VHS copy (grainy) back to full screen VHS tape. That is because MPEG-1 compression, while a space saver, doesn't have enough pixels to fill up the screen as does DV (or .avi files). It will look fine for web application and small screen on the TV but don't expect to get good full screen quality.

As for using VF to edit the files and build a show, that shouldn't be a problem but I haven't actually tried it to know for sure. I don't think Moviestar will read VF MPEG-1 files (they have to be MPEG-1 files to be used with the DVC USB) but I could be wrong. VF can output MPEG-1 rendered shows. Just not sure if Dazzle software can import them from VF.

Which version of Moviestar came with the package? I've used up to 4.23 but I've heard that version 5.0 is now out. May be that 5.0 is for use with their DV level cards. Version 4.23 has some bugs and limits but will output to VHS as long as you don't go above about 1.75M bits. Use the fast render option template and make sure your properties are set to TV quality. If you go to Movie quality, you may get a lot of pixels and freeze ups when outputting to tape. Haven't use it in quite a while but would be glad to help you off line via e-mail as this is not the right forum for Moviestar.

If you have the means, install an IEEE 1394 card and upgrade to digital video with firewire and use VF. You will be very glad you did.

Hope this helps.
Randy
MoBi wrote on 8/31/2002, 12:07 AM
Randy,

Thanks for the reply, and info. I'm quite new to this, so pardon the ignorance :) I was under the impression that getting into DV was pretty expensive (~$600), according to a salesperson at a local store. My nephew, who works with DV steered me towards Dazzle. Now I see that there are other relatively inexpensive (<$250) options, but I'm not sure which way to go. Seems like DV can be pretty quirky with any system. Further, I downloaded a copy of VF and couldn't install it. Requires W98SE or greater. Only have W98. But I have installed Directx 8.1, thinking that perhaps that would help. Oh well. Appreciate your comments. If you'd like to take this off the forum, my email is lund1@earthlink.net. Or if there are other web sites for DV newbies....

Oh yeah, I have MovieStar 4.25. I believe that is the current version.

Thanks Again

MoBi
randy-stewart wrote on 8/31/2002, 12:18 PM
MoBi,
Understand. There are lots of options. You may also consider getting a digital conversion box that takes VHS input and outputs DV to your computer via firewire (IEEE 1394). After you edit your show, you output it from your computer via the firewire back to the conversion box and then to your VCR or camcorder. The conversion box I'm referring to is made by Canopus and can be found at the following site: http://www.canopus.com/US/Products/index/products_advc.asp (You'll have to copy the site into your browser url window and hit go). The neat thing about this box is it converts your VHS tapes into high quality DV so you are working with the best quality when you edit. It then converts it back to VHS so your non-digital camcorder or VCR can record the signal onto the tape. You'll have to install an IEEE 1394 card into your computer for the firewire connection but that is easy and low cost (got one at COMPUSA for $30, their brand which included a firewire cable).

If you are going to stay with the Dazzle DVC for awhile, try getting Moviestar to work for you. I haven't used Moviestar in a long time and I remember it was very limited and had problems with the output to VHS tape capability. Maybe the new version corrected most of the bugs. When I did get it to output to tape, it was pretty good quality for MPEG-1 (although not adequate for my needs). The other options that work pretty well with it are Video Wave and ULead Video Studio. However, you may end up capturing with Moviestar and then editing with either of those two programs. They will use the captured files fine but will probably only output to a smaller screen size than full screen. The quality will be okay for home use.

Well, hope that helps. Good luck with your editing.

Aloha,
Randy