Save from digital camcorder to computer using avi file format

Has anyone in this group knowledge of how to save output from a
camcorder using a DV to IE 1394 cable and save it as an AVI file so it
can be processed by Registax. My software with the camcorder saves it as
a MPEG file and Registax will not handle this I think. I am using XP
home edition.
I can save my output from a Watec 120N camera to my camcorder but my
capture hardware (Win tv USB) only supports a max 320 X 240 pixels, the
Watec camera captures at 752 X 582 pixels capture rate. Can I capture
as AVI file using Microsoft Movie maker at a higher pixel rate using a
dedicated DV to 1394 cable from my camcorder.
I intend to capture the southern sky wide field from Mauritius 20
degrees south latitude using a wide field lens and saving onto the
camcorder and get this onto the computer as an AVI file when I return
home. If this is not possible what hardware is available instead of my
ancient Win tv USB to capture at a higher pixel rate?

CJ

On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:45:19 GMT, CJ wrote:

Has anyone in this group knowledge of how to save output from a
camcorder using a DV to IE 1394 cable and save it as an AVI file so it
can be processed by Registax. My software with the camcorder saves it as
a MPEG file and Registax will not handle this I think. I am using XP
home edition.
I can save my output from a Watec 120N camera to my camcorder but my
capture hardware (Win tv USB) only supports a max 320 X 240 pixels, the
Watec camera captures at 752 X 582 pixels capture rate. Can I capture
as AVI file using Microsoft Movie maker at a higher pixel rate using a
dedicated DV to 1394 cable from my camcorder.
I intend to capture the southern sky wide field from Mauritius 20
degrees south latitude using a wide field lens and saving onto the
camcorder and get this onto the computer as an AVI file when I return
home. If this is not possible what hardware is available instead of my
ancient Win tv USB to capture at a higher pixel rate?

I tried to use a WinTV capture card with a Mintron camera and was
limited to 320x240 which was no use at all.

Have a word with Bernard Karpinski from www.modernastronomy.com (Tel:
020 8763 9953) and ask him about the USB video capture device he
sells. You can mention my name in connection with it - I bought one
off him a few weeks back. It works well. From memory it was £39.
--
Pete
http://www.digitalsky.org.uk

"CJ" wrote in message
o.uk...
Has anyone in this group knowledge of how to save output from a
camcorder using a DV to IE 1394 cable and save it as an AVI file so it
can be processed by Registax. My software with the camcorder saves it as
a MPEG file and Registax will not handle this I think. I am using XP
home edition.

I have recently had to solve the same problem. If I plug the camera in to
the firewire port on my laptop, K3CCDTools recognises my DV camera and will
record an avi at full resolution. I had to install a Panasonic codec to get
K3CCDTools to be able to play it back and process it though (available here)
http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=193
Not sure if Registax will need it or not

HTH
Robin

CJ
I use Pinnacle software for general video editing. There is an option to
"output as file" AVI is one of the options. Software of this type seems to
be a complete solution.
So I see the procedure as: Download footage to PC, select edit, and open a
project with your raw footage, and then save as .AVI file without actually
editing ( unless you find this necessary).
I suspect the unedited video files will be rather large, you may be able to
split these in to smaller chunks for Registax.
I believe there are several general video editing packages which will do
this, some of which may be available for minimal cost or even freeware

Hope this helps


Mick


CJ" wrote in message
o.uk...
Has anyone in this group knowledge of how to save output from a camcorder
using a DV to IE 1394 cable and save it as an AVI file so it can be
processed by Registax. My software with the camcorder saves it as a MPEG
file and Registax will not handle this I think. I am using XP home
edition.
I can save my output from a Watec 120N camera to my camcorder but my
capture hardware (Win tv USB) only supports a max 320 X 240 pixels, the
Watec camera captures at 752 X 582 pixels capture rate. Can I capture as
AVI file using Microsoft Movie maker at a higher pixel rate using a
dedicated DV to 1394 cable from my camcorder.
I intend to capture the southern sky wide field from Mauritius 20 degrees
south latitude using a wide field lens and saving onto the camcorder and
get this onto the computer as an AVI file when I return home. If this is
not possible what hardware is available instead of my ancient Win tv USB
to capture at a higher pixel rate?

CJ

"CJ" wrote in message
o.uk...
Has anyone in this group knowledge of how to save output from a camcorder
using a DV to IE 1394 cable and save it as an AVI file so it can be
processed by Registax. My software with the camcorder saves it as a MPEG
file and Registax will not handle this I think. I am using XP home
edition.
I can save my output from a Watec 120N camera to my camcorder but my
capture hardware (Win tv USB) only supports a max 320 X 240 pixels, the
Watec camera captures at 752 X 582 pixels capture rate. Can I capture as
AVI file using Microsoft Movie maker at a higher pixel rate using a
dedicated DV to 1394 cable from my camcorder.

Yes, Movie Maker allows saving as DV-AVI files.

I intend to capture the southern sky wide field from Mauritius 20 degrees
south latitude using a wide field lens and saving onto the camcorder and
get this onto the computer as an AVI file when I return home. If this is
not possible what hardware is available instead of my ancient Win tv USB
to capture at a higher pixel rate?

CJ

Pete Lawrence wrote:
On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:45:19 GMT, CJ wrote:


Has anyone in this group knowledge of how to save output from a
camcorder using a DV to IE 1394 cable and save it as an AVI file so it
can be processed by Registax. My software with the camcorder saves it as
a MPEG file and Registax will not handle this I think. I am using XP
home edition.
I can save my output from a Watec 120N camera to my camcorder but my
capture hardware (Win tv USB) only supports a max 320 X 240 pixels, the
Watec camera captures at 752 X 582 pixels capture rate. Can I capture
as AVI file using Microsoft Movie maker at a higher pixel rate using a
dedicated DV to 1394 cable from my camcorder.
I intend to capture the southern sky wide field from Mauritius 20
degrees south latitude using a wide field lens and saving onto the
camcorder and get this onto the computer as an AVI file when I return
home. If this is not possible what hardware is available instead of my
ancient Win tv USB to capture at a higher pixel rate?


I tried to use a WinTV capture card with a Mintron camera and was
limited to 320x240 which was no use at all.

Have a word with Bernard Karpinski from www.modernastronomy.com (Tel:
020 8763 9953) and ask him about the USB video capture device he
sells. You can mention my name in connection with it - I bought one
off him a few weeks back. It works well. From memory it was £39.
Thanks to all who responded to my request for help. I took up Pete
Lawrence advice and went for the USB capture option which will work fine
on live picture capture or for later transfer from my digital camcorder.

"CJ" wrote in message
. uk...

On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:45:19 GMT, CJ wrote:
Thanks to all who responded to my request for help. I took up Pete
Lawrence advice and went for the USB capture option which will work fine
on live picture capture or for later transfer from my digital camcorder.

Hi CJ

This is OK for capture of analogue video direct from the Watec, but for
playback from your DV camera, if you have a firewire input on your computer
it would definitely be better to go straight to the computer with the
digitial video via firewire. (Avoids the deterioration caused by converting
to analogue in the camera and then back to digital in the USB capture
device)

Robin

Robin Leadbeater wrote:
"CJ" wrote in message
. uk...


On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:45:19 GMT, CJ wrote:

Thanks to all who responded to my request for help. I took up Pete
Lawrence advice and went for the USB capture option which will work fine
on live picture capture or for later transfer from my digital camcorder.


Hi CJ

This is OK for capture of analogue video direct from the Watec, but for
playback from your DV camera, if you have a firewire input on your computer
it would definitely be better to go straight to the computer with the
digitial video via firewire. (Avoids the deterioration caused by converting
to analogue in the camera and then back to digital in the USB capture
device)

Robin


Thanks Robin perhaps I did not make it clear but I intend to only
capture to my digital camcorder while I am holiday in Mauritius using a
wide angle lens. The setup I shall use there will fit in my hand luggage
with no problem. The rest of the time at home using my LX90 8" I shall
capture direct using the USB 2 port as I do not have firewire on the
laptop but only on my desktop machine.
From the replies I received it appears that the problem can be solved
several ways and it is pick what I think will work best for me. I
realise that putting another capture object as the camcorder in the
process must introduce more scope for degradation of the final image.
Thanks again for all imparting their knowledge and help.

CJ.