Getting video onto your computer with Windows Vista’s Import Video "wizard"

All versions of Windows Vista include a handy utility for importing (capturing) video.  We call it a “wizard”, because it walks the user through video capture, step by step.  The first time (and unless the “always do this….” box is checked, every time) that Vista senses that a “firewire-equipped” video device has been connected to the computer, the Autoplay “dialog” box opens.

* To VIEW THE TEXT on the images in greater detail, click the image to enlarge it.

 

Clicking Import Video will launch the wizard.  The wizard asks 3 questions and then “does its thing”.

We switched the Video Format to illustrate our feeling that Windows Media format merits some consideration.

The Next Step is to tell the Wizard a little about the “firewire” video source it is working with (Camcorder or Capture Device)

and what it should do.  The second choice (Burn to DVD immediately) is not suitable if the video will be edited.

  

The final step is to perform the video capture process.

Clicking finish closes the wizard, and the video file is now on the PC, where it can be viewed or edited.

 

In order to use the Windows Vista capture wizard, a few things are necessary. They include:

1. A “firewire” connector on the PC

2. A “firewire” equipped Video Camcorder OR a capture device that connects to a PC with a “firewire” cable (click here for specific recommendations)

 

Windows XP Users can accomplish the same results with – Windows Movie Maker.

Technorati Tags: vista video capture vista firewire capture devices

Working with DVD video in video editing programs

This is yet another article about DVD video and the difficulties it presents for video editing programs.  Not just Easy-Scout Professsional and Easy-Cut, but the majority of sports editing programs.

In the interest of the time crunch that coaches often find themselves in, this article will not rehash information and solutions that have appeared here, in the Coaches Advisor Journal, in the Frequently Asked Questions pages on our web sites, and in our Technical Support Knowledgebase. 

Rather, this provides a brief description of the problem and a solution, citing one of the better products for converting a DVD to a video format that is "video editor" friendly. 

THE PROBLEM

Video is now increasingly "exchanged" on DVD’s.  In some cases, even when a digital camcorder is used to "shoot a game", the game is immediately transferred to a DVD.  In other cases, VHS tapes are copied to DVD’s .  As a video playback (and video storage) medium, DVD’s are fine, and may actually be preferable to other options.    But, for video editing, DVD’s are difficult to work with, at best. This is due to a couple of reasons:

Reason #1 – Video on a DVD is stored in a number of files that are located in two folders named Video_TS and Video_RM. 

This is what the folders on a DVD look like on a computer (This is a Windows Vista view of "Computer")

Inside the folders, things look even worse, as illustrated below. Every DVD looks pretty much the same, except some have more of these ".VOB" files than others.

Video Editing programs usually prefer a single video file – such as the one in the illustration below. This single file contains the entire contents of the DVD above.

Reason #2 – A DVD is recorded ("encoded") using the MPEG2 format, which has a number of variations – i.e. there is no "standard" MPEG. Throw in Blue Ray, "High Def", Surround Sound and other DVD "variants", and things get even messier.  

For simple DVD playback on a computer, this is not a problem, because a computer that has some type of DVD playback software, and this software is equipped with an MPEG2 "codec" that translates the DVD’s MPEG2 format for playback on the computer.

However, a problem arises when a DVD is recorded (encoded) in a "less common" way, such as, for example, when it uses Surround Sound for audio.

THE SOLUTION

There are 2 ways this problem can be solved. Both involve converting the video from the DVD format to one that works with the editing program that will be used.

Solution 1. Capture the DVD as if it was a VHS tape.  This requires some type of "video capture device". (This article does not discuss video capture devices)

Solution 2. Convert the DVD format using a program designed specifically for that purpose. (This article presents this type of "software solution")

We’ve worked with a lot of these devices and programs, and frankly, have come to the conclusion that when it comes to DVD conversion software and devices, you get what you pay for.  The cost varies from about $30 for what is sometimes called DVD "ripping" software up to about $250 for a “firewire” based, capture device – with many choices in between.

THE RECOMMENDATION

Our #1 recommendation for converting DVD’s with software is a program we’ve used for many years -  DVDCopy, now from Corel. 

We have used this product since version 4, and we know that its conversion from DVD to both Windows Media and DIVX works reliably, and on a fast machine, relatively quickly. DVD Copy can also be used to copy video from a Hard Drive Camcorder and perform a number of other tasks.  It is a very complete product from a company, that has specialized (actually, Corel owns Intervideo, the original creator of DVD Copy, Win DVD, Win DVD Creator and other DVD software) in DVD software for many years.

DVDCopy can be purchased at www.corel.com in Standard and "Plus" Versions.  Either version has the capabilities required to perform a DVD conversion, and the Plus adds some other capabilities that might be important, one of which is converting from a Hard Drive Camcorder.

For serious assignments – meaning situations in which a lot of converting is going on, DVDCopy is a hands down choice to get the job done right, each time, every time. And, because its specialty is DVD conversions, its likely to spare you from having to download additional "codecs" when a non-so-common DVD encoding format is encountered. But beware – DVD Copy is very demanding of a computer – older computers can take hours to convert a DVD.

The process can be quickened by copying the DVD “folder” to the computer’s hard drive and then “pointing” to the folder like it was a DVD drive, thus eliminating the slow and still highly mechanical DVD player from the process.

Our #2 recommendation for converting DVD’s – as well as other types of files is the DIVX for Windows package from DIVX.com.  Included in the Divx for Windows package is the DIVX Converter, which is discussed in this recent Coaches Advisor Journal article.  The DIVX Converter is fine for occasional DVD conversions, but its no match for DVD Copy 6 for frequent DVD Conversion jobs, and the costs are comparable. 

There are other DVD “ripper” products, and we have tested a number of them. We are hesitant to recommend them because some have done major damage to the computer we used to test the software.  We continue to be on the lookout for something that is fast, flexible and inexpensive – and most of all dependable, and will write about any that we find that are worthy of recommending in future articles.