How do i.....

[Scarface]

I got a little amateur video kinda thing but its on a tape. i wanna know if there is a way to somehow get it onto my computer. If there is no way then i guess i shall be forced to tape my TV screen with my Webcam. Please, if anyone knows the answer to my dilema please answer in the space provided. Thanks!

[Matthew_P_Scott]

You can BUY a thing that connects your camcorder to your PC i cant remember whats it called but i think its called SNAPPY it costs about $100 bucks i hope that answers your question

Thankz
Matthew P Scott

[Scarface]

Thanks man. I don't think i'm gonna get that yet. Cuz all i have is this one crappy video. I think i'll just stick to the Webcam idea for now. Thanks for answering!

[Tuukka]

I personally can't think of any other way than buying a videocard. A crappy videocard will cost something like 200$, but a good one will be up from 700$. I'm going to buy myself one in the autumn. It will cost around 1000$-1200$, but it allows me to build up a professional computer edit for myself.

[Scarface]

Ya the thing is, i'm extremely short on money. I just joined a band and i need an amp, a chord, a strap, and some misc. items which all totals up to $400. Maybe when i get a job i'll buy one. I know i'll need one someday.

[Crynot]

Tuukka,

What video card? I'm looking to purchase the DV500 from Pinnacle Systems - it runs $1000 but I also have to upgrade my computer first.

Crynot

[Tuukka]

I haven't checked different possibilities yet. It will take 2-3 month before I will buy the card. I have just talked with my friends and they said that a reasonably good card will cost around 1000$-1200$. I guess they are cheper in the states. Finland is a very expensive country.

I also have to buy around 20 GB of hard disc space for my computer, otherwise it's fast enough.

[Crynot]

Yeah disc space is a huge necessity when playing around with film.

I would also suggest 256 of Ram for optimum performance.

Crynot

[yvonne]

i have a snappy and it helps me take a picture from a movie, from my vcr...i dont know if it can do a whole movie though....but its a cool gadget....

[Tuukka]

What is a snappy? Never heard of it. Is it a kind of videocard? How much stuff you can download with it?

[yojimbo13]

ati technology sells cheap video card with input/output. that means you can digitize video into your computer, then output it back onto a videotape. their ati all-in-wonder pro goes for $150 and includes video editing software and all necessary jacks/cords/etc.

how it works: you connect your vcr/camcorder/other player to the video card, which digitizes it, and then you can edit the video and audio like a professional -- depending on how much time you want to spend on it. afterwards, you output it onto the tv and record it with your vcr. viola, you have a professionally edited movie on tape.

p.s. i recommend going to ebay or some other auction site and find a used card. as long as the card's working, you don't need a brand new one and spend the full bread. as long as everything is included (editing software and jacks).

P.s.s. oh yeah, and you should really have a fast computer with a lot of hd space. a fully digitized 100-minute movie will take up almost 8 gigs (depending how many frames you digitize it in).

[Tuukka]

I doubt that you can get a very good video card for 150$, but of course in the beginning you don't need a very good one. A card is not just an input device, your computer uses it to process material while editing; It will make your computer a lot faster. It think I would lose my nerves with a 150$ videocard, It would be too slow. I have used to working with fast computers and videocards up from 1000$. Even they are too slow sometimes.

How fast is the ati videocard? Is there always a little delay, when you do something? It seems that you are compressing your stuff a lot. 8 GB for 100 minutes is not very much. But if you are shooting with VHS camera, I guess it's fine enough. I use DV cameras and they require 19 GB for 100 minutes. I will have to buy around 30 GB for my future computer edit.

Is the ati editing program a good one? Of course it can't compete with the likes of premiere, but is it good enough for amateur videos or does it get annoying when you use it?

I'm going to get myself Premiere, but it will cost around 1000$. It's a pretty flexible and professional program. I've used to using Fast 601 at my work, but it would cost more than 10000$, so I can't afford it.

A cheap, a bit crappy edit will be just perfect for beginners, I would have loved to have one 5-7 years ago. Now I need a totally professional edit and it will cost something like this:

Computer etc: 2000$
Videocard: 1000$
Editing program: 1000$

...Happily I already have a fast computer, so I will have to spend only around 2000$. But most people who aren't working can't afford a sum like that.

Does anyone else have any experience from cheap computer edits?




[This message has been edited by Tuukka (edited 08-09-2000).]

[yojimbo13]

>>I doubt that you can get a very good video card for 150$<<

dude, the guy has a home movie he wants to edit, not a britney spears music video directed by hype williams! how the heck do you expect him to spend over a grand on it?

and i HAVE edited on a ati a-i-w with just 8mbs video memory, and it works GREAT. i took 24fps for 2 hrs worth of digitized footage and put them on a 16-gig hd.

people who thinks "professional" means spending thousands on avid digitial equipment are stuck in the past. prices are dropping so fast on so many prosumer hardware that you could make a good nonlinear video editing setup at home for under $500 (not including your pc, which you'll already have, of courses).

[Crynot]

Yojimbo,

I disagree. But prove it to me - what steps do you take in making a movie for under $500 bucks?

Crynot

[yojimbo13]

Originally posted by Crynot:
Yojimbo,

I disagree. But prove it to me - what steps do you take in making a movie for under $500 bucks?

Crynot


not A MOVIE -- a nonlinear editing setup.

[Tuukka]

Yojimbo, I didn't expect anyone to spend over a grand for a computer edit. In fact I said that most people can't afford it, if they don't work. Most schmoes on this board are still at school, and I'm totally aware of that. From my perspective ati video system would probably be a bit crappy, but I'm used to using edits at my work that cost around 15000$. Even I can't afford to buy anything like that. I also said that a bit crappy, but cheap editing system will be just perfect for beginners. It seems that ati system is very good for it's prize, but I'm certain it's not equally good with Premiere or 601. If you have used those editing systems, you know the difference.

As for the disc space, 8 GB for 40 minutes means VHS quality. If you digitize DV quality picture, you need 16 GB. Otherwise there will be loss in the picture quality during the digitizing.

500$ video edit is not good enough for me, because I make music videos and commercials for TV in purely professional manner.

I WANT people to tell about cheap, good editing systems. 500 bucks is for most schmoes a reasonable money to spend on a video system. So thank you, Yojimbo, it's good to know about the ati system. Has anyone else used it? Or does anyone have any experience of other cheap computer edits?



[This message has been edited by Tuukka (edited 08-10-2000).]