There's no such thing as a stupid question, but they're the easiest to answer.
JoinTour
Login
 
Tag Cloud
access audio avg avg 8 bios blue screen boot bsod computer connection cpu crash css dell desktop dma driver drivers dvd email error excel explorer firefox firefox 3 freeze gimp graphics hard drive hardware hijackthis hjt install internet internet explorer itunes keyboard laptop macro malware monitor motherboard network networking outlook outlook 2003 outlook 2007 outlook express pio problem problems router seo server slow sound sp3 spyware trojan usb video virtumonde virus vista vundo windows windows vista windows xp winxp wireless
Digital Photography & Imaging
Search
Search in:
 
Advanced Search
Tech Support Guy Forums > Software & Hardware > Digital Photography & Imaging >
few camcorder questions


HELLO AND WELCOME! Before you can post your question, you'll have to register -- it's completely free! Click here to join today! We highly recommend that you print a copy of our Guide for New Members. Enjoy!

 
Thread Tools
roger21's Avatar
Junior Member with 4 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
12-Nov-2004, 09:30 PM #1
few camcorder questions
Hello all,
I have a panasonic PV-L578. It is a non-digital camcorder. it records on the smaller tapes that you then put inside a regular sized tape to watch on your VCR. I have a few questions:

1. Do you know how i can get the footage that i have took onto my computer to edit? I have heard i need some kind of wire? A firewire is it called? If a firewire, I hav noticed that there are a bunch of different kinds and sizes of firewires, would anyone know which size i would need or would a employee at a camera store know?

2.In the footage that I have took, the date and time are on the bottom corner of the screen. I have figured out how to take my footage without having that appear on the screen now. But does anyone know if there is a way to get rid of the time and date that appears on the screen from footage that has already been shot? If I put the tape with the footage back in the camcorder, can I somehow get rid of the time and date that way.

Thank you very much, I hope you get what I am talking about.
-Roger
Whiteskin's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 2,051 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta, Canada
Experience: Windows: Decent. Unix/Linux: Advanced +1
12-Nov-2004, 10:30 PM #2
It depends on your type of tape. If i am correct, it's probably a High-8, or mini-DV tape.

If it's a mini-DV tape, look for an output port from your camera (try the manual). If it is firewire, you will see a little port that looks a little like this (http://devicebaystuff.com/images/6to4_firewire.gif) the smaller one. You will then need a firewire cable for the connection, plus a program to pull the video.

Sometimes cameras output using a mini-headphone jack like port. If that's the case, you will need a cable that splits into three RCA connectors, and a TV capture card to get at the video. I would bet it's the former, rather than the latter.

Best bet is looking in the manual. As for the date, that setting is almost certainly on the camera, somewhere. Do you have a flip out screen with which you can acess a menu?
__________________
emerge world_domination;
Smart Questions gentoo
Ubuntu
linux google:Shiny!
roger21's Avatar
Junior Member with 4 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
12-Nov-2004, 11:05 PM #3
Thank you very much for the quick reply.I will check out the manual about the ports and such.

The camera has a button on the top which says "display." This button will either make the date and time appear on the screen, or have it say nothing, whatever you wish. So this means that if I were going to film something right now, I could make it so the screen would not say the date or the time. Which is how i would like it. But the problem is that i have footage on an old tape and I would like to get rid of the time and date if possible. I don't think it is possible but I would like to see if it somehow is, wheater with some type of editing program or whatever. I tried putting the old tape in the camcorder and into the playback mode. Then tried hitting the "display" button to try to get ride of the time and date but that did not work. Anyone know any ways in getting rid of the time and date of footage on a tape that has already been filmed?
thanks you very much
-roger

Last edited by roger21 : 12-Nov-2004 11:06 PM. Reason: spelling errors
linskyjack's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 22,282 posts.
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
12-Nov-2004, 11:21 PM #4
Its not mini-dv--thats digital- he said its not digital.
kiwiguy's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 17,160 posts.
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: New Zealand
12-Nov-2004, 11:38 PM #5
Its VHS-C

Its highly unlikely to have any firewire output on the camera, most likely just Analogue RCA.
linskyjack's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 22,282 posts.
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
13-Nov-2004, 07:53 AM #6
Yup--then he needs something like the Canopus box to convert from VHS-C to digital. T
roger21's Avatar
Junior Member with 4 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
13-Nov-2004, 10:26 AM #7
Yes,it is VHS-C. So i need something like a Canopus box? I will have to look into that.

Does anyone what the quality of the footage will be like when i transfer it to the computer? Compared to the quality of a digital camcorder?

Also, can anyone answer the question of the time and date appereance above?

thank you
-roger
Whiteskin's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 2,051 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Alberta, Canada
Experience: Windows: Decent. Unix/Linux: Advanced +1
13-Nov-2004, 01:09 PM #8
Quality will be les so, but then again it also depends on how you compress it. As for the editing out of the date and time, it may be on there hard, and the only thing I can perhaps think of is using video editing software to put a black bar across the bottom (or bottom and top, making it look like 16:9 footage)
__________________
emerge world_domination;
Smart Questions gentoo
Ubuntu
linux google:Shiny!
linskyjack's Avatar
Distinguished Member with 22,282 posts.
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
13-Nov-2004, 02:19 PM #9
Lots depends on the quality of the VHS-C analog footage. I just converted a bunch of VHS-C footage for an agency, and made a pretty effective DVD for them. Looks pretty good.
roger21's Avatar
Junior Member with 4 posts.
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
13-Nov-2004, 05:36 PM #10
I have heard of hooking my vcr(with the tape in the vcr) up to my computer and the computer could somehow capture the footage that way?
Is this poosible?
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

You Are Using:
Server ID
Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service.
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:21 AM.
Copyright © 1996 - 2008 TechGuy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Powered by vBulletin, Copyright © 2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.1.0
Powered by Cermak Technologies, Inc.