I am aware (now I am) that there are alternatives to Imagemixer that comes with the camcorders.
I have tried Ulead which will import sony dvd format (ac-3 audio and vob video files) if you get the add-on for a few bucks.
Now Pinnacle also supports Sony DVD import in their latest beta release. I have tried it and it works well.
Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 also works with the Sony dvd.

Are there any others that we can add to this list?

Notice is being taken of the dvd camcorders.

Thanks

I am curious about this too. What about the higher-end packages like:

Adobe Premier?
Adobe Premier Elements?
iMovie?
Final Cut Express?

(We qualify for education prices on them so they are not as horribly expensive as they would be normally).

Will they import the video and AC-3 audio from a miniDVD and allow easy editing (I guess in the mpeg format)????

Thanks!

I know Adobe Premiere doesn't handle the dvd or mpeg formats.

I meant Adobe Premiere Elements.

For those looking for auto-producing software that renders your film clips into edited video automatically with music, etc. apparently Muvee autoproducer works pretty well. I think they have something to do with part of the OEM software that comes with the camera. I think the autoproducer that comes with the camera is like a basic way-stripped-down version of muvee.

I looked on their website and it supports and outputs mpeg2 & widescreen, but not surround sound.

Hi Guys,
I've downloaded the trial version of this product. A couple of problems:

1. I was uunable to add some of the VOB tracks to the track list due to "invalid file format" message. Confusing-I know everyhing is MPEG-2 (Sony DVD-403)

2. All videos are recorded in 16:9 format, but TMPEG Trial displays them and burns them in 4:3.

3. My tracks are being clipped somehow. When I edit the tracks and play back the video, only a 5 or 10 seconds of what should be a 5 minute track are played.

Very frustrated. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Greg

Did you convert the sound type on your mpeg2 file from the 403? It's recorded in dolby surround 5.1 which may not be supported in TMPEG. Simply use the PicturePackage software that came with the camera to 'view' the video file--in the view window is a button that says 'convert audio'. This will save a new version of the mpeg2 file that uses standard sound format. Then try to use that file with your TMPEG software, it will probably work.

Adobe Premier Elements does not work well with mpeg from a mini DVD. AVl is a format much better suited for editing and is, in my opinion, the biggest drawback to DVD cams.

I agree with this insomuch that those who are interested in serious video editing and spend hours producing highly polished video by hand will find the mpeg format limiting.

However I suspect that the majority of camcorder owners are more interested in light or automated editing/producing of video, for which mpeg works great.

I know personally I don't want to spend 10-12 hrs creating a good looking 40 minute family video.

I have downloaded the sony vegas trial. It imports VOB files easily. The final result is very good! unfortunnately, it is only a trial version. It would be good if anyone knows a freeware that makes the job well!

The problem is that for some strange reason the information in the mpg files from the Sony DVD cams says 4:3, even if its recorded in 16:9

After searching on the internet I found information about the mpeg headers and a way to tell every mpeg player/editor that its is 16:9 and not 4:3.

I use a hex editor download here:

http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delp...xvi32/xvi32.htm

And use this script for the editor to change the header(s) in the mpg file:

ADR 0
REPLACEALL 00 01 B3 2C 02 40 23 BY 00 01 B3 2C 02 40 33
EXIT

You have to save this script as a XSC file, load and execute it, and save the mpg file.

Unfortunately the hex editor has a limitation on memory it can use, so it works only for relatively small files, I suppose it is limited by the amount of memory your PC can handle for this program.

If there is a better way to do this, let me know, Imagemixer just assumes 4:3 all the time...

Remmington wrote:
However I suspect that the majority of camcorder owners are more interested in light or automated editing/producing of video, for which mpeg works great.

This has been an argument that I have posted on other video editing formats and never received a truly viable argument as to why avi is a better format for video editing than mpeg2. And I don't mean for professional work.

I even tried a friends dv format camcorder and mine taking the same basic scenes. The final outcome was pretty much the same as far as I could see; adding menu, transitions, cuts, pip, etc.

Thanks.

I just tried Pinnacle Studio 9 with My Sony DVD Cam.

It works like a dream, its the best for Sony DVD cams, and I tried a few, quite a few....

No problems with sound, aspect ratios etc...

Hi Gede,

Is that the Studio Plus 9 or the Studio 9?

My DVD403 videos are 16:9 aspect with DD5.1 (AC3). I want to do, presumably, what everyone else with a DVD camcorder wants to do. I want to take the contents of 2 or 3 Mini-DVD discs and combine them onto a single, standard DVD while maintaining the 16:9 aspect and DD5.1 audio track. I've yet to find a program capable of this seemingly simple task. If you are certain that the Pinnacle product can accomplish this, I would greatly appreciate a confirmation.

Thanks in advance,
Greg

Unfortunately I don't have the 403, but just a modest 101, for now...

I download the movies via Imagemixer, do a right click, convert to MPEG, and then load them into Pinnacle studio 9 and edit away, 16:9

Studio 9 has the mpeg2 plugin enabled, I have the simplest version of studio 9: 9.0.0

I haven't tried burning with studio 9, but I did burn the mpeg's from studio 9 with DVD workshop 2 from Ulead, works, looks and sounds good.

I have tried Premiere Pro with mpeg plugins, but results were horrible..very shakey video....

I don't know about AC3 5.1 but my 101-AC3 sounds ok when finally on the burned DVD.

I live in Indonesia and use a dial-up modem, so updating software and downloading new versions is an expensive daytime job..