Practice video to dvd transfer and capture

A. Record some video of friends, family or an event. To make the capturing of the video easier, DO NOT record blank spaces. If you need to stop recording, hit the stop button and then hit record to start again. DO NOT hit the stop button, FF to leave space, and then hit record again--it will make your capturing and editing of the video much, much more difficult.

B. Connect the video camera directly to the computer you are using with the firewire IEEE 1394 cord. Turn the camera on. Turn the computer on. Open the software you are going to be using for your video capture.

C. Change the input on the software to match the capture input that you are using (for example, change the input to "DV" if using a digital camcorder)

D. Press play on your camcorder to test that you can indeed see the video you want to capture on the computer screen. If you can't, test the cable connection, the input settings on the video capture software you are using, etc.

E. Rewind the tape on the video camera to a few seconds before the section you want to capture (there is a slight lag time between the time you start the camera and the time the computer software starts capturing your video.

F. Hit the "record" button on your computer screen for the video capture software you are using. If you want to capture a set amount of time, most video capture software allows you to choose this as one of the settings. Otherwise, just let it keep capturing and you can hit the stop button on the software when the portion of video you want has been captured.

G. When the capture is finished, press the stop button on the software and you will be prompted where to save the captured file and what to name the captured file. We always recommend saving to your desktop so you can find the footage easily, and make sure if you are capturing multiple parts from a single event, use numbers in the name (such as wedding1, wedding2, etc.).

H. Always use AC power on the video camera and the computer. If you use battery power and the battery starts to get low, your audio and video may not be in sync.

I. Make sure you save the file even if the capture software is the same software you are going to use to edit the video.

J. If you are using analog cables to record from a digital camcorder to the computer, make sure you use highest quality cables possible. Use firewire if at all possible.