Editing a DVD

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I have several Sony Handycam DVDs that I would like to edit into one, taking a few minutes from each and compiling them onto a new disc.

I bought the Handycam off of ebay and all I got was the cam and a bag. I downloaded the manual off the Internet. The manual shows that there is software available and what I want to do is just a standard feature of this Handycam.

But, my computer is too old to get the software and install it.

Is this something that others might have, say people in the editing and copying business? Where would I look for them? I called on an add in our local paper and the guy had to check on it first (which did not instill much confidence) and then said he would charge $150 an hour. I guess he thought I want him to be our attorney too.

Can you, for instance, just play the disc on the Handycam and record it on a DVD recorder, which we have, like you can record from one VCR to another? Or, can you play the disc on a DVD player, into the DVD recorder, and make a new disc?

And how about this? I also want to edit a VHS video tape and put some of it on a DVD. Can you play a VHS tape into a DVD recorder and make a disc?

[Thirsty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Thirsty]

I have several Sony Handycam DVDs that I would like to edit into one, taking a few minutes from each and compiling them onto a new disc.

I bought the Handycam off of ebay and all I got was the cam and a bag. I downloaded the manual off the Internet. The manual shows that there is software available and what I want to do is just a standard feature of this Handycam.

But, my computer is too old to get the software and install it.

Is this something that others might have, say people in the editing and copying business? Where would I look for them? I called on an add in our local paper and the guy had to check on it first (which did not instill much confidence) and then said he would charge $150 an hour. I guess he thought I want him to be our attorney too.

Can you, for instance, just play the disc on the Handycam and record it on a DVD recorder, which we have, like you can record from one VCR to another? Or, can you play the disc on a DVD player, into the DVD recorder, and make a new disc?

And how about this? I also want to edit a VHS video tape and put some of it on a DVD. Can you play a VHS tape into a DVD recorder and make a disc?

Jim,


I am not sure you can stop and pause your DVD recorder while you are in the recording mode to allow you to combine clips. I think more details (brand/model) about the recorder you have is needed to answer your question.


Not knowing who your intended audience is I will take a guess that you want to create home movies to share with friends and family. So if you have the time and cash I would suggest you upgrade your computer and do the editing yourself. Adobe Premier Elements ($80.00) is a nice video editing program that is not to complicated to learn and has a good support user forum.


I have done some DVDs and it is nice to be able to do some enhancements such as combining clips, add still pictures/photo montages, doing some minor color correction, add background music, and adding text. DVDs with some of the enhancements make a world of difference when watching a home movie.


Mike

[somerville Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close somerville]

It would also help if you would provide info on your computer. Windows XP comes with basic video editing software. When editing video it helps to have a lot of RAM and a fast processor.

I can't comment on recording to a stand alone DVD recorder, as my only experience is with DVD burners installed in my computers.

[Fisch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fisch]

To be able to edit content from a DVD, you will need a DVD ripping program to get the video into a format that you can edit with.

The local dealer gave you good info. I do video editing and you can't tell if you can edit off a DVD until you are able to open up the files. His editing price of $150.00 per hour is on the high end, but it's a standard pricing for editing per hour.

You need to decide if you want to upgrade your computer system and learn the process of editing. It's pretty easy with some of the editing software on the market these days. They are very user friendly, however, most of them will not pull the video off your DVD's.
Or, pay your local video guy to it for you. The cost will be the same, but with option 'A', you get a new computer.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I found this thread while looking for another one.

To answer the question I was asking, yes, you can make a DVD similar to the way you used to make VHS tape copies, by connecting a DVD player to a DVD recorder.

I have now made a few, brief new DVDs taking just a few titles from other DVDs. I have also made a brief new DVD from key segments of VHS tapes, actually security cam footage.

And, no, my intended audience is not friends and family.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

I find the quality is better when recording from the camcorder to a dvd recorder than ripping it thru the computer.

I record it to a dvd-rw first so that I can I edit out unwanted scenes using the dvd recoder. (My recorder allows me to mark Point A and Point B for deletion, this for editing out commercials when recording from a movie from TV). Then I recopy the dvd-rw using a regular dvd.