Emc7 With Sony Hdr.sr12 Camcorder

[diamond]

Just bought high end, high def camcorder looking forward to the future of video editing. Right now all I want to do is shoot in HD, import from camcorder to WinXP SP2, save to some format other than AVCHD (so that anyone I share with can play the video, or upload to youtube) and edit in EMC7 media suite. Eventually I'll upgrade my computer and editing software. I'll need more power to do the really fun stuff. Have a 1.7 processor and 1gb ram.

 

I had an earlier version of this camera, the SR1 with Picture Motion Browser software, and my EMC7 still worked fine after I loaded the camera software.

 

But now, there are warnings from Sony for EMC5 and below that their Picture Motion Browser software supplied with this camcorder here. http://www.sony.com.sg/subtype/usefulinfo/asset/215431

 

Apparently Roxio EMC has a Universal Disk Format (UDF) driver that is not (or might not be) compatible with Picture Motion Browser. I don't know if that is all versions UDF, or just some. From the EMC7 Help, can't id the version. I guess just the fact that it has one is reason enough for concern before loading Picture Motion Browser. I don't want to totally mess up my burning environment in the process of using the camera.

 

Has anyone experience with this scenerio? I've always used Roxio, but quite frankly, some of what I've heard/read about the newer versions, is troublesome. Can't uninstall, and if you do, the UDF driver is still on the system. Not stuck on EMC media suite, but I do music occasionally. Not familiar with Toast and the other Roxio products stating they work with AVCHD, but again, I think those upgrades will require I have more hardwre power.

 

And there are other systems issues. My computer hardware right now meets my needs. Really want to stay away from Vista as long as possible. Without getting into all that, if EMC7 and PMB could just co-exist for now, would be great.

 

A little editorial comment. The AVCHD format is here to stay, but software mfg's act like it isn't. I don't want to share my disks compatible only to the newer technologies either. Playing on a computer is the intent; can't deal with providing Blu-Ray player capability (way too new). I want to stay with software that is most likely to play on other systems - and even more important - into the future. I do genealogy work. The tech confusions have definitely gotten me started on finally writing a hard copy book!

 

Any thoughts from folks not wanting to upgrade everything each time the mfg's do?

[Guest ml]

If you're talking about me..... I didn't build my computer (although I did add the PCI card and a couple of internal hard drives which aren't listed in my signature.)

 

Lots of people do build their computers, but I'm basically lazy and don't want to spend the time trying to get all the hardware to work correctly. I figure out what I need on the computer to do video editing, then wait til I see it on sale. Mine was under $700 including monitor and printer as a package deal ( no interest for 1 year too)

 

You can figure out what you need in a computer by going to websites of major computer manufacturers that list which computer you need for specific tasks. The ones listed for entertaining or gaming usually have what you need, rather than one for business. And read the specs on the side of the video editing software and exceed the specs.

 

Thanks for sharing the article and have fun with that new camcorder.

 

 

 

[Brendon]

If Sony's Picture Motion Browser is incompatible with Roxio's [ECDC5 and below] UDF driver, it's probably because the Sony software contains its own UDF driver.

 

However the OP is using EMC7 which has Sonic UDF drivers, so he doesn't have the version 5 and below drivers to worry about.

[diamond]

Disabling the D2D and using the Sony PMB software is, for now, the route I will go to start enjoying my camcorder.

Before I shop for Creator 2009 or the Ultimate version anymore, thought I'd call Roxio Outside Sales (which took +half hr to get through) and ask about the multithreading support in Roxio products. The sales guy couldn't find it addressed, called the tech guy who said it all depended on the O/S supporting dual core hardware. This is quite different from.....

This article has what seems to be a relevant issue under "Software Dependent", stated in lay persons terms.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/cpus/a/dualcore.htm

 

I've done some hardware shopping, dual (or multi core) seems a good feature to try and afford, and of course those machines will come loaded with Vista of some flavor, or if I wait long enough, Windows 7 (or is it 9) releasing probably in time to get it on the computers sold next Christmas. I looked at Intel's processor chart, guess I should commit that to memory before shopping too.

 

Yours looks like you built it. That powerful would take a second mortgage. A hardware person I'm not.

 

Anyway, I'm not going to buy more software until the dependency on software to see the multi core advantages issue is clearer. There are some articles projecting hardware with quad core processors will be on "affordable" computers from the big box stores in 2-3 yrs. I won't be able to wait that long, but software app developers need to get on the same page....historically not a new situation. Always a scramble for hardware to ship with all the various current drivers the software needs. A different discussion.

 

Thanks for the comment caution on the hybrid capability of the SR-12. Another new concept to me. National Camera Exchange told me there is a significant quality difference between media recorded to the memory card vs. the hard drive, especially stills. In other words, still shooting on a camcorder doesn't replace a digital camera.

 

I used the SR-1 in 2003. I didn't like the physical size. Love the SR-12, fits even in a female hand. It was worth the wait. The SR-1 seems out of the pipeline, but the versions between 2003 and now are all good and dropping in price rapidly. Depending on what one wants/needs, spending less than $500 on a camcorder is not wise. And I wanted hot shoe for mic and flash capability. With each port is another hundred dollars.

 

For one brief moment, Best Buy offered 36 mo. free financing, the SR-12 was a hundred cheaper online. I talked them into free shipping and the 36 mo. financing. They just wanted to move units, what did they care. So, my immediate mo. cash flow is just a little shorter for now, and got the camera I wanted. Don't get jealous until the +$2000 camcorders, but unless I'm planning a second career as a news reporter, way overkill. This is very nice for our big church choir concerts and other special events. The poor A/V volunteers are going nuts; hope you all take pity on yours.

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camcorders...7-32775806.html

 

Thanks so much for hanging there with me! Longest dialog I've had on any message board.

[diamond]

Thanks, Jim. I see where D2D is a separate entity within Roxio, if I remove it, will Roxio still burn a disk through the "data" part of the Roxio suite? I could probably live without D2D. Is D2D the part UDF isn't compatible with?

 

I'm bidding on a Roxio Creator Ultimate 2009 on eBay, not holding my breath though.

Would like to get one software to meet all my needs - copying, capturing, editing.

The min. specs for that pkg are within my hardware capabilities, but I realize the big emphasis is "minimum".

I am buying for the future. The previous experiment with the Sony SR-1 video shot in HD was saved to another format in PMB, can't remember what, one of the mpeg's I think. Then I imported it into Win MovieMaker to edit, before I understood anything about EMC7. Actually, now that I've explored EMC7 video editing more, not all that impressed with it. The WMM isn't half bad if one isn't too sophisticated. Wish MS would update it. I do load all the WMP updates though. (Sometimes I wonder why I buy all of Roxio, not just what I need. All I really use is data burning and video editing, not pix editing or their player.)

 

Yes, it went very slow. I need to shut everything else down and a few services in Task Mgr before an hour video will import anywhere...and my poor computer was really working hard. I didn't burn the disk from within the software. I saved the file, shut down EMC or WMM, then burned the file to a disk to share.

I have no doubt an HD file would take mega time to burn. That's good to know when I do get ready to upgrade hardware. My computer is 2005; almost anything I select will be more than 1.7 processor. Still sorting out the advantages of dual core. Does Creator 2009 recognize the advantages of dual core? As I understand it, the user doesn't reap the benefits of dual core if the software isn't compatible - and most isn't.

 

The point being that even the AVCHD file converted to a format EMC or WMM would take, and edited, was superior quality to one not shot in HD. If I was going to buy a camcorder (as you can tell I have been trying to for a few years), why not buy HD if I could get a good deal. Best Buy online had one of those this holiday season.

 

Appreciate your input!

 

[lynn98109]

Drag2Disc is Packet-Writing (like Sonic's DLA and Nero's InCD, among others). You will probably be better off without it, since you can't lose any data that way if you don't have it.

 

You can still make data discs with both Roxio's Classic Creator and WinXP's built-in burning - both are sessions writing, which makes a standard dissc readable on any computer. (WinXP can't do DVDs, tho.)

 

Lynn

[Guest ml]

Frequently, the software that comes with a camcorder is more than adequate to get started. Just make certain that you save the original footage in case you decide to work with it in the future. With the memory stick pro duo cards, that should be easy.

 

That's a really nice video camcorder ( I think I'm jealous. )

 

One note of caution...... ALWAYS use the adapter for the memory stick pro duo card with a computer card reader. Computers tend to 'eat' them.

[diamond]

I agree that you should get the best camcorder you can for the future and there are some great deals out there.

 

However, new HD camcorders usually require new computers with a very good video card and extremely large hard drives....... basically a computer that's made for video editing. If you don't want to put that type of money into video editing, there are alternatives.

 

Many of the video camcorders on the market have the ability to edit the video built into the camcorder.

It's fairly basic editing, but they do allow you to do very basic editing on the camcorder and then use a computer or a DVD-R standalone machine to burn to a DVD.

 

You have to remember that things move very fast in the video editing world. When EMC 7 was being developed, most HD camcorders were much too expensive for the normal consumer so the program really wasn't meant to handle the format.

 

There is also an alternative that might work for D2D. You can go to Windows/ Start/ Run and type msconfig

Then go to the startup tab and 'uncheck' DrgtoDsk, apply, ok and restart your computer. That will stop Drag 2 Disk from starting automatically at startup and perhaps solve one of your problems.

 

ANS: I've already bought the Sony SR-12. Now shopping for Creator 2009 or 2009 Ultimate. Lost my initial eBay bid on Ultimate, but there's always more. 2009 is probably adequate. Is there a meaningful major difference? And....DOES it work with multi-core machines? As being so new, I'm assuming it does.

 

I do enough with photo editing that I know I'll want to grow with video editing, but I'll never keep pace with folks on this list, nor do I have an end use for that much. But there is a limit to my resources. The computer market and OS are also moving so fast, a consumer's only option is to determine what they "really" need and can make do with while the next latest/greatest comes along. I realize my 2005 computer is woefully inadequate, but I think I can start experimenting with it. That D2D tip is promising. While I shop software, I could load Sony's PMB, shut off D2D (now that I know how and that it won't interfere with my copying environment) and start working with the camcorder while researching software and hardware. Good stuff! Thanks!

[Jim_Hardin]

Yah, the quality difference is Slap you in the Face different I have one BD Player and one LCD TV and I am conniving to replace the other TV/Players in the house…

 

D2D is one program in the Suite and only one. It is related to absolutely nothing! V9 was the last version that even had it.

 

You are better off getting the Suite than trying to buy little pieces. If you go with a Video package then realize you need to manipulate some Audio you want to use, you are out of luck!

 

Your PC will be slow as a slug but tell everyone you have adapted the hottest manufacturing craze – Lights Out Manufacturing…

 

That is where they load up machines and let them run while no one is there.

 

[Guest ml]

If I was going to buy a camcorder (as you can tell I have been trying to for a few years), why not buy HD if I could get a good deal. Best Buy online had one of those this holiday season.

 

Appreciate your input!

 

I agree that you should get the best camcorder you can for the future and there are some great deals out there.

 

However, new HD camcorders usually require new computers with a very good video card and extremely large hard drives....... basically a computer that's made for video editing. If you don't want to put that type of money into video editing, there are alternatives.

 

Many of the video camcorders on the market have the ability to edit the video built into the camcorder.

It's fairly basic editing, but they do allow you to do very basic editing on the camcorder and then use a computer or a DVD-R standalone machine to burn to a DVD.

 

You have to remember that things move very fast in the video editing world. When EMC 7 was being developed, most HD camcorders were much too expensive for the normal consumer so the program really wasn't meant to handle the format.

 

There is also an alternative that might work for D2D. You can go to Windows/ Start/ Run and type msconfig

Then go to the startup tab and 'uncheck' DrgtoDsk, apply, ok and restart your computer. That will stop Drag 2 Disk from starting automatically at startup and perhaps solve one of your problems.

[Jim_Hardin]

You can remove D2D through the Add/Remove programs – select Roxio – Change

 

Toast is a MAC only

 

HD is in its' infancy but Creator 2009 handles it as good as anything else out there

 

Your PC isn't anywhere near the minimum you are going to need! I have 3ghz and it took 13 hours to render a 45 minute HD movie.