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User profile for user: curtis-r
curtis-r Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Working with mini-DVD camcorders

I have a fair amount of late 1990's Mac-based digital video production experience, as well as a strong Mac and PC hardware, software, & networking background. That being said, I feel like a absolute beginner in using my Panasonic VDR-D300 mini-DVD camera (USB, no firewire) w/ my new Mac Mini. I thought things got easier in the home video world...

My first dismay was that the little discs can't be used in the Mac Mini drive; so I have to use the camera as a drive. But aside from a printer driver conflict, I am able to mount the camera as a DVD drive.

Where I'm at: The Panasonic writes to the DVD-RAM in a .vro format. The supplied Pixe VRF Vrowser EX software will transfer footage (1 scene at a time) to my Mac as MPEG-2. I bought the QT MPEG-2 module, but the movies are without sound in QT. I tried some freeware for playback, and the audio is fine, so it's just QT.

I could also use another supplied software, ImageMixer, to burn my footage, but there is absolutely no way to preview or edit the footage, so what's the point.

Question: Is there any software that will import the DVD-RAM (or DVD-RW) mini disc's .vro data, allow editing, then burn a DVD? I just can't swallow that I have to use the Pixe software to import to MPEG-2, another to convert to a more friendly format, then another to edit, and just maybe another to burn.

I'm either really naive and the solution is simple, or there are a lot of DVD-camcorder owners stuck in a bind. I also can't believe that I'm wishing I got a miniDV (tape) camera.

Mini Duo Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on May 25, 2006 12:00 PM

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14 replies
User profile for user: SDIllini
SDIllini
User level: Level 6
16,675 points

May 25, 2006 12:27 PM in response to curtis-r

Hi Curtis:

Welcome to discussions!
As Fred Shippey (iDVD Guru) always says:

To convert the MPG-2 content into something useable, you can use DVDxDV at http://www.dvdxdv.com/DVDxDV.overview.htm
or MPEG Streamclip at http://www.squared5.com/ which requires Apple's $20 MPEG-2 Playback Component

Roxio's Toast Titanium 7 will also let you convert MPEG-2 to DV

Sue
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User profile for user: curtis-r
curtis-r Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 25, 2006 1:12 PM in response to mishmumken

Thank you both for the quick replies.

As for my audio problem, I thought it had something to do w/ my MPEG-2 being muxed, but now I know for sure thanks to that thread. I may have wasted $20 on that QT plug-in.

As for the software, I'll try DVDxDV & Streamclip tomorrow & post my findings.

I'm still a bit disappointed that I need to use 3 applications: 1) from camcorder DVD to MPEG-2. 2) MPEG-2 to other. 3) Other/edited to DVD. There's nothing that reduces that number? Is everyone with a DVD-camcorder in the same boat? If so, how inefficient.

Thanks again.

Curtis
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User profile for user: Lennart Thelander
Lennart Thelander
User level: Level 8
38,221 points

May 25, 2006 1:24 PM in response to curtis-r

I need to use 3 applications: ... There's nothing that reduces that number?


Short of buying a compatible DV camera? No, I don't think do.

Is everyone with a DVD-camcorder in the same boat?


Yes.
OK, if your Mac has a tray-loading DVD drive that supports the small discs, it's a bit easier. The drive doesn't even have to be internal.

MPEG (1,2 and 4) are all delivery formats. As such they're not intended for editing, just for viewing. That's why it's so complicated. (I wonder what the manufacturers are thinking: Not being able to edit the movies???)
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User profile for user: curtis-r
curtis-r Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 25, 2006 2:28 PM in response to Lennart Thelander

Lennart,

I don't mean to turn my thread in to a roast, but your point about DVD camcorders not being edit-friendly is right on. I don't feel that the process of minor editing of footage before burning to a standard DVD is so uncommon that it should be so difficult. In otherwords, if iMovie is for a beginner to novice Mac user, you'd think you could do it all from that one application.

I was under the impression that recording to a DVD-RAM would allow me to place the disc in my computer and edit directly to the disc before burning a final standard DVD. I don't recall how I got such a crazy notion, but it almost comical how far off I was.

I thank all for your help. At least I can start to let my frustration go and move on with the applications suggested.

Curtis
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User profile for user: Karsten Schlüter
Karsten Schlüter
User level: Level 7
34,098 points

May 25, 2006 3:00 PM in response to Lennart Thelander

Not being able to edit the movies???

you remember slideshows with Daddy?
345 slides... probably... 10 ... ok, 25 were good.... but the whole nine yards were shown...

I think, the concept of these cameras is like the old Kodak Box: you do the click, we do the rest, meaning: rec & watch... edit? that is "work", you have to throw away... difficult task 😉, another keyword "Magic Movie"...

... and the pic quality, as far as I can judge it, isn't overwhelming too... I like my old TRV14... 🙂
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User profile for user: SurferCoachDave
SurferCoachDave
User level: Level 1
0 points

Oct 29, 2006 8:30 AM in response to SDIllini

Sue,
I'm in the same fix as Curtis.
Spent all day Sat trying to get answers from Best Buy, Circuit City, LOL!
OK, I just bought the software DVDxDV.v1.32 online. Now I gotta buy a camcorder because the Hitachi that all my (soccer game) footage was captured on does not support Macs.
So, I've spent hours trying to determine which brand/model will play the finalized Mpeg 2 miniDVDs and that my brand new iMac will recognize?
Since all the Panasonics use the Mpeg2 engine, which they say is wonderful, should i avoid those?
Thanks for your time and help. I'm in a real pickle here.
Coach "Dave on Deadline" gotta edit this footage for impending banquet or my players will be terribly disappointed,
Indiana
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User profile for user: SurferCoachDave
SurferCoachDave
User level: Level 1
0 points

Oct 29, 2006 8:37 AM in response to curtis-r

Curtis,
I'm in the same fix.
A parent videod our whole (soccer) season on Hitachi miniDVD Mpeg2.
On top of that, Hitachi does not write drivers for Mac's, period. I called them.
So, I have an iMac that won't take the mini disks. I have to use USB.
You mentioned a printr driver conflict with your Panasonic D300? Apple told me that most USB driven devices would just "show up" or be recognized?
How did you resolve the conflict?
Do you know if Panasonic is the only brand with USB output (no firewire, no luck) that supports Mac OS 10.4?
Thanks, I'm in a real pickle as my team will be terribly disappointed if there is no highlight video at the banquet this year.
Coach Dave in Indiana
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User profile for user: psteg
psteg
User level: Level 1
0 points

Nov 1, 2006 5:00 PM in response to Vinny R

I have a similar question on this topic. A colleague took video footage on two mini-dvds. I was able to capture the footage from one disc using dvdxdv and brought the clip into iMovie. Very smooth.

Then I tried the second disc. Not smooth, yet. I open the dvd disc with dvdxdv and it brings in the files in a few seconds, not the typical minutes. When I attempt to extract a new movie, I get an error message, such as "cannot import the files."

I read somewhere in this discussion area that someone extracted a file using the "expert" command in dvdxdv. So, I'm trying to extract a new movie using expert settings, set to Quicktime movie, or something.

My question is, "why am I able to bring in files to dvdxdv from one disc, but not another." I've used dvdxdv before, with good results, so I am surprised to have trouble this time.

Thanks in advance for your help.
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Working with mini-DVD camcorders

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