IrishPower...video help...

[b fold the truth]

I would like to set up my compter to do videos like you do. I don't have a digital video camera but I do have a digital still pic camera that shoots poor quality mpegs.

I have a regular VHS camcorder though and a video card in my computer that I have never used to it's fullest. I know that I can run an output from my cpu to my television to watch movies, etc...and I have done that before. Have never ran anything into my computer though.

Any advice?

B True

 

[BigArnie]

BFold, if you don't mind me offering some input; Without a digital camcorder this process is quite cumbersome. There are three ways of getting analog video into your pc: (1) You can purchase a video capture card with the necessary software. This does a good job but is rather expensive. (2) You can use a TV card and connect either RCA or composite sources like your camcorder to it and (3) if you're lucky you'll already have a VGA card with video-in like an ATI All-In-Wonder.

You need to check your display card to see wether it has got a video-in plug. If so, get yourself some software and off you go. If not, you'll have to resort to (1) or (2).

Additionally, your analog source will need to be encoded in order to get the file size down to a manegable level using something like DivX or the WMA codec. No matter what you do, the image quality will never be as good as something that was recorded digitally in the first place. I'm no expert on this but PM me if you want more details.

 

[b fold the truth]

I do have an ATI video card that allows me to go from my computer out to a tv...I think it goes back to my computer too...just don't know enough about it.

Just came from Wal-Mart...looking at some digital video cameras...do I need one that runs off of the little cd's...or one with a memory chip....or one with a tape in it?

B True

 

[p03t1c]

buying cameras just depends on how much you intend to use it. if you want to know about video editing and how to get videos from one place to another or things like that check out vcdhelp. i like cameras with internal memory but that's just a personal preference.

if you need with any video conversion (svcd, vcd, divx...whatever just PM me). i have quite a bit of experience in this. other than that...good luck!

 

[b fold the truth]

Just got one from my boss...looks to be unused at all. Digital and uses and 8mm tape...digital tape. USB streaming abilities...hope this works.

I will PM you...thanks...

B True

 

[IrishPower]

bfold: had a good bit of beer tonight so not sure how coherent this will sound but here goes...

1. previous advice is right about using an analog camera to get video to a computer, but the ati cards are good i hear. the only problem is that the ati software usually encodes with a non-standard codec so it *may* be difficult for others to download and play your videos.

2. i use a digital camcorder and use XP's movie maker software to yank off the video and store it in streaming media format. the advantage of this is that *anyone* using windows will be able to play the video or automatically download the correct codec on first time play. (except PLJAY but i think florida is just too hot to play on the computer )

3. what digital camera do you have that makes .mpgs? is it the canon s110? if so, i actually think those movies are not too bad for short clips. again, the problem is encoding. but ill talk with you about that later if you do indeed have the canon s110.

4. if you are going to buy a digital camera, make sure it has firewire. usb is too slow for good xfers. also, windows xp is really awesome for no-hassle video xfers using firewire. if you are interested, i can get you a copy of XP for cheap (microsoft company store price). let me know.

can't think of much else..... we'll talk later.

good luck.

/irish

 

[b fold the truth]

Ok...I have a camera, saved a few mpegs to my computer...they are awesome..but all decently large files. Where on earth am I ever gonna store 5-10mg files?????

I have a web page provided to me by my ISP...but it is like reading stereo instructions in a foreign language!!!!!

B True

 

[p03t1c]

you might can compress them to .avi files or something smaller. i am not sure what file type you're using now but it quite possibly could be smaller even though u do give a tad bit of quality when u go with the compression. as for storage...you're with going to have to cough up the money to get a website or find a friend willing to help you out.

 

[IrishPower]

if you post them to my ftp server, i can compress them down to something manageable and publish them.

pm me if you want to do this. i can give you instructions on how to get them up there.

/irish

 

[b fold the truth]

Just sent you a PM...it is nearly 4am and I am about to go crazy here...lol.

I am taking videos that are about 15 sec long and they are 5megs large..at least. I can't get the audio to work either...yuck.

How do I compress my files into something smaller? Any certiain web hosting that you suggest that I use to store these large files???

MODS: I know that this might not have a lot to do with powerlifting/strength training...but if recording my workouts help me to analyze how I do things and I can improve from it...then it has to do with strength training. Hope I can make a site where I can post these too...

B True

 

[Imnotdutch]

If irishpower is unable to help you might contact Jason Burnell at www.deepsquatter.com . He used to have a link to a site called freaksonature that was full of videos. I'm sure he will be able to help.

Just sent you a PM...it is nearly 4am and I am about to go crazy here...lol.

I am taking videos that are about 15 sec long and they are 5megs large..at least. I can't get the audio to work either...yuck.

How do I compress my files into something smaller? Any certiain web hosting that you suggest that I use to store these large files???

MODS: I know that this might not have a lot to do with powerlifting/strength training...but if recording my workouts help me to analyze how I do things and I can improve from it...then it has to do with strength training. Hope I can make a site where I can post these too...

B True

 

[p03t1c]

i posted u a link for vcdhelp.com which will tell you exactly how to convert the files. they have tons of help files there. check under CONVERT and it will tell you have to change from whatever video format you're using to something different. you are probably looking for mpeg -> avi or mpeg -> asf.

 

[IrishPower]

Hey BFold,

Sorry it took so long. busy day yesterday.

Here are a couple of suggestions.

1. you could dump the raw .avi files onto my ftp server and i could run a couple of converter programs on it to see which works. do you know how to use ftp? if yes, i will set you up with a password.

2. you could try the converter program yourself.... www.vidomi.com provides an encoder/converter program. it will save to .divx format which is ultra compressed. in addition, it should be able to grab the audio automatically as well.

3. if you want a walk through, i don't mind talking to you on the phone. all for the love of the sport

regarding hosting these files: i can't imagine any free hosting service giving you more than a few megs. if you convert to .divx format, you should be able to squeeze the files down so you can store one or two. go to msn.com. i think if you sign up for a community, you can get access to this. last time i played with this, it was a pain in the ass.

i actually have my own server with 300gb of storage on it. i also have decent up bandwidth (1.5mbps). that is why i can stream out my videos easily. i could put yours up there as well. i don't mind. one of these days, i am going to get off my ass and work on an interactive site with videos, training logs, etc.

take care and let me know.

/irish