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Thread ID: 98945 2009-04-13 23:58:00 Poor video import quality twentynine (14421) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
764738 2009-04-13 23:58:00 Hey all,

I recently filmed a friend's wedding, as the video guy was too expensive, and am trying to put the video onto my computer, to edit etc... However when I import the video using Windows Movie Maker (on win XP) the video quality is awful, really pixelated. What's confused me is that previously, the same camera and same comptuer have given me fairly good quality video. The only difference is that the previous vid was shot on digital8 tape whilst this was on hi8 tape and that inadvertently, a setting called widescreen was on on my camera.... Is there a way I can extract some viewable video from this tape?

Thanks,
Tyrone

edit: also, the video looks fine on the camera screen, if that helps...
twentynine (14421)
764739 2009-04-14 00:04:00 How is it connected?? By USB or firewire??

Or does it have both connections?

If it does have a firewire connection, it'll be better if you used it, instead of USB
Speedy Gonzales (78)
764740 2009-04-14 00:11:00 I'm using USB. It has firewire socket, but I don't have a cable, or a driver for firewire.

Would firewire increase quality? If so, how might I get the driver for it?
twentynine (14421)
764741 2009-04-14 00:18:00 If you have XP, (and firewire is onboard, XP will install the driver for it)

It'll make a big difference, compared to USB.

If you go to network connections, there will be a 1394 connection, thats the firewire (dont change anything in it tho).

All you need, is the firewire cable (Dick smith will have them, thats if youre in NZ). Just make sure you get the cable with the right connection (for the camera end)
Speedy Gonzales (78)
764742 2009-04-14 00:24:00 so it's not like USB, where you need a specific driver for the camera?

also, would this work on a Vista System? that's my only computer that has firewire.
twentynine (14421)
764743 2009-04-14 00:28:00 Firewire is similar to USB but its faster than USB (when using it for transferring video). And doesnt suffer from lag (like USB does)

If XP installs the firewire driver, I cant see why Vista wouldnt

Should work in Vista (I dont know, I dont use Vista). Once you connect the cable, Vista should see it / so should Movie Maker. Once it does transfer the video. edit it then burn it / whatever you want to do with it
Speedy Gonzales (78)
764744 2009-04-14 00:30:00 so will i need a specific driver for my camera? twentynine (14421)
764745 2009-04-14 00:33:00 it should pick it up and install automatically GameJunkie (72)
764746 2009-04-14 00:42:00 thanks! twentynine (14421)
764747 2009-04-14 00:57:00 It should be simple plug and play.

The reason firewire will provide much better quality than USB as the transfer rate in USB varies greatly, while Firewire transfers packets at a very constant rate, which means much better quality.

Blam
Blam (54)
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