allan_reinike

Rendering a raw DV input (AVI) to DVD format usually takes a bit of time. I used to use the Dazzle 150b (and still do for VCR tape transfers) whereas that has a built in hardware MPEG encoder which opts for fast DVD creation, but not as good video quality. Usually I can render and burn a DVD going through Dazzle in about 2 or so hours, but rendering a 20GB (2 hour) video to DVD from raw DV input (using Studio 9), does take all night. Somewhere from 4 to 6 or even up to 8 to 12, depending on the machine. I've been told this is normal and I usually let it go all night for each DVD. Painful? yes as I have about 30 more 8mm tapes to transfer ... :)

I recently started to explore this as my mother-in-law has a bunch of old Super 8mm film that she was wanting to transfer onto DVD. I use a decently old Sony Digital Handycam DCR-TRV315 with a DV (firewire) port. There is a setting with this camcorder to where you can record the projected film with little to no flicker. I used the Program button on it and just kept pressing the switch/select button until the flicker went away. I have to looke at the manual for what it is exactly, but looks like an alien space ship icon ... :-P. I use a Canon Cine S-400 projector to a white board about 2 feet away. With just the right settings, the film transfered nice. Decent enough to put on DVD. I'm exploring with lighting, exposure settings and distance before I'm happy. I transfered a few to DVD ... well, VCD format since they are the 3" (3.5 min) films ... so practice will be perfect.