Digital Newbie - Firewire Questions

[ScottV]

I currently have a MiniDV camcorder (Panasonic DS99) but do analog captures. I'd like to do digital captures in the future (when I can afford to).

In the meantime there are a few niggling questions that keep spinning round in my head and I'd be grateful if you pro's could answer them for me.

If I buy a standalone firewire card (not RT2000 or DV500) what capture software would I need? Does the software come with the card?

When I capture using firewire does the data conform to a particular standard for all DV cameras? If not, would I need the right codec for my camera?

Assuming I have a codec for my captured data could I just use MSP 5.2 and output to Matrox MJPEG codec or would I need to buy MSP6.0?

Finally, can anybody recommend a cheap firewire card + software that would work with my DS-99. I only need DV in (from camcorder) as I'm in the UK and can't output back to the camera. I'm happy to use analog output (to SVHS) as long as I can get perfect quality input.

Sorry for so many questions but I have absolutely no idea about firewire standards etc.

Thanks.

[johnpr98]

Hi Scott

Check out http://www.adstech.com/products/pyro.html

VS v4 & MS Pro 6 VE in the same box with the Pyro 1394.

If you are in Europe check out www.lynxdv.comfor a very keen price.

Another good forum with a search facility is http://www.computervideo.net/

I hope this helps

Johnpr98

[ScottV]

Sounds good. £115 is pretty cheap.

But I'm not sure whether I need the PC95 Camcorder DV-IN Control software. I don't have a Sony camcorder so what do I use instead?

[johnpr98]

Check out http://www.panadvin.ic24.net/

The codes aren't available for your camcorder yet but thats the link to watch.

Good luck

John