Bought a MiniDV - need help

[KimWDW]

I bought a MiniDV videocamera and uploaded my first home movie to my computer using the firewire and Windows Movie Maker. It then gave me the option to burn to cd, which I did, but I put the cd in the DVD player and it doesn't work. Windows Movie Maker doesn't have an option to burn to DVD.

So, how can I watch my home movies on DVD? That's why I bought this camcorder. Do I need to buy certain software?

Thanks for your help!

 

[tmt martins]

I've used ULEAD 6 for many years and it will burn to about anyformat you need.

Some DVD players will only play DVD you might even want to go pick up a cheap DVD player that does VCD and your CD's should play.

But one way or another it seems you need to find a way to be compatable with what you have.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I bought a MiniDV videocamera and uploaded my first home movie to my computer using the firewire and Windows Movie Maker. It then gave me the option to burn to cd, which I did, but I put the cd in the DVD player and it doesn't work. Windows Movie Maker doesn't have an option to burn to DVD.

So, how can I watch my home movies on DVD? That's why I bought this camcorder. Do I need to buy certain software?

Thanks for your help!

I believe that Windows Movie Maker, when you ask it to burn to CD, only burns it so that you can play it on your computer. It's not a vcd or a dvd, it's just a computer file. Take a look at the cd and see what's on it...is it a computer file with one of the following extensions (.avi or .mpg or .wmv ?)

If you want to burn it onto a dvd or a cd so that you can watch it with your dvd player, the easiest way of doing this is by using your burner software to do it for you. If Windows Movie Maker created an .wmv or .mpg file for you, use your burner software to create a video cd or a video dvd. If you're using something like NERO, it'll automatically create a vcd for you or author a dvd for you.

What software do you normally use to burn cds or dvds? Maybe you don't have to buy extra software.

Another way is to buy a cheap dvd recorder and just burn it onto dvd directly from the camera. If I ever find some time, I'm gonna convert all my video tapes.

 

[donaldduck1967]

I use ulead 7 for a few years now and it works well.

 

[KimWDW]

What software do you normally use to burn cds or dvds? Maybe you don't have to buy extra software.

I use iTunes or Windows Media Player to burn cds. I've never burned a dvd before. I don't think anything came with my computer that I could use to do that. So, I suppose I'll have to purchase software.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I use iTunes or Windows Media Player to burn cds. I've never burned a dvd before. I don't think anything came with my computer that I could use to do that. So, I suppose I'll have to purchase software.

Do you have a cd burner or a dvd burner ?

Most of the time, if you have a burner, it comes with some software so that you can burn ... it can range from really simple stuff to some good stuff. Just double check you don't have any software cds sitting around called Nero or Roxio Easy CD or Record Now (common software). If you don't, then you will have to invest in some software.

I don't know if you should just buy burning software or go for the video editing software. Windows Movie Maker is pretty simple video editing software and if you're happy with it, except for the problem you found, perhaps you just need to invest in the burning software.

I actually didn't know you could burn cds from Media Player...I learn something new every day!

 

[donaldduck1967]

I use iTunes or Windows Media Player to burn cds. I've never burned a dvd before. I don't think anything came with my computer that I could use to do that. So, I suppose I'll have to purchase software.

The camcorder should have come witrh software to do this. It won't be the best softwar ebut it should be something. What camcorder did you buy?

 

[KimWDW]

I bought a JVC. It came with Digital Photo Navigator, but I don't think that burns dvd's. There's no option to do it in the software.

 

[donaldduck1967]

Check to see what software came with your DVD burner

 

[Spectro is #1]

I know of no camera that comes with DVD authoring software but some may come with limited editing and burn to CD ability. You will need a DVD burner and DVD authoring software. I find that authoring programs will come with limited editing and editing programs have limited authoring abilities. For editing I use Magix Pro 10 but use Ulead for authoring. For starting out get something like Ulead as suggested in previous posts. Once you get the hang of it you can look at other features you might like to have like music and motion backgrounds. Each year the DVD programs offer more features similar to the more expensive ones so look for the latest versions available. Movie maker will be good to get your feet wet but you will soon out grow it and want to get more creative. Remember that you can also edit your movie and sent it back to the camera. Now you hook up the camera to the TV and your edited movie is there to enjoy. That's how we used to do it when DVD burners were too expensive. This will work until you get your software.
Good luck!