[Tony Noon]

The answer is yes and no. DV is DV, however every codec is slightly different. More importantly how you encode an analog tape into a DV format can be different. A camera is not designed to be an editing deck. It is also not designed to translate analog sources into DV. It might have the capability, but since its primary function is to capture images to tape that is what it does best. A conversion box is designed to translate an analog signal into a DV signal. Therefore, instead of being used for multiple functions it is designed to one thing very well. I would expect that a high quality digital convertor would have less drop out, and visually be superior to a camera. (I base this on my experience with mini DV decks and what I have read in DV Magazine, etc.)

If you are going to look for a camera, I would suggest a Sony GV-D1000 deck instead. They are a high quality Prosumer Mini DV deck that we have had great luck with. It is essentially the recording guts of a video camera without the lens and ccd. You can find them on E-Bay, and some video supply stores still carry them.

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

Does Vasst ever come out to Boston at all? I would love to take a class or two from you guys.

Tony

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

At work we use the mid level Canopus convertor I forget the model number, but it is around $400. That device is rock solid and works extremely well. There is a less expensive model for around $200 as well. I would highly recomend the canopus convertor.
Tony

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

Now this is old information, but it seems to me that USB 2.0 was not recommended for video editing. While it has a fast enough Data rate it works in peaks and ebbs. The recommendations I have seen say to use firewire drives and chain your camera through it to the computer. This is how I edit with my hard drive. Apparently firewire has a consistent data throughput. I can’t remember where I read that, it might have been DV magazine or PC magazine about two years ago. It also may have changed, two years ago the dinosaurs roamed the earth in our field.
(I used an ADS firewire/USB case and western digital 7200 rpm hard drive and built my own hard drive for video editing. Works great.)

Tony

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

That seems kind of weird. How are you importing the DJ file? Are you rendering it out of Juicer 3 or are you dragging it in from the DVD direct?

Try rendering the file out of Juicer 3 as an AVI file instead of a quicktime. (There are some new tutorials on this in the DJTV section of digital juice.com.) you also might try digital juice support. They are pretty good with that type of stuff.

Hope that helps,
Tony

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

Yup,
if you do a search on yahoo for “pixel Chooser” & Boris there are some good tutorials on how to get that effect. Alternatively, there is a really good tutorial on Digitaljuice.com under there DJTV section. Look for a cutting class episode on Blend Modes (Compositing Modes.) it has some really great tips that blur highlights. They are set up for Final Cut but they work really well in FX too.
(Update: episode 107 “Blending Bliss” specifically near the end of the tutorial.)

Tony Noon

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

Just a follow up if you happen to see this, Their DJTV shows have all kinds of training, and the “swipes for Vegas” training shows how to use some of their editors tool kit products as well. They also have really good technical support. I am actually suprised they don’t have a forum on creative cow.

Tony Noon
Juice Addict

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

I figured it out. I was changing the settings on the wrong clip.

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

Sorry, I figured it out. I am new to Sony Vegas, and got confused. I changed the settings on the wrong clip and because it was a static generated primitive, it didn’t animate, so the primitive was missing. Chaulk it up to user error. Thanks for your time Peter.

Tony Noon
Noon Productions

[Tony Noon]

Shift B has made my life nuch easier! I am working on a project with multiple tracks and I could not figure out how to preview what I was doing. I am definitely more comfortable with the work flow than I was. Focus takes some getting used to.
As to why I am switching to Vegas, Economics. I have Premiere 6.0. I can’t afford to upgrade my PC to run CS3 and the software, but I am right in that recomended range for Vegas so I made the leap. I was also considering Speed Edit, but I had already purchased Boris FX & grafitti so the ability t use those plug ins pushed me to Vegas.

Tony Noon
Noon Productions