Camcorder:
Sony Handycam that records on mini-DVD only (no internal memory and no associated software to allow direct cable download to computer)

Computer:
Gateway NX860X Laptop
32-bit system
Windows Vista
Intel Core2 Duo Centrino 1.6 Gh
2 GB RAM
Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7600
80 GB hard drive (with less than 2 GB of free space)

Editing Software:
Corel's Ulead VideoStudio 11

Problem:
I can't get the computer program to "list" all of the clips (chapters) on the DVD so I can select which ones to transfer. The DVD is finalized and will play in a DVD player hooked to a tv and it even plays in the media player on this craptop computer. HOWEVER, when I choose "CAPTURE" and try to import from the DVD, the computer will parse the content and list all of the chapters, BUT only the first four or five of them can be viewed as clips prior to selection and importation. The remaining clips/chapters all show the initial image as the same (which is always from the last chapter that can be properly viewed), and these chapters are always listed a .09 or less in duration.

Any ideas? Is is deficient RAM?



I've been really sick so please ignore the typos and idiot rambling.

Thanks, Saeed.

I think what I'm going to end up doing is giving my computer to one of my kids or grandkids, and getting me a newer, faster one and some new editing software.

And while you are at it, get rid of that DVD recording camera.

I don't think it was meant to be for those who wanted to be creative.

I highly recommend you get an HD camera that can record in AVCHD format.

The quality is worlds appart.

HD sample

Right click on the above link, and down load it to your computer.

It is a short clip of our baby cheetahs in high difinition. You will see what I mean.

Wow!

There is no question that HD is the way to go, now. It's like being there in the scene!

My little Sony was originally purchased years ago for recording grandkids playing in the yard. It's a piece of junk. The quality of the video it produces is pretty weak.

Thanks,

Update –

There appears to have been TWO problems that were preventing me from retrieving the video from the DVD: one was the computer, and the other was the camcorder.

I bought a new HP Pavilion with 6 gigabytes of RAM and a 64-bit operating system. This computer was able to parse the content on the DVD and allow me to view all of the video.

The older 2 gigabyte, 32-bit system was unable to do this because of the way the camcorder has recently started to record/store the video clips, not as individual chapters, but as one huge chapter (file). This weirdness is not a result of any setting changes I have made to the camcorder. Anyway, it appears that the old computer didn’t have the resources to upload the full, single massive video file.

I’ve also switched from Ulead Video Studio to Adobe Premiere Elements. I like it better already. Now, I’m on a quest to replace my old video camera - HD!!

Thanks, Saeed.

To deal with direct to DVD recordings you typically first need to convert the VOB files to AVI. Once you have accomplished that with a converter editing is easily possible with several different softwares. But you still may not be satisfied.

These converted files take massive amounts of storage. You need a big hard drive to accomplish this.

The bad news is VOB files are often interlaced and contain a number of fuzzy frames. The first order of business after converting the file to AVI should be "deinterlacing" it. Trying to accomplish a "capture" from a DVD can and will typically degrade it's quality. This is one reason in particular, VOB's are not my favorite to work with. The necessity of conversion and/or capture usually extracts a price in video quality.

In short, if you plan on doing any editing, avoid direct to DVD recorders. It can be done, but it is generally extremely time consuming, it takes a high horsepower PC and/or a generous helping of patience to accomplish with reasonable success.

Saeed nailed it when he said, "I don't think it was meant to be for those who wanted to be creative."

It's technology based on convenience not flexibility.

Sue,

Your old computer had a hard disk that was formated for FAT.

If it was formatted in NTFS, you would have been able to see one large files.

FAT can only recognize files up to 2GB.

We used to have that problem before NTFS came about.

Almost all the USB sticks and USB powered hard disks one can buy are formatted for FAT, so they can be compatible with earlier computers.

I still get calls from friends who are unable to copy files larger than 2GB onto those disks - they get an error message saying there is not enough disk space, while in reality there is plenty.

All one has to do is reformat those disks in NTFS, and the problem is solved.

64bit systems have the advantage of using larger memory, and for video that is a good thing.