Advice Needed

[Bayla]

I'm thinking of buying Premiere Elements. I have loads of old VHS family videos but all my recent ones (last ten years) are still on the mini DVs & I would like to edit them & put them onto DVDs so we can watch them.

I have recently got a new computer but I'm wondering if I have enough memory on it to be able to do what I want to do. I'm running Windows XP, I have 80 GB hard drive, 512mb RAM. What else do I need & how much more memory should I be thinking of adding?

Bayla

[skstarkiller]

I'd add at least another 512 of ram and buy a second hard drive of about 250 gigs, either internal or external via firewire.

[Norm F]

I'd add at least another 512 of ram and buy a second hard drive of about 250 gis, either internal or external via firewire.

Good advice from Phil. You'll need the additional RAM and the storage space.

[ATR]

Bayla,

I just sent you a private message with some general comments on the topic.

ATR
Windows Elements 3.0/Premiere Elements 2.0 User

[skstarkiller]

Why not share them here ATR? I am sure others could benefit from your advice.

[Daviskw]

Hi Bayla

Just wondering what make of burner you have, can make a big difference. And please do some research on the net to help you identify the best disks to use. You will not believe how much difference the disk maker makes. Check your burner website or your firmware for recommended disks. Each burner is tested and optimized for certain disks. Taiyo Yuden is a good dependable choice even if you need to order on-line. It is the difference from hitching skips and freezes and dependable long lasting disks.

Don't use stickers to print on the disks. You can buy a cheap printer with the capability to print on printable disks… Something like an Epson R200 or equivalent for under $150.

You may want to download some software to test your dvds. A good free utility is CDSpeed.

I do like the dedicated hard drive for capture and storage. And as stated above you can never get too much memory for video graphic programs.

Butch

[ATR]

skstarkiller,

I did not mean not to share, but in the message that I sent Bayla I went off in another, yet related, direction similar to what another poster did. I try to stay on topic, especially if the issues in my private messages have already been discussed in these Forums. It does not often happen. But, I try.

The major features of the private message were suggesting a tryout of Premiere Elements 2.0 in her setting before buying to avoid surprises, such as in burning to DVD and the like. Another comment was on visiting the Premiere Elements 2.0 User to User Forum at http://www.adobe.com to get an overview of the type of problems reported/questions/answers over there where there is more traffic.

Just ask anytime if you are interested further details.

ATR

[skstarkiller]

Great thanks. I wasn't trying to be nosey, just curious, because as part of my job I train churches to use PSE and PE to make their own graphics and videos an so I am always curious about how to do things better. Thanks for sharing!

[Bayla]

Thanks to everyone for your advice. This is going to call for some serious thinking.

I'm quite new to the whole idea of burning to CD & DVD - have only had the drives for a few months. BTW Butch, I have two drives - a Sony DVD RW DW-G120A as well as a Phillips DROM6216. Nero Express came bundled with one of them & that is what I have been using for all my data back up. I already have a printer that prints directly onto disks.

Could someone please explain what firewire is?

Bayla

[Daviskw]

Hi Bayla

Firewire or IEEE 1394 allows high speed transfer of data between devices somthing like USB2.0. Most graphic devices allow firewire or USB2.0... some people think firewire is better and faster... I agree but USB 2.0 will work as well... A firewire connection between your camera and computer allows better control than USB2.0... but either will work on most new devices.

Butch

[Bayla]

Thanks Butch,

Would my computer automatically come with a firewire connection or is this something I'd have to add?

Bayla

[skstarkiller]

A lot of newer computers will have a firewire port. You can look on the back for an input that looks like usb but has a rounded end.

[Daviskw]

If you are not sure it is best to check your documentation. If not a firewire card is not very expensive and easy to install.

Firewire is easy to use... most of the time you just plug devices in and they work...USB 2.0 often needs device dependent USB drivers to work.

Butch

[mom to 4]

Oh, is that what that thing is called?!?!?!?! Didn't know that! The Nero took me a bit to get used to.....I found that I couldn't add files to a previously burned disk and have parts of my computer see the new additions....it would only recognize the first folder. ATR was a HUGE help to me and I think we finally got it worked out....now I just need to print out all those PM's that went back and forth for 2 weeks!!!!!:D

[Greg Watts]

and say getting at least 1gig of memory and having a dedicated hard drive are the two best ways to ensure mostly headache free editing and dvd burning. The only other tip I have would be to try to do all your editing on a dedicated video editing machine but that's typically not terribly viable. Lots of bad things happen in the OS when you're loading all kinds of apps on it and your chances of causing conflicts with any video application increase exponentially under those conditions. :D

Cheers

Greg
RenoDigital - A Creative Hub for the Users of Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 (http://renodigital.blogspot.com)

[gem]

Bayla,

A few thoughts....

I certainly agree with the recommendation to add at least another 512MB of RAM. The purchase of such will be determined by your motherboard's configuration and what RAM you currently have. In other words you'll need to realize how much RAM your motherboard is capable of utilizing, how many RAM slots you have and then decide the size of each module you wish to have installed. Many mobos provide just two RAM slots, so an advised purchase can avoid have a module you won't use because of it's small allotment. Certainly if you have a slot available, then adding another stick of 512 is straight forward.

Below is a link to freeware called "Everest Home Edition" that can provide a great deal of information about your computer. I am providing this because of your question of Firewire availability and also to help realize your RAM configuration. This software is completely legit with no crapware / spyware. I have used it for sometime:


http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html)

If you do not yet have the capability to transfer your VHS to the computer, then you have several options available to you. I use a video capture card and the bundled NLE to capture to DV-AVI. Chuck Engels recently replied to a thread of mine and recommended the purchase of DV capture device. While I'm going to stay with my current equipment, the link he provided included a product that has Premiere Elements 2.0 bundled with it. You may not need any such device if you have a DV camcorder as you should be able to patch a VCR into it. Just in case, here is the link:

http://shopping.chuckengels.com/

Daviskw offered some very good advice about DVD media purchases. Also, as others have mentioned, plenty of hard drive space is important. Large hard drives are very affordable, video files are considerable in size and any NLE needs plenty of space (particularly contiguous) to function effectively.

While Greg does have a point of potential conflicts when editing on a machine that is not "dedicated" to such a task, I respectfully disagree with likelihood of potential problems. That is not to say that it doesn't happen. I just don't think it's likely to happen. I have many programs installed (over 50 gigs in "Program Files" alone), including many video games, multiple NLEs and have experienced no problems that I can relate to this. My recommendation would be to make sure that your drives files are not fragmented, especially when installing PRE2 or any other NLE. Before installation make sure that the drive is defragged and that there is plenty of contiguous drive space to place the program on.

I hope this helped.

[Bayla]

Gem,

Thanks for all the advice & the links. The download for Everest Home Edition has seven different download locations - four in the US, one in France & two in Australia. I am in the UK - does it make a difference which one I click on?

Bayla

[jo]

I'm thinking of buying Premiere Elements. I have loads of old VHS family videos but all my recent ones (last ten years) are still on the mini DVs & I would like to edit them & put them onto DVDs so we can watch them.

Bayla
Does anyone have a cheap/good/easy-to-use analog-to-digital converter for those VHS tapes?

[gem]

does it make a difference which one I click on?

The one that is geographically closest would probably be best, but it shouldn't take long to download. The install file is small.


Does anyone have a cheap/good/easy-to-use analog-to-digital converter for those VHS tapes?

jo,

There are many on here that have greater expertise than I, but I would guess you may need to spend around $150 or so. Even the video card that I use retails for about the same price.

[Chuck Engels]

Check this out http://www.videoinasnap.com/source/chuck/chucks_corner_10-05.htm

And this http://shopping.chuckengels.com/

The ADS Pyro Link can't be beat for price and ease of use :)

[Bayla]

Chuck,

Thanks for that info. I have printed it out & will take it with me to the guys that built my computer to discuss what I've got & what I need.....don't feel confident enough adding things on myself!

Bayla