Making DVD's from a camcorder question

[StrokedF350]

The computer: Asus A7V motherboard, AMD 1000 T'bird CPU, 512 MB ram, 80 gig and 40 gig hard drive, DVD player, DVD writer, GeForce 2 video card (Asus AGP version), Audigy soundcard

The questions: We have been recording the kids at band concerts, cheerleading, etc. We want to put the camcorder footage onto DVD to send to friends, family, etc. What do we need to add to the computer? What format does the video need to be in to play on regular DVD players? We want to be able to use the computer so we can do some editing, etc.

Solutions? Advice?

Thanks in advance...

[Fox 3]

I do the exact same thing with my camcorder. I think the only thing you will need is the software. I use Nero Burning software because in my opinion it is the best and most user friendly. Here is the link for a free trial of the software:

http://www.nero.com/us/28878.php

You can either purchase it online or at almost any computer supply store. The software will let you capture the video as well as burn it to a DVD...there is even video editing with it, maybe just check to see what is included because there are a few versions. To answer your question about format, it will play on almost any DVD player...I suggest using the DVD-R disks because I have had no problems with them, and like I said, I do the exact thing you want to do.

Hope that helped.

[Tebone1]

Your gonna need a Video Capture Card to feed the video in the pc. You have a geforce 2 but what model#?
Also your gonna need software to convert the avi to dvd format.Although it will work with avi to dvdr but the outcome will be.....well not perfect

[TwoRails]

If it's a digital camcorder, then the Firewire port on the Audigy will work for capture. If it's analog, then an analog capture card is needed as Tebone1 mentions.

[reboot]

1.) Capture card or firewire to get video onto the hard drive.
2.) Editing software: for avi get virtualdub. for mpeg get cuttermaran or womble.
3.) Encoding software: Mainconcept, Tmpgenc, CCE, Canopus, or QuEnc.
4.) Authoring software: DVDLab or TMPGenc DVD Author, Nero if you must...
5.) burning software: Nero, or any other software that will burn dvd video.
You could use some of the 1 click stuff...VSO is free, works well, but very limited options (none really), SVCD2DVD, The FilmMachine, Nerovision Express.
Links for all this stuff, and guides are at www.videohelp.com

[StrokedF350]

I was wrong on the video card. I have a Asus GeForce4 440 video card. The sound card is a first generation Audigy card. The camcorder is a digital Sony camcorder (model DCR-TRV-460 NTSC). It also says digital 8 USB streaming on the other side. The DVD writer came with Nero video burning software. What do you think? Can I hook up the camcorder through a USB port? Or will I need something else?

[reboot]

All you can do is try. USB should be fast enough for digital capture.
Nero burning software will burn the stuff to disk, but you've got a few steps inbetween.
Once video is captured to your hard drive, you need to find out what format it's in. If it's .avi with compression, then you'll need to encode it to a proper mpeg in dvd format, then author (make the right filesystem), then burn.
If it's captured in mpeg format, then no conversion should be needed, but you'll still need to author it somehow.