Sony Handycam DVD Headaches
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I recently spent some time testing one of Sony’s Handycam DVD models to see what the recording and editing experience is like from a user perspective. Recording isn’t much different than recording with a MiniDV camcorder. The editing experience leaves much to be desired. The Handycam units store video in a VOB file format, ready for immediate playback on most consumer DVD players but absolutely worthless within the context of most commercial video editing packages. To make editing even more problematic, the USB interface for the Sony Handycam is only recognized by the bundled software - you can’t access the camcorder from Windows Explorer as you can with a MiniDV camcorder.
As I discovered with the help of some readers, Sony includes support for editing the video files created on the DVDs using their on Sony Vegas editing suite. In most cases, this software is not included with the DVD camcorders and no indication is given that this is the best alternative. I was also able to trick Adobe Premiere Elements and Nero Vision Express into recognizing the video file simply by changing the file extension of the video. All this is a rather imperfect solution for anyone who doesn’t want to get serious about understanding how video editing works or doesn’t have the budget to invest in video editing software. Possibly the best solution for editing video created with a Sony Handycam DVD came from a reader who recommends VirtualDubMod as an editing solution for VOB files.
The bottom line here is, if you purchased a DVD camcorder, there are some workarounds for editing video, but if editing is important to you, you’re better off buying a MiniDV camera or one of those camcorders with an SD card.
[tags]sony,dvd,camcorder,handycam[/tags]
9 Comments
Bryan Wright
March 30th, 2007
at 9:36pm
I have a miniDV at home but just purchased a Handycam DVD for use at work thinking the DVD would simply things. I was wrong. I like using Windows Movie Maker at home and assumed I could do so with the Handycam output. My goal was to insert .wmv files into PowerPoint presentations. From all that I initially experienced, and then read on the web, it didn’t look like I could do that. However, I stumbled on a fairly easy work around.
First, using Picture Motion Browser, select “Video trimming” under the “Manipulate” menu.
Second, edit out a least one second of the video clip your interested in and then save as a new mpeg.
Then import this mpeg into Movie Maker. From here it can be turned into a movie and saved as a .wmv file.
I’ve found that it doesn’t work unless you shave off a least one second of the original mpeg file.
Let me know what you think.
Jeremy
June 16th, 2007
at 8:39am
this is great!! they haven’t released the new picture package software for vista and i didnt know what to do. i’ll give it a go in the morning.
thanks again,
jeremy
David Ferguson
October 6th, 2007
at 4:58pm
I thank you for the instructions in this post.
I weep, but I thank you as I consider my Sony DCR-SR40.
Aldin
November 11th, 2007
at 3:30pm
Bryan Wright I read ur thread and what is Picture Motion Browser
Snorpht FingerPoot
January 2nd, 2008
at 1:53pm
Hundreds of $$s hundreds of hours and now you all confirm what I have discovered.
This was a lousy trick to pull. No More Sony.
Missy
January 4th, 2008
at 2:00pm
I tried what you suggested, but Movie Maker keeps giving me the following message:
C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\My Pictures\handycam\jump(1).mpg could not be imported. An interface has too many methods to fire events from
Any ideas what I’m doing wrong? Thanks so much! I’ve spent days trying to figure this out and you sound like there might be hope!
gem
February 24th, 2008
at 4:12am
Just make note that if you have Windows XP, you’re pretty much screwed. Image mixer crashes the entire system & you’re not allowed to download/ use picture motion browser (ONLY FOR VISTA)
Dale Smith
October 17th, 2008
at 9:08am
I have a Sony Handycam DVD508 and have recored on Sony DVD+RW 8cm. After recording I downladed to my computer and edited using Pictue Motion Browser. Within Picture Motion Browser I used DVD Video Creation to burn a new large Sony DVD+RW . The new DVD+RW plays on my computer (although poor quality) but not on my DVD player. I then burned a new DVD-RW and it will not play on my DVD player. Any suggestions?
My DVD player is only a couple of years old.
Dawn
October 23rd, 2008
at 9:49pm
Have shared your frustration . . .after bringing the .mpg files to my computer from the camera, I uploaded clips to http://www.zamzar.com and converted them to .wmv so they could be edited in MovieMaker.