Computer strong enough for Vegas? at DVinfo.net

Kevin Lewis · March 16th, 2009, 02:43 PM

Im looking to purchase Sony vegas and currently have a trail version. Sony recommends a 3 gig processor for hd files but my comuter only has 1.5 ghz. I dont need to do full editing i just need to capture to harddrive and then output back to a mini dv. I'm jsut doing this as a way to back-up my footage. Will the 1.5 ghz be enough to accomplish this or will the computer not be able to handle it? I dont have a firewire port on the computer that i have access to, so I cant test it. ANy thoughts on this?

Jeff Harper · March 16th, 2009, 03:03 PM

For capturing etc., your PC will be be fine, just get a firewire card. And actually if all you need to do is capture and output back to a camera, Windows Movie Maker should do that all for you also, if I'm not mistaken.

I just checked, and yes Windows movie maker will do it all, capture and output back to tape.

Terry Esslinger · March 16th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Kevin,
As Jeff said you will need a firewire card. They are inexpensive and easy to install. (if you have a free slot). Windows Movie Makere should do what you have said and you should already have it. Is that a P4 1.5 Gz?

Kevin Lewis · March 16th, 2009, 05:06 PM

The computer is a laptop with a pentium dual processor. Will this suffice?

Jeff Harper · March 16th, 2009, 05:07 PM

Yes. For capturing,etc. It almost doesn't matter. Just use Movie Maker and you'll be fine.

Kevin Lewis · March 16th, 2009, 08:30 PM

I was just checking out movie maker. There are no option for HD. IF I capture and re-record to a dv tape, will the new tape be hd or standard definition?

Edward Troxel · March 17th, 2009, 07:03 AM

If you capture as DV and output to DV, it will be SD.

I've used Vegas on extremely weak systems and it always seems to work. Give it a shot!

Jeff Harper · March 17th, 2009, 08:13 AM

The Vista version of Movie Maker does capture and publish HD, but as Edward says give Vegas a try.

Rick Diaz · March 19th, 2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

The Vista version of Movie Maker does capture and publish HD, but as Edward says give Vegas a try.

Only partly true. The Vista Basic version does not do HD. You need Vista Premium or better.

Kevin Lewis · March 20th, 2009, 01:17 PM

I have Windows Vista "home" premium. No where does it reference "HD" also, I have two tracks of audio on my tape, Movie Maker only seemd to have the ability to take one track, is this the case?

Jeff Harper · March 20th, 2009, 01:36 PM

In your original post you were going to download and footage and then back it up on another camcorder.

Any program that will download your footage should be able to transfer the files to tape exactly as it was downloaded.

If Movie Maker won't work, then get Vegas. Movie Studio costs around $70.

Rick Diaz · March 20th, 2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Lewis

I have Windows Vista "home" premium. No where does it reference "HD" also, I have two tracks of audio on my tape, Movie Maker only seemd to have the ability to take one track, is this the case?

I have used Vista Premium MM to do simple HD vids. It works, but is rudimentary, at best. I doubt it will support more than 1 track of video and 1 track of audio. Comparisons of Vista versions on the M$ site show that Basic and Business versions do not support HD.

Kevin Lewis · March 20th, 2009, 02:10 PM

Hmm, if Movie Maker only supports one track of audio, I wonder what will happen tot he other track? Will it combine the two? When i'm playing back the tape in my camera, and two tracks are present, whats happening? Is the camera combining both tracks and playing whats there.

Rick Diaz · March 20th, 2009, 02:34 PM

Wait a second, are you considering stereo audio as 2 tracks? WMM supports stereo audio, but I think it treats it as one track in the editor.

Kevin Lewis · March 20th, 2009, 10:22 PM

I typcally record using two sepate mics on independent channels. With Movie maker will it just combibe the two tracks in the same fashion as it would if I were simply playing the tape back via camera and watching it on tv?

March 16th, 2009, 02:43 PM	#1
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Computer strong enough for Vegas? Im looking to purchase Sony vegas and currently have a trail version. Sony recommends a 3 gig processor for hd files but my comuter only has 1.5 ghz. I dont need to do full editing i just need to capture to harddrive and then output back to a mini dv. I'm jsut doing this as a way to back-up my footage. Will the 1.5 ghz be enough to accomplish this or will the computer not be able to handle it? I dont have a firewire port on the computer that i have access to, so I cant test it. ANy thoughts on this?

March 16th, 2009, 03:07 PM	#3
Terry Esslinger Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sacramento, Elk Grove. Calif Posts: 306	Kevin, As Jeff said you will need a firewire card. They are inexpensive and easy to install. (if you have a free slot). Windows Movie Makere should do what you have said and you should already have it. Is that a P4 1.5 Gz? __________________ Puttin the wet stuff on the red stuff!

March 17th, 2009, 07:03 AM	#7
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	If you capture as DV and output to DV, it will be SD. I've used Vegas on extremely weak systems and it always seems to work. Give it a shot! __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

March 16th, 2009, 03:03 PM	#2
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	For capturing etc., your PC will be be fine, just get a firewire card. And actually if all you need to do is capture and output back to a camera, Windows Movie Maker should do that all for you also, if I'm not mistaken. I just checked, and yes Windows movie maker will do it all, capture and output back to tape.

March 16th, 2009, 05:06 PM	#4
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	The computer is a laptop with a pentium dual processor. Will this suffice?

March 16th, 2009, 05:07 PM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Yes. For capturing,etc. It almost doesn't matter. Just use Movie Maker and you'll be fine.

March 16th, 2009, 08:30 PM	#6
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	I was just checking out movie maker. There are no option for HD. IF I capture and re-record to a dv tape, will the new tape be hd or standard definition?

March 17th, 2009, 08:13 AM	#8
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	The Vista version of Movie Maker does capture and publish HD, but as Edward says give Vegas a try.

March 20th, 2009, 01:17 PM	#10
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	I have Windows Vista "home" premium. No where does it reference "HD" also, I have two tracks of audio on my tape, Movie Maker only seemd to have the ability to take one track, is this the case?

March 20th, 2009, 01:36 PM	#11
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	In your original post you were going to download and footage and then back it up on another camcorder. Any program that will download your footage should be able to transfer the files to tape exactly as it was downloaded. If Movie Maker won't work, then get Vegas. Movie Studio costs around $70.

March 20th, 2009, 02:10 PM	#13
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	Hmm, if Movie Maker only supports one track of audio, I wonder what will happen tot he other track? Will it combine the two? When i'm playing back the tape in my camera, and two tracks are present, whats happening? Is the camera combining both tracks and playing whats there.

March 20th, 2009, 02:34 PM	#14
Rick Diaz Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 146	Wait a second, are you considering stereo audio as 2 tracks? WMM supports stereo audio, but I think it treats it as one track in the editor.

March 20th, 2009, 10:22 PM	#15
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	I typcally record using two sepate mics on independent channels. With Movie maker will it just combibe the two tracks in the same fashion as it would if I were simply playing the tape back via camera and watching it on tv?