Instructions were clear. The driver and the software (ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD v2) installed easily and all worked first time. A good start. The software can import to an mpg file or create VCDs or DVDs. Files can be edited and manipulated so it is quite a nice package. The software has shown itself to be slightly flaky but that might be down to operator error. When working it does a good job.
Here are a couple of video files made while I was playing with the software to get used to it.
First an import from my Hitachi DVDCam. This is a little bit I shot this morning and shows one Blue Tit feeding another. They both look like adults to me. If not then the juvenile is well developed for the time of year. The video has been slowed down to one third speed so the action can be seen more easily.
The second bit of video is an import straight from my security camera DVD recorder and is a bit of Hoggy-cam from a couple of nights ago. Previously I had to write it to a memory card and then get the supplied software to extract the one camera I wanted. Then it had to be changed to another format so I could edit it. A real nightmare which took forever. Now - all done in a couple of easy processes in the one piece of software.
This means I will probably be bombarding everyone with lots of video until the novelty wears off! Also it means that I can record Hoggy-cam direct in real time which might improve the quality. We shall see.........
Well, I don't mind being 'bombarded' with video like that! It all sounds very complicated and I hope it works the way you want it to. I watched my son set up a similar system 4 years ago to capture the antics of squirrels coming to a feeder. It was a lot of fun! In the end the biggest problem was how many of the video clips to keep!
ReplyDeleteWOW - I'm impressed. Lovely footage John and I look forward to more - please bombard away.
ReplyDelete(I just wish I could understand all the technical stuff....)
The techy stuff is way over my fuzzy head John, but the results of the Blue Tits are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI won't mind more either.
Hi Mick, Tricia and Keith. Don't worry about the techy stuff. I put it in in case any visitors were thinking of trying the same sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI was really lucky with the Blue Tit footage as I had been filming a couple and one had flown away and I was about to switch off when the food exchange happened. I think it was a couple as I see from Malcolm & Elizabeth's Blue Tit Pages this sort of feeding exchange often happens in the nest. I liked the way the female (probably) was eating peanuts, took the offered morsel and then carried on with the peanuts. That really tickled me.
Phew, I was quite relieved to find I'm not the only one scratching their heads a bit, strangely though I can sometimes pick that sort of tech stuff up if I actually get my hands on the equipment but I find reading it is a little baffling always!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy finding out what the latest thing is that you have been trying out or adapting John.
Great footage and will look forward to being bombarded with more.
Thanks Jan: I enjoy trying things out and am already itching to find a way to get Hoggy Cam in colour! One of my security cameras stays in colour at night even with next to no light so I must look out for another one like that.
ReplyDelete