How can I upload video from my Panasonic VDR-D230 camcoder?

OK, I've tried Prism and another video conversion program mentioned in another thread (AVS Video Converter 6). Neither works.

I tried adding video to MMM from a DVD I recorded on a Samsung DVD recorder. I get the same message as when trying to import video from a previous DVD-- "C:\Users\Videos\Untitled.avi could not be imported".

I tried converting the file through Prism. WHen trying to add it to my list of files to convert through my E drive, Prism sees the file folders VIDEO_RM and VIDEO_TS. I chose a file from VIDEO_TS to convert and the dialog box "The output file "D:\VTS_01_1.mpg already exists. Do you want to overwrite it?". I thought I wanted to write the file to my C drive, but the D drive is the only option. I click on "Yes" and the dialog box "Converting video file" pops up for about 30 seconds, the DVD drives whirs along, and then nothing happens. The files isn't converted.

The other thing is that Prism can't play the DVD, either, even though Microsoft Media Player plays it just fine.

I'm not "insisting" on using MMM, but I figured I try the free software budled with my PC rather than paying to buy a program that didn't work.

Is there any video editing software that can edit video files imported directly from a DVD camcorder, or do all of them require conversion first?

If so, does it mean that I will never be able to edit videos of the top two recommended video conversion programs don't work on my new HP Pavilion using Vista? Am I damned to live in the netherworld of the undead? Did I fork out my hard-earned dollars for a new HP Pavilion only to make expensive slide shows?

I followed the link http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html, went to the bottom of the page to the "download" box, and it have me AVS Video Converter 6.

Was it supposed to give me something else?

I see what the problem is.

When you click on the link you provided, there are two big ads at the bottom of the page.

One is for "Prism Video File Converter" and the other is for "AVS DVD Authoring".

I thought those were the programs you were referring to as they were the downloads shown biggest on the page.

Right above them is a paragraph in a smaller font as follows:
" Start Downloading SUPER

I meant to say the DVDs play through Windows Media Center, not Windows Media Player. Sorry.

DVD video? I like HandBrake
http://handbrake.fr/

Save the ripped video as WMV files... when the ripping is complete, quite HandBrake, launch MovieMaker, drag the converted files to the "Collections" area...

Video from standard definition DVD based camcorders was never meant to be edited - everything is a "workaround"...

Since I've been having so many problems trying to edit video files recorded onto DVD (both from my camcorder and from my DVD drive on my PC), I may want to try a different type of camcorder to make my life easier.

What kinds of camcorders record in a file format Microsoft Movie Maker and other common video editing programs recognize?

Hard-drive based? Memory stick? Mini-DV tape?

I want a plug-and-play setup where I can record home movies on a camcorder, plug it into my PC, download the video files, edit them by adding titles, subtitles, music etc., burn them onto a DVD, and watch the result on my DVD player and TV.

I thought this is what most camrcorders and video-editing programs did, but I've found that it is far more trouble than I imagined.

I guess I should have started off with my PC specs.

I have an HP a6763w Desktop

Operating System - Genuine Windows Vista

"plug and Play" video... There is always something. The good news is that your computer seems to have two firewire ports - according to
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01643518&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Lets look...

Standard definition Pocket camcorders:
I am not familiar enough with them to say for sure - Someone else can define them. That said, for standard definition, the video quality will be worse than DVD based standard def camcorders. Not recommended.

Standard definition Consumer DVD based camcorders:
You have encountered only a couple of the challenges. I'll stop here. Yes, there are more. Not recommended.

Standard defintion MiniDV tape based camcorders:
Using a firewire cable to connect the camcorder's DV port to the computer's firewire port, MovieMaker will "Capture" the video. Camcorder needs to be in Play mode. DV-format video uses the least compression of the available consumer storage media. Importing is a real-time activity. In this case, one hour of captured video = 1 hour import time. If you don't re-use the tape, then the tape is the archive - including the video you cut that you might want to get back to in a couple (or more) years. Examples: Canon ZR900, ZR930, ZR960. They have a mic jack but no manual audio control. The Sony DCR-HC52 and HC62 have no mic jack - but they have a built-in infrared emitter to capture monochrome video in zero light (up to to around 8-12 feet away). Recommended.

Standard definition flash memory or hard disk drive camcorders save to the came highly compressed MPEG2 file format. You *might* need a converter to deal with the files - MPEG StreamClip works well. The files copy over USB (then you might need to convert the files), then drag to an open MovieMaker Collections window. Recommended - ONLY if your computer has no firewire port or you cannot add one, or you are somehow convinced that these are "better" and are drinking the manufacturer's koolaid. Canon FS series.

I don't think your combination of Vista + MovieMaker can deal with any high definition formats, so I left those cams off this.

I downloaded SUPER, but it looks far more complex than I'm ready to use at this point. I believe it detected that my video files have a "VOM" extension.

I found a video suite program on my new PC I didn't even know I had, and it can read the video files from my DVDs. I will see if it is easy enough for a novice to use.

Apparently my desire to get a camcorder than would make editing easy was terribly misguided.

Capturing footage from my old Mini-DV camcorder was time consuming, so I thought getting a DVD camcorder would be a good idea once it died. After all, the files were neatly indexed and quickly accessible.

Now that I'm running into problems capturing and editing .vom files from my DVD camcorder, I'm wondering if I should by another Mini-DV camcorder simply to be able to upload my archived Mini-DV tapes if not to record new footage.

What many people don't have explained (or don't want to understand) is that video comes in a gazzilion different formats. After all, video is video... but it is not.

Perhaps if it was known that the different storage media treat video differently, maybe that would help.

Too often, I work with people looking for the "easiest" or "cheapest" or "best" and they rush to jump on an attractive bandwagon only to find out what appeared to be "easiest" or "cheapest" at the start has lots of hooks downstream so whatever "ease" or "savings" goes away quickly and what was "best" never was... And this does not apply only to camcorders.