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Q: I record video just fine, but cannot play it on my computer.
What do I do?
A: Most likely, you are missing an MPEG4 CODEC (Coder / Decoder)
piece of software from your media player. You can download a
free DivX CODEC from
www.DivX.com.
Windows:
Mac: 
Q: How easy is it to hook up your video system ?
A: VERY EASY. All connections are clearly labeled so as long as
you connect "1" to "1" and "2" to "2" you are all set. REALLY.
The ALL NEW DT-CAME380 and DT-CAME580 with its "All-in-One"
modular cabling system uses waterproof 1 meter (3'+) or 2 meter
(6'+) cables to connect each camera to a central "junction" area. If
you can turn on the lights in your home or use a remote control to
open the garage door, you can hook up this system. REALLY. Take a
look at some these pictures:
single camera system ●
dual camera system
Q: How can I disable the Date/Time & frame counter video overlay
so that it will not show up in my recordings?
A: Perform the following procedure:
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1) Connect the
unit to AV OUT cable (3xRCA)
-
2) connect AV Out
to monitor/TV
-
3) Connect your
camera to AV/N cable (2xRCA; do not use 1xDC 5V)
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4) connect power
to camera in #3
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5) make sure your
SDVR-600 has power (battery or DC adapter)
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6) turn on
SDVR-600 by sliding and releasing the POWER switch
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7) Press TV/LCD on
the IR Remote Control while aiming at the SDVR-600's IR pickup
point
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8) Scroll through
the OSD menu until you reach "Record"
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9) Press ENTER on
remote to enter RECORD MENU
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10) select "Video
Line in REC"
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11) press SETUP
key on the REMORE CONTROL
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12) select REC
Date Time
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13) set "REC Date
Time" = Off
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14) Press ENTER to
accept
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15) make sure the
display shows new setting by repeating step (11)
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16) press setup
button
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17) press STOP
button
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18) back in Record
Menu, press STOP
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19) returned to
MAIN MENU --> Record Menu
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20) Slide and HOLD
Power Switch on the Chassis for 3 sec
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21) Release Power
Switch
Q: How
portable are your video systems? I want to move it from car to car.
A: Super easy. Unclamp the camera mounts form vehicle #1, unplug
the cigarette power adapter/converter, and relocate to the next
vehicle. About a 10-15 minute job while drinking a can of Miller
Lite ;)
Q: How and where do I record videos with your 2-camera video
system?
A:
To record mobile videos, you will
need a camcorder or a PVR (personal video recorder). This unit will
simply act as a “dumb” recording device. Nothing super fancy
since the DataToys CAM23 and/or CAM35 Sony CCD cameras will act as
the "eyes." You just need something to store the video stream to.
You need a RECORDER.
If you get a cheap Sony or Cannon
miniDV recorder, it will be best. Other brands work well also. You
do not the new high-tech 3CCD camcorder, or the expensive HD stuff.
You just need a basic miniDV camcorder, with AV/IN (audio/video
inputs) and LANC remote capability.
Then you place the camcorder in a carrying case/bag, attach one end
of the AV/IN cable (that comes with the camcorder) to the camcorder,
and then plug the other end of the AV/IN cable to (1) video
and (2) audio feeds on the DataToys video system.
Now plug the CamEye Remote into the LANC input on the camcorder.
Press the little red button on the CamEye Remote control, and you
are recording. Press it again, and it's paused. For ease of use, the
CamEye Remote has an indicator light that is red when the unit is
recording, green when paused. When the unit is off there is no light
on the remote.
Q: Is my camcorder compatible?
A: If your camcorder supports
ANALOG A/V IN, then yes. Here's a list of a few select Sony units
that are compatible:
DCR-H32, DCR-HC96,
etc.
There are some units that support
i.LINK A/V IN:
DCR-HC38, etc.
These units can be used with a
i.LINK converter, such as Canopus
ADVC55 and
ADVC110
Q: What are some of the issues I may experience with
recorders are touted as "Near DVD quality?"
A: As long as you stick to
web vides, there are no real issues. Issues come into play when you
wish to show off your exploits on a big screen in front of friends
and family. The bigger the screen, the larger the distortion. If you
really want to upset yourself, view your 320x240 (QVGA) or 640x480
(VGA) racing video on a 50"+ Hi-Res HD Display. If you are
considering burning DVDs, look at true DVD quality recorders.
Q: Which inexpensive
DVD-quality recording device do you recommend?
A: "the" cheapest and best quality
recording option (in the miniDV world) up until recently was the
Sony
DCR-HC32, which you were able to purchase for under
$300. (5-1-2006).
Now that the DCR-HC32 has been
discontinued and until another inexpensive miniDV model with ANALOG
A/V IN and LANC remote port "shows up" in the Sony lineup, you may
want to check out a somewhat more expensive but infinitely more
feature-packed DCR-HC96
NTSC or
PAL.
WE DO NOT SELL SONY CAMCORDERS.
Q: What are some of the issues I may experience with
recorders are touted as "Near DVD quality?"
A: As long as you stick to
web vides, there are no real issues. Issues come into play when you
wish to show off your exploits on a big screen in front of friends
and family. The bigger the screen, the larger the distortion. If you
really want to upset yourself, view your 320x240 (QVGA) or 640x480
(VGA) racing video on a 50"+ Hi-Res HD Display. If you are
considering burning DVDs, look at true DVD quality recorders.
Q: What are the NEAR-DVD (or SVHS) quality digital recording
options? I don't mind 640x480 (VGA) or 320x240 (QVGA) resolution
because I will only view my videos on a small computer screen or
stream them via the web.
A:
There are numerous digital recording options that can work for you,
as long as you are not planning on viewing the video on a 50" Plasma
HD display. Actually, you will notice quality issues on a
high-resolution, high-quality 37" LCD Panel as well.
-
$399 -
Solid
state Digital Video Recorder (SDVR)
720 x 480 @
18-20fps / 640x480 @ 30 fps / 320x480 @ 30fps
MPRG4 DivX recordings
Excellent battery life, excellent picture quality, auto shutdown
on low battery. SD Memory cards up to 4 GB in size.
One button recording solution.
PROS: Auto shutdown
on low battery = never corrupt another video file! One
button recording solution, lightweight and small size, uses SD
memory cards to 4 Gb, excellent battery life.
CONS: No video screen to see what is being recorded or aim the
cameras.
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$199 -
Mobile PVR
(MPVR) -
We
are bundling this mobile personal video recorder with some of
our digital recording kits - 640x480, records
MPEG4/ASF
on 1GB or 2GB SD memory card. See the
MPVR Guide.
One button recording solution.
PROS: one button
recording solution, lightweight and small size, uses SD memory
cards, has a video screen so you can see what is being recorded
and also aim the cameras.
CONS: battery charger requires
removal of battery; AV/OUT "custom" plug used to recharge the
battery while in camera (extra adapter, extra cost. proprietary
format)
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$149 -
Neuros Recorder2 DVR - 640x480, records MPEG4 on
4GB CF card. That is once we get beyond no battery power and a
requirement for the IR remote control to start/stop recording.
If you are an EE hacker, you will love this one ;)
Definitely NOT a one button recording solution.
CONS: NO BATTERY - support. Must create own wiring harness for in
car use; LOSS OF POWER = CORRUPT VIDEO FILE. No Display -
can't aim external cameras w/o using another "aiming" device w/
a screen, such as Camcorder or (MPVR) Mobile PVR. Or must
purchase a separate small monitor. NO BUTTONS - can only
turn / record / stop via IR Remote control. Imagine losing the
remote or batteries in the remote going away.... Bye Bye video.
UPDATE: After having multiple
Neuros Recorder2 units fail, we have decided not to move forward
with supporting this unit. YMMV (your mileage may vary).
Try
recorders listed HERE - we certainly
had better luck with our SDVR-600,
SDVR-800 SD "solid state" and
SDVR-800HD "hard disk" versions
series of recorders.
Q: What should I use for video authoring (movie creation)
software?
A: There are tons of choices. Here are some of the more popular
ones:
Microsoft Movie Maker 2.1 -
Free w/ Windows XP or Windows XP Media Center Edition
Pinnacle Studio 10.5 -
Pinnacle Systems Inc
Manufactures video post-production tools for high-quality
broadcast and desktop applications for professionals and
consumers
Vegas Movie Studio+DVD
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The
Vegas Product Family provides you not only with
integrated applications for digital video and audio editing, but
also tools and applications that provide video content for
multimedia production and Dolby certified AC-3 encoding
Video
DIY
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