Week 30, 2003<\/p>\n
Q: \u00a0 \u00a0 I bought a Canon ES75 Hi8 camcorder. \u00a0 The guy who sold it to me said it could be hooked up to the PC so I can download, edit, and make my own videos. I haven’t seen this anywhere else. Can it be hooked up to the PC? \u00a0 I hope so, now it is too late to return it.<\/p>\n
-Shulee, address withheld<\/p>\n
A: \u00a0 Unfortunately, the salesman misinformed you. \u00a0 Hi8 is an analog video format, not a digital video format, and the camcorder does not have a digital connection of any type. \u00a0 Unless you have a special video-editing computer that can import analog video and convert it to digital video, you cannot connect your camcorder to your PC. Very few consumer computers have these analog video connections. \u00a0<\/p>\n
All is not lost, though. \u00a0 You can add a card to your PC that will provide analog audio\/video inputs that can be used with your analog camcorder, or even with other video sources such as VCRs. \u00a0 The best moderately priced model I know of is the Canopus ADVC-50, which sells for $199 and provides excellent quality video conversions. \u00a0 \u00a0 You can see it at www.canopus.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n For future reference, if you want to buy a camcorder that can be connected directly to your PC, look for a MiniDV or Digital 8 model. \u00a0 Digital 8 is a good choice for you and other Hi8 owners because most Digital 8 models play Hi8 tapes and provide both a digital and analog signal simultaneously. \u00a0 This eliminates the need for a separate converter, as well as allowing you to continue enjoying your Hi8 tapes.<\/p>\n Q: \u00a0 Are home theater systems adequate for quality CD sound reproduction? \u00a0 \u00a0 Can I replace my stereo system with home theater components?<\/p>\n -S Gratz<\/p>\n A: \u00a0 Home theater components vary greatly in quality, just as any other products do. \u00a0 It is certainly possible to get outstanding sound with them if you choose your components wisely, particularly the speakers. \u00a0 The speakers are by far the most important part of the sound reproduction chain, and will largely determine what you system actually sounds like.<\/p>\n Many audiophiles, myself included, feel sound quality and fidelity has taken a step backwards in recent years. \u00a0 Much of this is because of the widespread adoption of teacup-sized main speakers, which are used with a subwoofer. \u00a0 While these tiny speakers are appealing to some because of their small size, they have serious limitations when it comes to sound reproduction. \u00a0 Most of them are too small to adequately reproduce important midrange and bass frequencies, which produces an effect sometimes referred to as “midrange suck-out”. This term accurately, if inelegantly, describes their thin sound. \u00a0 If you compared them directly to larger speakers in the same listening environment, you would hear the difference. \u00a0 Few retailers have set-ups that allow you to compare this way.<\/p>\n The best compromise between size and sound is a bookshelf-sized speaker with a woofer that is 5 to 8 inches in size. \u00a0 Used in conjunction with a subwoofer, you will get full, natural sound from low bass to high treble. \u00a0<\/p>\n To learn more about speakers and their importance in sound reproduction, be sure to check my website’s section on speakers, found at http:\/\/www.multimediaanswers.com\/speakers.html<\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 -Steve Gooch, State College, PA<\/p>\n A: \u00a0 Yes- the Hewlett-Packard Scanjet 5500C, at $299, has a small top-loading feeder for 3.5×5 or 4×6 inch photographs, as well as software to automate the process.<\/p>\n
\nQ: \u00a0 I have thousands of photographs I’d like to archive onto CD-ROM. \u00a0 Is there anything available that I can load a stack of photos into, and it will automatically scan & save the images while I’m off doing other things?<\/p>\n