What sort of camcorder do I need?

You may already have one! Landro works with "Mini-DV" camcorders supporting an IEEE-1394 ("FireWire") interface. This is a very popular type of camcorder, and models from several manufacturers start below $300... but you can also get professional or "pro-sumer" Mini-DV cameras for additional video quality.

Can I use my existing video camcorder?

If it is a Mini-DV camcorder with a FireWire connection, then yes! Otherwise, your camera is probably not directly compatible with Landro. Camcorders using DVD, hard drive or memory stick storage, or tapes that aren't Mini-DV (such as mini-VHS or Hi-8) generally won't work directly in Landro.

However, your camera probably has some sort of analog outputs (composite video or S-video). You can obtain a FireWire video capture device to adapt these to work with Landro. This is discussed under video capture. (A shortcoming of this approach is that Landro can't detect pauses in the video the way it works with Mini-DV.)

What should I look for when buying a new camcorder?

You need a Mini-DV camcorder with a FirwWire connector. Don't choose an "HD" camera, because it probably won't work properly, and if it did (or you used a FireWire video capture device), Landro would lose the extra detail anyway. A camcorder with only a USB connection is not what you want.

Cameras with "3 CCD" video imaging record a better picture than single CCD camcorders, but there are other camera details that can affect picture quality including low-light sensitivity and "anti-jitter" technology. When in doubt, ask the seller for recommendations for your situation and for "video editing" on your computer.

Check the placement of the FireWire connector. Several otherwise good camcorder models place this connector under the battery pack, which means that you can't record on the road without running the camera from AC power.

Make sure the camcorder accepts a tripod mount. This is a hole on the bottom that accepts the screw on a tripod head. All but the very cheapest camcorders have this.

Also consider how the camcorder ejects its tape. Many inexpensive camcorders eject tapes out the bottom. There's nothing wrong with this... except that it makes it harder to change tapes if you have the camera on a tripod, because the tripod head probably blocks the tape gate. If you expect to change tapes during an event, you may not be happy with the extra difficulty this can cause.

Can I switch tapes while recording?

Yes! And anyway, you may not need to.

If you record only the "plays" from your event, then most events will fit within the one hour recording time of a standard Mini-DV tape. Landro will also detect the times when you pause and start your camcorder, and automatically mark plays in the recording.

However, if you prefer to record an entire long event to tape, you'll very likely need to switch tapes. Landro includes special technology that detects when a camera is shut off or disconnected, and allows you to resume the recording once the camera is turned back on and connected.

 
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