Ron, Please tell us what you want to do with the files once you get them downloaded. Are you uploading them to the internet? or making DVD's. That will make a big difference in the advice we give you. Also, do you have a MAC or a PC? JVC Owner, Birddog will have to help ya with that one. I have not made any DVD's yet. Thanks!

After unsuccessful trying Pinnacle software, went back to Cyber software. It's working good, but it has less available options without upgrade, then Pinnacle. The follwing problems I have with Pinnacale soft. - it burned either with the sound, but not wide screen, or wide screen with no sound, too slow, I mean it's make movie slower then Cyber.
Anyone had it same problems with the Pinnacle?
Thank you

Carolyn,

I just found this forum today via me dealing with the whole new weird MOD crap. You, like me before I read up on your thread, use Prism to convert. Yes, a 150MB clip ballooned to 45GB before I canceled the conversion and depleting my harddrive. AVI looked like crap, the squeezed version with wavy edges and slurred video. I didn't shoot it but from reading this, I figured out quickly what was used.

As for the people wanting a date stamp, the same people who make Prism make a video recording screen software similar to video footage you see of surveillance cameras. It records with a timestamp and frame number, too. Also, they have the 4-camera setup where 4 cameras can be used and all four have timestamps. One is called Timeline. I can't remember the other one. Hook up the camera to the computer and fire away the software.

Hope this helps.

Jack

Carolyn,

I have been thinking about getting an Everio but after reading this thread, I am a little apprehensive. As luck would have it, I was given a DVD with video images with a file extension I had never heard of (your wonderful .MOD). I found your site and read up and Cyberlink popped up here and there. Luckily, my new HP Pavilion dv9812us laptop comes with Cyberlink editing software and will edit .MODs. I have not tried to download the actual video from an Everio and use it since I don't have the camera yet, but I may end up buying this anyway.

The video, once being edited, did not look like the highly-vaunted "better than DVD quality" I heard bragged about on Home Shopping Network. The edges were slightly ragged and like everyone else on here, the image appeared a bit squished. I'd say about 5%, not much more. Useable, but not perfect. Maybe that was a problem with the person downloading the images to DVD before it ever got to me, I don't know.

Also, for those of you who have new computers with Vista Home Premium and are doing video editing on Windows MovieMaker, you can use .MOD videos and edit them. When you import videos on XP machines, WMM gives you a list of files you can use (AVI, MPG, etc.). In machines with Vista Premium, the WMM import video doesn't give you a list and if you look in a folder you have saved your .MOD videos, it will appear blank. Click on the tab where it says something like video and photos and select All Files. Your .MOD videos will appear and you can import them and edit all you want. Sorry I am not 100% exact on the steps; I don't have my laptop at work and cannot go through the steps and type at the same time.

Now that I know I had the editing software already and upgraded, and that this camera can auto focus as well as manual, and the price is actually dropping below $400, I will probably buy it and do some practicing. If it looks like I am getting nowhere, I will simply take this camera back and stick with a tried and true and tested miniDV camera. THAT, I know I can absolutely positively work with.

Oh, before I forget, the NCH software I mentioned is actually called Eyeline. Here is the link to their video software in case more people want to do surveillance work and need a time stamp:
www.nchsoftware.com/surveillance/index.html

Hope this helps.

Jack

Antonio,

I posted a follow-up to my first entry that has the address to where you can find this time stamp software. If the mods left the link in, you can go there and download the software. When I downloaded Prism and Switch (video and audio software, respectively), I was also offered a variety of other NCH products, Eyeline being one of them. I downloaded it and it is pretty easy to set up and work with.

Once it is downloaded, from what I remember, you hook up your camcorder to your computer so the software can use your camcorder's view to record. Pretty much like a webcam. Place your camcorder where you want to record, turn off the sleep mode on your camcorder so it won't shut off while recording long instances, and hit the record button on the screen from the software. The screen will then show what it is you are recording and from what I can guess, it pulls the time and date stamp from the computer itself. It is displayed at the bottom of the recorded screen in white letters and numbers.

I only played with this for awhile. I didn't have my own camcorder back then so I deleted the software and stuck with the Prism and Switch. I don't know if you can go back and add the time line with this software to pre-recorded video, so I can't guarantee your particular success. All I know is that I saw it work and it was impressive for free software. Hope this helps.

Jack

Grace,
The way I understood your query. Your son wants to convert the .mod files on his computer but edit on his friends which has WMM? Simply convert the files to either .avi or .mpg and then export them to your son's friend computer by email or whatever so they can edit it in WMM.
Jack, this is not my site sweetie. It's Jay's site:o) He is the owner and a really nice guy! I originally found this site when I was looking for a fix for the .mod files. I chipped in when I found a simple solution cuz I like to help others:o), however, I do not have near the experience that you have.

Thanks to all for the great tips! I have had a JVC GZ-MG155 for about 6 months. Just got a new computer and now can't find the CD that came with the camcorder (this appears to be a common problem). Called the JVC support number to buy another ($29) but they are out of stock. Any chance that someone who has the CD could make me a copy? thx

Larry.

I've a camera JVC GZ-MG130. I got from Cyberlink service the new release for the software which is this LY35273-024A. Please give the address and I try to send you this.
Regards, Antonio (Italy)

Carolyn,

Please do not take offense if I said anything rash. I thought you were a sort of moderator/helper. My bad. Also, I really don't have all the knowledge on this camera and the .mod file specs tons of other people have. I just looked up info online. As for the Prism, I have worked with that like forever. Converting the MOD into an MPG is better and works the same in replacement of a much-larger-converted AVI. Only thing is, from the test shots I have done, widescreen footage shot should only be converted using the Cyberlink software, and publishing. I used Prism and the widescreen format squeezes the final outcome. Cyberlink does not. I haven't test shot with 4:3 yet, and hoping it won't squeeze that either.

I normally use Windows MovieMaker, but even though it can work with MOD, the image there is squeezed, too. Having spent some time with the Cyberlink editing software that came with my new laptop and all the amazing fun toys that came with the program, I don't think I am looking back to WMM any time soon.

Antonio,

No, you cannot use the Eyeline software to add the timeline at the bottom of the camera like you want. The camera has to be connected to an AV cable and the software running. The software opens up a window on the screen showing what the camera is showing. You can hit the Record button on the computer screen and it will record, with a timeline, whatever it is you point the camera towards. Used in a house or an office setting where you would have a long enough cord, this software works great as a surveillance system. Walking around, not so much. You HAVE to have the camera connected to the computer and the computer recording. Download the software and play with it. Maybe you can add the timeline anyway. It's free, what are you going to waste other than 20-30 minutes of your time or less?

I have the software that came with my camera and it was useless. The only tool I was able to download was a photo download program. The editing software I wanted didn't download, with a message stating "Only JVC software can be downloaded to JVC equipment" or something like that. Are you kidding me?! LOL Who cares? If I can download the footage and store it easily onto my laptop and can use the Cyberlink software I have already to make my movies, who needs the software?

By the way, I have the GMGZ330 30GB camcorder, Blue. Already scuffed the side, but like I told my buddy, "This is a WORKING camera, not a pretty-pretty!" So far, I am happy with this purchase. I hope all of you can enjoy it and the MOD feature as well!

Jack

Oh, I almost forgot the worst thing JVC/Everio did for this camcorder: the file listing for the videos shot! Who in their right minds would lable the first 9 videos shot MOV001 to MOV009, then SWITCH to MOV00A to MOV00F, and then back to numbers?! How high do you have to be to come up with a filing system like that? Is there something wrong with, oh, I don't know, 00001, 00002, 00003, etc.? I accidentally mixed up two days of different video shots, along with the pesky MOIs, and it looked like Alphabet Soup. Please, dear God, tell JVC to fix this, pretty please? lol

Jack, you misunderstood. I am not offended at all. Just trying to set the record straight. I am a helper but just not the owner. I didn't want to steal any of Jays thunder. You are fine sweety. Keep rockin!

Jack, you are absolutely right on! I have noticed the skip in file names, from B, A, C, then 2, 4, 5, 6, then F, G, H!

The guys (or gals) must have been taking something! really good when they set up the filing system! Many times I find the beginning of the movie at the end or the end of the movie at the beginning. What the heck???

Therefore, it's best to only upload one movie at a time. Not really convenient if you're pressed to shoot two movies at the same time. If you try to edit two movies at a time, you're gonna get a big fat headache! I learned that early on and won't ever do it again!

Hi, can someone help me with a problem i'm having?

Well i recently bought a JVC Everio Hard Disk camcorder (GZ-MG330) and I wanted to edit the videos with Windows Movie Maker. As I read the above comments i tried them. I downloaded the Prism software and installed it and converted the videos from MOD to AVI. But when i tried to import the video to Windows Movie Maker, it still wouldnt accept them. I dont know why.