Capturing from mini DV

[garret2015]

Ok folks I'm new here. And before some wisenheimer jumps on me, yes I have looked for solutions in this forum
I am aware that I have to have the right capturing settings etc. but I'm still lost with some things.

I'm capturing from a Panasonic mini DV with a Dazzle.
If I use the original capturing software I cannot change any settings and I will have an MPEG file with the DVD resolution off 720x480 for example.
So far so good, but when I watch it and fullscreen it's completely pixelated of course. I tried capturing it in other resolutions (Using another capturing software) but the result is pretty bad and looks nothing like a DVD.


It's maybe just good enough to be displayed on a cell phone.

I feel like a dummy and pretty helpless.
What am I doing wrong?

[jagabo]

You want to capture firewire output from the camcorder with a firewire card in the computer. That will get you an exact copy of the digital video that's on the tape. Once you have that on your computer you can do whatever you want with it.

[garret2015]

The result is 720x480 which is fine. But on any device with a high-resolution it's complete the pixelated. How do I have to convert to avoid this?

[jagabo]

The result is 720x480 which is fine. But on any device with a high-resolution it's complete the pixelated. How do I have to convert to avoid this?

Use more bitrate. With sufficient bitrate and a good MPEG 2 encoder you should be able to get close to commercial DVD quality.

[garret2015]

This is what I wonder... So... Do I need to capture with that bit rate and decoder? Or do I have to convert it afterwards?

[DB83]

You should always 'capture' at the highest quality. For you that means DV. Convert it afterwards. Capture/converting on the fly is rarely good enough.

[Cornucopia]

mini DV and DVD are both types of video that are up to, but not beyond, Standard Definition ("SD", also known as "D1-quality"). For NTSC, that is 720x480 (PAL = 720x576). That is as high as it (SD) goes for all practical purposes.
Whenever you play SD on an HD screen, you get pixellation due to the ~4x upscaling required to fill out the screen. That is to be expected. You cannot improve upon that with SD-sourced footage (though you can smooth out the pixellation somewhat). Another form of "you can't get something for nothing".
Of course, you could display it at 1:1 scaling and keep the detail, but your image would be letterboxed AND pillarboxed.

It all depends on what your expectations are: if you were expecting full HD quality, you will be disappointed.

********************

On the capture, compression note: follow what jagabo & DB83 are telling you. DVcam -> Firewire -> PCFirewirePort -> DV capture software -> DV file. Recompress/reconvert when necessary -> DVD, AVC/MP4, etc.

Scott

[newpball]

It all depends on what your expectations are: if you were expecting full HD quality, you will be disappointed.

I am still waiting for that MakeHdFromSD() avisynth filter to solve that problem.

[usually_quiet]

On the capture, compression note: follow what jagabo & DB83 are telling you. DVcam -> Firewire -> PCFirewirePort -> DV capture software -> DV file. Recompress/reconvert when necessary -> DVD, AVC/MP4, etc.

Good advice. There are both PCI and PCI-e Firewire cards available to add a Firewire 400 port to a desktop
http://www.amazon.com/3-Port-Firewire-Adapter-Card/dp/B000HDKVDQ
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002S53IG8/ref=psdc_284717_t3_B001JTTVT2

An ExpressCard slot is needed to add a Firewire 400 port to a laptop. Unfortunately, neither Firewire 400 ports or ExpressCard slots are included on many recent laptops.

[jagabo]

when I watch it and fullscreen it's completely pixelated

Different people mean different things when they say "pixelated". You should post an example so everyone knows exactly what you're talking about. Use Mpg2Cut2 or DgIndex to extract a short representative segment of one of your MPG or VOB files and post it here.