Your opinion on editing MPEG2 files made by a DVD Camcorder?

[hhamzeh]

Hi,
I know that it is recommended that for editing purposes we should use DV (AVI) format files; however, DVD camcorders are making their place in the market and more manufacturers are making these devices. So, what would be a good solution for editing MPEG2 ready produced by these camcorders? I personally do not think that converting them to DV and then re-convert them to MPEG2 after editing is a good choice since no matter what you do, re-encoding = less quality. Do you think editing the files just as MPEG2, the way there are, would affect the video quality a lot? I do have Ulead video studio which use smart rendering and does not re-encode the entire movie after editing. Do you think this editing issue would hold DVD camcorders to replace DV camcorders market place? (the way that DV cams replaced analog cams). Thanks for your inputs.

[Vejita-sama]

Editing MPEG data is a pain in the a&&, but it can be done. And if your source is already MPEG2 you might as well do so. However, if you plan to cut/crop/edit/join and re-arrange scences I would not use MPEG2 source for this.

If you just want to do some 'basic editing' fine. The main problem is that you normally need to generate a new MPEG2 file everytime you cut, and you can only cut at I-frames (with most programs) so you can not make the precise transitions for certain scences/effects.

[hhamzeh]

Thank you very much Vejita,
Yes by editing I meant cut, transitions, re-arrange scences and etc. I do know that it is not an ideal situation, but that is the way DVD camcorders work. They just record as MPEG format. what else can be done to edit the video?

[jsnkc]

Well, if you plan to do any professional type video editing, I wouldn't buy these cameras, they are more of a consumer level device anyways, people buy them just cause they think it's cool that they can record right to DVD not thinking that if they ever wanted to edit it they are screwed. Stick with MiniDV, it's a very solid format that will probably be around for a long time.

[El_Mero_Zooter]

Hi,
I know that it is recommended that for editing purposes we should use DV (AVI) format files; however, DVD camcorders are making their place in the market and more manufacturers are making these devices. So, what would be a good solution for editing MPEG2 ready produced by these camcorders? I personally do not think that converting them to DV and then re-convert them to MPEG2 after editing is a good choice since no matter what you do, re-encoding = less quality. Do you think editing the files just as MPEG2, the way there are, would affect the video quality a lot? I do have Ulead video studio which use smart rendering and does not re-encode the entire movie after editing. Do you think this editing issue would hold DVD camcorders to replace DV camcorders market place? (the way that DV cams replaced analog cams). Thanks for your inputs.

hhamzeh,
Im on the market for one of these cameras myself. As mentioned before, these would be a consumer level---home-movies---type scenario.
From what ive been researching, these cameras can and do allow scene selection(s), direct access to the material/scenes you want. If the reviewers are correct , the software will let you import and work with the material in a similar fashion to dv. I like the idea of not rewinding and FF'warding all the time. I'll probably go for one that has USB 2.0 to do faster 'capturing' importing of material.

Just the fact that one would consider buying one of these, would indicate profiency in mpg editing. Albeit, dv/avi editing is easier, mpg2 editing can be done rather easy, specially with appz like virtualdubmpg2 (baldrick has a link to it in the Tools section), works just like vdub with avi's. I've learnt to edit avi, dv, mpg1, & mpg2, so one of these cams is of interest to me. Plus some models come with software to edit directly on the dvd-ram. With some tinkering one can even take the vro (camcorder mpg2 format) files and copy directly to the hard drive .

Zooter

[terjeber]

If by editing you mean cut and paste movie clips together, these cameras may be OK, but not more than OK. If you plan to add transition effects, titles, correct color problems etc, these cameras are a bad idea.

I'd go as far as to say that there is no reason whatsoever to buy MPEG based cameras if you want to do something with the movie afterwards. They offer absolutely nothing of value, and are a marketing con. Essentially technology created for the sake of the nerds in Sony and JVC with no value to the consumer, quite the opposite.

Don't encourage Sony and JVC to con you. Don't buy these cameras.

[hhamzeh]

Thanks everybody.

[Arky]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38468&highlight=MPEG+editing+Arky

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39527&highlight=Arky+microMV

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121091&highlight=dvdcam


Arky ;o)

[xiaomeng_zhao]

Why not go to http://www.tucows.com/mmedia/preview/224587.html, it's bound to be helpful to you.