ATI AIW MPEG-2 ULTIMATE ADVICE

[macm]

Hi all,

I finally found what is all about (for the moment!).

This is only a information post, it is not meant to be a BIBLE!!!

According to all Lordsmurf (thanks guy!) infos and to my own experience, now I can state what is the best capping set up, with best results (this applies only to ATI AIW cards, so others users could benefit or not).

I do my job with a ATI AIW 9700 PRO, if it is not the best or cheaper out there, it does the job really nice!!!

After months of tests and try outs:

1. Source. A good VCR is necessary. I own myself a JVC 7800U, with built in TBC/DNR and it really helps a LOT! Also got the TBC-1000, so some tapes does not like the built in JVC TBC at all, but this is a top of the job combination anyway.
Anyway, it does make big miracles, but as we all know, garbage in garbage out....
I have tapes of rock shows, family home video (VHS-C), TV movies, and etc, about 200 tapes, and up to now converted around 50!

2. A good hardware setup (reliable and fast), and of course, a decent capture device (ATI, for instance).

3. MPEG-2 realtime. If converting analog to digital and add menus and stuff, then burn a DVD is the goal, forget the AVI stuff. It only takes time, and no difference, REALLY NO DIFFERENCE, from doing a direct MPEG-2 capture.

4. 352x480 NTSC, CBR, 4000-6000 bitrate, 224K audio, cropped video, sometimes video soap, is the way to go to DVD. No need to do anything else!! I've been trying all sorts of combinations and that is the best way to do it!!!
Why CBR? I found that it is steady. And I don't have any worry about file sizes...
720x480 is a waste of space and bitrate....Even 352x480 looks all the way better and sharp!!

5. TMPGEnc DVD Author does a really nice job. The new version has this burn tool and works perfectly. Worth buying....

So, hope this is usefull.

GOOD JOB!

[allaboutduncan]

Agree 100% with everything, as that's the way I do it.

[lordsmurf]

I'm backing up Star Wars and Indiana Jones at the moment, identical setup. All I'd suggest is try audio at 256k. It is a little bit richer sounding than 192 or 224 (but only if coming off one of those commercial-grade pro-made tapes). I notice it most on a mono tv set, a little bit on the surround receiver. Just an extra little punch.

[allaboutduncan]

Did Star Wars myself and they look good. Too bad it's the only way to get the originals. Missed that audio part, I do use 256.

[macm]

sorry, I agree with you both.
Actually I do 256k with music video, but with home made VHS-C video I still keep the 224k, 'cause it won't get better anyway...or it won't need a 256k anyway....

[FOO]

There's always the Star Wars laser disks . They seem to be
sightly better than tapes.