Mini DV to DVD Problem

[daint]

Hello all,

I need to get my Mini DV tapes onto DVD, the only problem is I only have around 5 gig HD free.

Due to the HD problem, and lack of money to upgrade, I have been using Videostudio 7 to capture directly to DVD format MPG2, and then burn to DVD, the problem is Videostudio 7 will only encode MPG2 or PCM, is there any way I can get the program to capture to AC3? Or any other way I can capture to DVD with AC3 audio using different software, taking into account my constraints.

Could I just add that Videostudio does produce very good results, so I'm not unhappy with the quality it delivers. With PCM audio, the 1 hour DV tapes exceed the size of a DVD, but only just, and I hope AC3 will overcome this problem (I know I can lower the bitrate, but wanted to avoid this). I've also read that MPG2 audio isnt as compliant on standalone DVD players.

Thanks

Daint

[Will Hay]

I'm afraid I can't answer your question directly, but...
....I was under the impression you need to reserve twice the amount of space you need to burn to disk.
For instance, you need 8gb free to burn a 4gb DVD. 4gb for the space you'll need for the actual file and a further 4gb for temporary storage during the burn process.
Does this create a further problem for you?
If so =
Some other knowledgable soul will no doubt expand on my theory
Will

[bugster]

Mp2 audio should be fine on any european bought DVD player. It is only a small number of US players that refuse to play it.

[daint]

Sorry, I should have made that a bit more clear.

I capture using one computer with 5gig free, then I author the dvd over a network to another computer which (at the moment) has 4.39gig free, so just enough to hold the dvd, then I delete when successfully burnt.

I've been using MPG2 audio, but I was under the impression that it was becoming obsolete (appologies for the spelling). I wanted to make the DVD's as future proof as I possibly could, as a good backup to my original tapes.

Thanks for the help though guys. Can anyone else solve my problem?

Daint