Success: My First DVD!

[GeoPappas]

First off, I would like to thank everyone that helps on these boards. Although you might have answered a post for me directly, you have helped indirectly (by answering other posts and writing how-tos).

Anyhow, here is what I did...

I used the latest version (2.0.1.15) of NeroVision Express 2 (NVE2) to transfer ~ 25 minutes of video from my miniDV camcorder via Firewire to an AVI-DV Type 2 file on my computer. The resulting file was ~ 6 GB.

There were a few minutes on each side of the video that I wanted to chop off, so I used VirtualDub to cut the video down to ~ 20 minutes. This reduced the file size slightly to ~ 5.5 GB. NOTE: I had to dowload the Panasonic DV Codec for VirtualDub to read the AVI file.

I then used NVE2 for the rest of the process. I created three chapters, and then added them to a menu. I finally converted the audio from LPCM to AC3, and converted the AVI files to MPEG-2 (using the highest quality available from NVE2). The conversion took ~ 1 hour 50 minutes.

I put the DVD on a DVD+RW (rewriteable) just in case I had to do it again.

I then hooked up the miniDV camera and the DVD player to the television to compare the original video to the DVD. I think that the DVD came out pretty good for my first time. The only differences were a slight loss of quality, and the color was slightly off (it had a slight greenish cast). Both of these issues were pretty difficult to see without comparing to the original. Overall, I am quite happy with the results.

I now plan to try this again using some of the other tools available: TMPGEnc, BeSweet, and TMPGEnc DVD Author to see if I can increase the quality some more.

I am currently in the process of converting the AVI to MPEG-2 using TMPGEnc and it says it is going to take around 5 hours and 10 minutes. This is a LOT longer than NVE2 took. Hopefully, there will be an increase in quality.

EDIT: One more thing, Nero has an automated way of creating chapters. You can push a button and it scans the video for chapter marks and then inserts them. Well, I tried it and it didn't work very well. It put in chapter marks where they shouldn't have been and it didn't put them where they should have been. So I ended up deleting all of the automated chapter marks and added them manually. Just thought that someone might find this helpful...

[redwudz]

Sounds like you are off to a good start. A couple of things to try. You can transfer the DV into your computer with DVIO or WINDV (my favorite because it has a preview witndow). Do your trimming and color correction in TMPGEnc. Or in Virtualdub and frameserve to TMPGEnc. That will make things a little easier. TMPGEnc Author can also burn to DVD. When you are working with TMPGEnc, try taking a small representative part of the video, say 3 minutes and feed that into TMPGEnc for encoding. That way you can try different settings to fine tune your MPG to the best compromise of quality VS time of encoding without waiting for a long encode to finish. I use the ES setting in TMPGEnc and MP2 sound. You can feed that into TMPGEnc author easily.

[daamon]

Well done - I know how you feel, I achieved my first DVD from DV cam footage at the weekend. Very pleased with the quality.

I used different tools to your first attempt, but some of them are the ones you list for your second attempt. So you might be interested in this link, as it provides my method (not a full on guide):

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190482&highlight=

Probably more relevant towards the end - make special note of bugster's fine-tuning.

Good luck...

[GeoPappas]

A couple of things to try. You can transfer the DV into your computer with DVIO or WINDV (my favorite because it has a preview witndow).

Thanks for the suggestions. When I was transferring the video from my miniDV camcorder to my PC, I was trying to see if I could get software to automatically put the different scenes into different files. I thought that this might make things go a little easier.

I tried Scenalyzer, but it leaves a logo every so many frames which makes the final output pretty useless. I also tried WINDV, but I couldn't seem to get it to split the video into separate files. I also like WINDV better than DVIO (since it doesn't have a preview window).

I finally tried (and used) NVE2, since it seemed to do just as good a job as the others.

Do your trimming and color correction in TMPGEnc.

From what I understand, it is better to trim and edit the AVI (instead of the MPEG). Is this correct? If I remember correctly, TMPGEnc only trims MPEG.

Or [do your trimming] in Virtualdub and frameserve to TMPGEnc. That will make things a little easier.

I am not familiar with frameserving yet. I will have to research that area to see if it will fit my needs.

When you are working with TMPGEnc, try taking a small representative part of the video, say 3 minutes and feed that into TMPGEnc for encoding. That way you can try different settings to fine tune your MPG to the best compromise of quality VS time of encoding without waiting for a long encode to finish.

Good tip. Thanks.

I use the ES setting in TMPGEnc and MP2 sound. You can feed that into TMPGEnc author easily.

I chose ES (Video Only). According to some of the how-tos (e.g., http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html), TMPGEnc is not the best tool to use for sound. I have read that most people suggest AC3 for sound, since it is compressed and it is a DVD standard.

[GeoPappas]

So you might be interested in this link, as it provides my method (not a full on guide):

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=190482&highlight=

FYI: This was one of the posts that I read that helped me get a good understanding of the process. Thanks to all that contributed to it...

[FOO]

Profound advice: Dump Nero

[GeoPappas]

Profound advice: Dump Nero

I'm not sure which version you are basing this comment on, but if I would have taken this advice I would not have had such a quick success. While NVE2 might not be a "best of breed" solution, it can be a good solution for those that don't want all of the bells and whistles (and complications associated with them). Plus I already owned it, since it comes with Nero Burning ROM (which is known as one of the best CD burning products on the market).

While TMPGEnc might be a great product, there are dozens of choices to make and lots of how-tos to read. With Nero, I didn't have to read one how-to.

Granted, some people might have problems with NVE2, but what software doesn't have problems?

As I said in my original post, I also plan on testing the "best of breed" solution to see how it compares, and if it is worth the extra effort and complication. I'll post the results when I am finished.

[FOO]

I'm not sure what version I am basing my comments on either.
since they change every ten minutes.

It is amazing how your first love is always the best, even if it's
fat and ugly.

[GeoPappas]

I'm not sure what version I am basing my comments on either. since they change every ten minutes.

It is amazing how your first love is always the best, even if it's
fat and ugly.

So how do you really feel?

FYI: I don't view frequent updates as a negative, but rather as a positive.

[Perro Grande]

Congrats on getting off to a good start.

Psychologically, I think it is important to get some initial success. I generally try to establish a "base method" when I'm learning something new. Once I have that method established, it is useful as a reference point for future endeavors.

If Nero works as a base method for you, and you can get some 'wins' under your belt with it, by all means do so!

[i am x]

I then hooked up the miniDV camera and the DVD player to the television to compare the original video to the DVD. I think that the DVD came out pretty good for my first time. The only differences were a slight loss of quality, and the color was slightly off (it had a slight greenish cast). Both of these issues were pretty difficult to see without comparing to the original. Overall, I am quite happy with the results.

First of all, congratulations on making your 1st DVD. Advice, keep working on it. There should be no greenish casts, nor should any colors be off on your copies. When you're dealing with digital copying as opposed to analog (VHS tapes), there is a much LOWER (or NO) loss of quality. To be honest, the only time you lose quality is when you're dealing with video compression. If you're not compressing them, then you shouldn't be losing ANY video quality. Learn to tweak software settings. Keep practicing on re-writable discs until you get a copy that is about 95% same quality as the original.