Figuring out the process??

[beefyJT]

Let me get this correct? In order to make my DVD from my DV Camcorder:
1. Capture--preferably w/ Virtual dub
2. Convert, edit, etc w/ TMPGEnc and TMGEnc DVD Author
3. Burn with TMPGEnc DVD Author or Nero

Is that pretty much it? Thanks for enlightening me

[bugster]

Virtualdub will not capture DV. Use DVIO or even Microsoft WIndows Movie Maker. Capturing DV is really a data transfer from tape to PC, so what software you use does not make much difference.

Other than that your process looks OK.

[beefyJT]

Thanks! Guess I can use the SONY capture program, too, if it doesn't really matter. Any other suggestions? I'm looking to produce decent quality DVD's to use as sports recruiting videos for my son and his friends.

[Vejita-sama]

The basic outline of the process is as pretty much as follows:

1) Capture - In the case of DV (as mention) it's more of a transfer of digital data from your camera to your PC.

2) Edit - There are a lot of programs you can use to edit your video (and audio). Here you can add voice overs, fade effects, change the order of the video, make a highlight reel, etc. etc. Popular programs include Vegas Video and Adobe Premiere.

3) Encode - you then need to encode your assest into MPEG2 format. That means the video to m2v and the audio to either ac3 or PCM (aka wav). I recommend using AC3 as it takes up far less space then uncompressed PCM audio, allowing for higher video bitrates which (normally) result in better video quaility. TMPGenc can only encode to MP2 audio (mpeg 1 layer II audio) which is not supported by the NTSC DVD standard (is supported by the PAL) standard. However, most players will have no trouble playing it. To be safe use BeSweet or a similar program to encode to ac3. TMPGenc is a good MPEG2 encoder, other popular choices are CCE and Mainconcept.

http://www.doom9.org/audio-guides.htm

4) Author - authoring is the process of taking all your media assests (video, audio, subtitles, etc) and multiplexing them into files that are supported by the DVD standard (IFO and VOB files). Authoring is also where you can make a menu and setup all the buttons on your remote (depends on the software you use). TMPG Author is an 'ok' program, many people would say that DVD Lab allows you to do more (for the same cost). But if all you want/need is a simple menu and chapter points almost any program will work.

5) Burn - the authoring program will generate a 'VIDEO_TS' folder (must be all caps too) which contains all of the files from your DVD project. You then burn this folder (and often an empty AUDIO_TS folder) to your DVDR media

That's about it. It's not actually all that hard once you get into it and make a few discs. Some extra hints:

Remember that as long as you save your source material you can always start over.

Don't delete anything until the project is done

Preview the VIDEO_TS folder with a software DVD player prior to burning

Get a least 1 DVD+/-RW disc to test out your first few projects

[beefyJT]

Thanks. Sounds like this will give me something to do over this snowy weekend. I'll have to let you know what works.

[sacajaweeda]

Get a least 1 DVD+/-RW disc to test out your first few projects

Just to add to this....

Once you have your DV transferred to your PC, open your source AVI file in VDub and do a direct stream copy of a few short segments. Nothing big, just a few 20-30 second clips of varying degrees of action....low motion, high motion, etc. Use these for test encodes/authoring/burning on your re-writeable discs. Save yourself the headaches of waiting out a several hour encode only to find out you had a setting wrong, or a bitrate too high or too low. Once you have something that meets your satisfaction, has a bitrate that will allow you to fit your stuff on a DVD, etc, then load your (edited) source and have a go at it.

My $.02

[beefyJT]

Let me get this right. Although I cannot directly capture my DV with VDub, the program is useful to me for editing after I save the original file as an .avi???

[beefyJT]

Now, what about capturing with WinDV? Seems to be a pretty popular (and reliable) way to go.

[ZippyP.]

Let me get this right. Although I cannot directly capture my DV with VDub, the program is useful to me for editing after I save the original file as an .avi???

Yes, it does simple editing like cutting and joining.

[beefyJT]

Then, is there any need to have VDub along with WinDV? Thanks.