Best direct to Mpeg Capture Software.

[akrasna]

As a newbie, I used the all-in-one package NeoDvd MyDvd etc. which were fast and gave me "not great" mpeg2 files.

Then I went the Scenalyzer /tmpe\genc /tmpgenc DVD route which gives better results but takes longer.

For a lot of my needs, I can survive with a bit lower quality and gain back time.

So I now have 2 questions.
Which direct to mpeg2 capture is best (given I have a strong pc) and will capture either via advc device or a mini -dv.

Also which one will create mpegs that tmpgenc DVD will accept (it always rejects the files I create with NeoDVD. - says my format is bad .. - any way t ofix that?)

I would love a standalone capture mpeg program and not part of a package ..

But if one of the packages is good...
pinnacle etc.
Let me know and I will try that.

Thanks
Allen

[rcb]

You might swing over to the capture card section on l/h side - do a search by mpeg-2 hardware - browse results, looking for highest ratings - canopus, hauppage, matrox have strong rankings.

[MrMungus]

I use Ulead DVD MovieFactory to capture because it has the features I want and does a good job. I've also tried the Main Concept MPEG-2 capture software which appears to be highly recommened, but I haven't compared the two.

[888888]

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=204257&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Try this thread. I detailed my experiences with a variety of direct to MPEG capture tools. I have had success only with HONESTECH TVR which is the software my KWorld TV card came with.

[budz]

I first started using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY because people on this forum site recommended it to me. Because it was the easiest to use since I was a newbie to capturing. I have a CANOPUS ADVC-100. I'm still a semi-newbie but I have learned some along the way. I like using SCENALYZER LIVE because it's easy to use and you can time record your capturing.

For some reason when using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to capture it would freeze up when I stopped the capturing. Most of the time the avi file would be ok although the program froze. Then I had to reboot my pc. Although I do like using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY after the avi file is completed. I use it to author the avi file to create a ISO image. Today I used TMPGE DVD AUTHOR for the first time. I've come to like this program. It's easy to use in making menus, chapters & editing mpeg files.

[akrasna]

thanks for the replies guys .. a few comments ..

1. I am looking for a SW answer (not a capture card) - I am set already with ADVC and DV).

2. I want to try and go direct to MPEG2 and NOt do the AVI phase.

3. Can anyone tell me if the MPegs made by ulead etc. will be accepted by TmpgencDVD ?

[khansalman2004]

hi i need little help i am looking for ppl using this kworld dvd usb maker 2.0
i have athlon 2200+ 1.3Ghz 256 RAM 64 mb shared ATI RADEON 320 card i try to capture movie from my dvd play er or my sataltie i am using the dvd plu software the picture is not clear its all blocks on the picture and when u view it in big screen mode or full screen u cant see anything but blocks blocks!
can u tell me whats wrog?
and why this happening?

[MrMungus]

For some reason when using ULEAD MOVIE FACTORY to capture it would freeze up when I stopped the capturing. Most of the time the avi file would be ok although the program froze. Then I had to reboot my pc.

I've had this problem, also, especially if I do a timed capture with the "quality level" set to 15 (as opposed the default of 8).

[maa]

See HERE for my experiences.
Main Concept is very good at high Q Mpeg capture.

[redwudz]

Like maa, I have been using Mainconcept. I have a ADVC and am trying to fine tune DV direct to MPG. It's fast, but quality still needs some work. I'm just starting, though. I can put the MPG into TMPGEnc DVD Author and that part works great. Seems to be a little hard to find guides for DV direct to MPG using Mainconcept, I'm still looking.

[akrasna]

Thanks Red and Maa - this is exactly what I want to do. Red if you get more detials in terms of quality please let me know

Allen

[vcdforme]

Intervideo Winproducer 3

Will do:
DVD(mpeg 2)
1/4 DVD (mpeg 2)
VCD (mpeg 1)
AVI type 1 or 2

Very nice mpeg2.
Mpeg1(vcd) is also good, but not as good as a AVI/Tmpgenc rendering, but you were asking direct mpeg, and for this it's not bad.

[simbatran]

I need help for capturing from VHS "direct" to good PC MPEG2 without going through AVI. I have used MyDVD, NeoDVD, Intervideo WinDVR with capture quality set to DVD (720x480) but got disappointed poor quality MPEG2 result (i also tried 640x480). I had no frame drops nor audio sync issue. The VHS tape is quite new, the Toshiba VCR/DVD 291 combo is also recent bought. The hard drive bitrate is decent as measured by Sandra (28000KB/Second).

I have Nero 6 and Studio8 as well as VirtualDub but these capture in AVI only.

My system: SOYO KT400 Platinum RAID, AMD Barton (333Mhz) 2500+, Mushkin 512MB DDR333 CAS 2.5, Hitachi RAID 200Gig, Maxtor RAID 60Gig. Win2K.

[simbatran]

I forgot to mention my graphic card:

VisionTek Personal Cinema NDIVIA MX200 64MB (kind of a counterpart to AIW 7500).

WHen I said poor quality, I meant it does not look half as good as the original VHS which looks quite decent. The picture that is shown during recording is very decent, it is just that the output does not look that good.

Audio output is quite good though.

Thanks.

[vcdforme]

The 2nd post had the best advice for some of the later posts.
Without a quality hardware solution (capture card/or DV), the software
is moot. There' lotsa hardware reviews, READ THEM. Then read
some more.
My advice for anyone using a TV tuner card, forget it.
DV, with a TBC is the way to go, IMHO. But it aint cheap.
For transferring VHS,
Your video can (sometimes) look BETTER than the original VHS.

[Capmaster]

I forgot to mention my graphic card:

VisionTek Personal Cinema NDIVIA MX200 64MB (kind of a counterpart to AIW 7500).

WHen I said poor quality, I meant it does not look half as good as the original VHS which looks quite decent. The picture that is shown during recording is very decent, it is just that the output does not look that good.

Audio output is quite good though.

Thanks.

Assuming you've checked all your settings, did you try a new video cable? I spent hours chasing a quality bug once that ended up being a bad cable.

If your cables are good and your capture settings are correct (bitrate, res, format) you might just have a crappy capture card. Capturing from VHS ought to give you a result that is better than the source because of filtering and other subtle effects of digitizing that clean up the video ....provided the bitrate is high enough, at least 4500 Kb/s average, 6000 peak VBR and even higher if space allows. You should end up with a capture that's noticeably better than the tape. If you can't achieve this then maybe it's time for a new capture card.