VHSC to ADVC-100 to DVD capture help

[wolfer]

Hi all

First off let me say I’m really green at all this and any info will help.

My system
Intel 2.80c
Gigabyte Ga-8IPE1000 pro2
Ram 768 ddr 3200
WD 120gb 7200rpm sata
128mb radeon 9200
Pioneer DVR-107D
LG 52x32x52 cdrw
LG 16x dvd-rom
Canopus ADVC-100

My main goal is to capture all 33 (30mins each) tapes of VHSC home videos and produce DVDs for backup and then use these backups to create custom DVD’s with chapters.
I’ve been reading around and I understand I need to save to AVI in order to do any editing with premiere and such. But theses AVI files are HUGE and there is no way I’ll be able to backup all 33 tapes onto my drive. One 3min video is aprox 3gigs, boy that’s going to be a lot of DVDs to back up 33 tapes.
I’ve been reading about Huffyuv and Mjpeg to reduce the AVI file. I’ve download these files but now I can’t seem to find a good piece of software that will let me pick the AVI code output….I only want to capture the VHSC quality whatever that is?, in hopes this will also reduce file size.
Here are items I’ve run into problems with.

VirtualVCR - won’t record any audio. I’ve tried everything? Also can not find where to set what type of output
Virtual Dub - apparently doesn’t work with the ADVC-100
Windows Movie Maker - preset output only and no audio during capture

Can anyone recommend a good capture program, or any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Thank-you

Rick

[Tommyknocker]

Okay, remember, regardless what kind of space your capturee files take up, the DVD you create will have about two hours of good quality video. To get beter quality, you can store about an hour's worth, a little less quality, you can move toward 6 hours.

So if your camcorder can transfer DV to your computer, use a program like DVIO to do so. Then edit and create the DVD with an all in one authoring program like Ulead's Video Studio 7 (trial ware) to edit, make menu, and burn the DVD. Hope this helps.

[wolfer]

So if your camcorder can transfer DV to your computer

My camcorder is a RCA CC604 and was built in 1994 and is completely analog, this is why I purchased the ADVC-100. It’s time to backup these tapes.

[Tommyknocker]

So when your ADVC-100 transfers your cideo to your computer, your DV files will still be converted to DVD quality according the bit rate setting you select.

[wolfer]

Yes it is DVD quality

The software I've use to capture doesn't let me select Huffyuv or Mjpeg
This is half my battle, I think a DVD quality capture on a 5 year old VHSC tape is over kill.

[Tommyknocker]

Actually, since your tapes are old, it is all the more reason to transfer with DV. Use DVIO to capture with your AVDC-100, and once you have edited, then make your DVD.

[redwudz]

wolfer: If filesize is a problem, you can use Mainconcept to convert in close to realtime to a a DVD compliant file. The quality isn't as good as encoding a saved DV file, but it may be as good quality as your tapes. If you go the high quality method, use DVIO to transfer from the ADVC-100. Use Type 2 DV. If you have a DV codec installed, Virtualdub can edit. Encode to DVD format with TMPGEnc or Mainconcept or CCE. If you are using a ADVC, Huffy and the rest are not needed, just encode to MPG.

[DaveS]

wolfer - what software were you using to capture from your advc100?

You mention 3 gigs for 3mins? DV format captured from your advc100 should be ~12 gigs / hour of video. I also have the advc100 and you can't change the capture size - it will be 720x480 which strictly speaking is overkill for VHS (although others here will tell you it's better to capture at 720x480 and then either not resize that or to resize when converting to mpeg2...we can talk more on that once you can capture).

Anyway, what (video) software do you already have available on your pc?

[wolfer]

I've been trying a lot of S/W

ScenalyzerLIVE
Windows movie maker at the dv-avi setting which is 25mbps
Virtual VCR no audio or output code settings
I've tried Windv, works well but no audio during recording. I find a lot of programs not allowing you to hear audio while capture.
I've also tried the ones in my first post.
So far I can not find one that will allow me to set the code for capture IE huffyuv, or Mjpeg etc these have been installed in my PC.
I have adobe premiere Pro installed but not until I watch the total training videos.

I just want to make sure that I have the best capture for these VHSC tapes, cause once they are captured and backed up they will be rerecorded over. I'll never have the chance to recapture the video again. The backups will also allow me to use them as stock footage whenever I might need to reuse a clip for a custom mix to output to DVD with all the bells and whistles

What do you use with your ADVC-100

[DaveS]

I use either studio 8 (b/c I have it, and it can time the captures), vegas, my editor, which also happens to capture, or iuVCR for scheduled captures (tv). I also have the demo of scenalyzer - this is a really good tool.

iuVCR allows selecting a codec (e.g. mjpeg, etc.) and configuring the settings for the codec. I would think virtual VCR does the same but I don't know.

something is still odd about the DV capture you are doing if you are getting more than 12 (12.7 I think) gigs/ hour. My DV is type 1. I can't recall whether type 2 is different compression but you shoudn't be getting > 12.7 gigs / hour.

Two other things:
- If this material is really that unique, don't record over the tapes, spring for new ones even if you say you won't be able to capture again (e.g. are you just borrowing the equipment?). but don't tape over them.

- also, dv would be higher quality than mjpeg and better for future editing / inclusion in other material; are you going to backup the avi files somewhere, etc.? when you compress them, they won't be as good for editing / re-encoding.

Hope this helps!