Archive Format? DVD ripping? Canopus Procoder limitations?

[donnatn]

This is my first post so I am not sure of etiquette

I am trying to convert video to MPEG2 and WMV from VHS and DVD. The college I work for has some OLD VHS tapes that they want to put on my streaming server. Copyright isn't an issue here and there is no DSS.

I have a JVC VCR/DVD, Panasonic AG-DV2500 miniDV deck, Dell Precision Work Station 670 with dual processors, Canopus Procoder 2, and Nero 6. I am trying to do this on a poor man's budget since I work for higher ed

Anyway, I am wondering what a good format is for archiving video on disk. I am thinking that MPEG2 is good. My plan is to capture the video stream from the VCR -> MiniDV deck -> firewire cable -> Adobe Premiere to AVI -> Canopus Procoder2 to WMV and mpeg2 -> WMV to streaming server and mpeg to disk using Nero.

I can't think of a better way to do that.

Also, we have licenses to stream some videos that are copyright protected. I am having an issue with Procoder in using VOB files as a source. Canopus told me that it doesn't always work so I am trying to figure out what kind of DVD ripper to use. It is legal for me to use but I don't know which one to use. I want to go from VOB to MPEG2 or AVI.

Does anyone out there use Procoder? I like the software but I don't understand the VOB limitations. Any other Procoder limitations?

Thanks so much for your help and for the forum!

Donna

[yoda313]

I want to go from VOB to MPEG2 or AVI

You can use virtualdubmpeg2 or virtualdubmod to take the vobs from your harddrive and make a avi out of them.

Anyway, I am wondering what a good format is for archiving video on disk. I am thinking that MPEG2 is good.

You could do that but your compressing the avi your taking from your minidv tape. You should be able to split them in chunks and burn each segment on to a single layer dvdr. That should preserve the original quality. Though I don't have much experience with dv so I can't be certain on that.

But if you convert to mpeg2 than you can author a playble dvd or simply burn the mpg file to dvd and store that for future authoring.



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Actually come to think of it you'll get an avi file from your dv transfer. You should be able to use something like virtualdub to go from the dv format avi file to compressed divx avi and skip encoding to mpg altogether.