AVI capture: multiple files or single file more practical?

[Ad_astra]

Hi,
I'm about to start capturing about 40 MiniDV tapes via Firewire using WinDV. I've done a couple of tests to know that I can either get one single file per tape or multiple files corresponding to the number of clips on the tape. Initially I wanted to go the single file route, but the very first tape provided an example of why this may not be ideal: while most of it was related to a single trip filmed over about a week, the rest contained two distinct episodes which I would in fact want to be in separate files simply to be able to name them so I can search or scroll through the file names later on. Essentially, I wouldn't want to end up in the same situation I'm in now where I only have a vague idea of what's on each tape based on the dates that I scrawled on the sleeve.

If I go with multiple files (a ton of them per tape, in fact), is there an easy way to scroll through them to see if the scenes are different enough to be saved separately? I understand that I could use an editor for that but importing a ton of files for that purpose alone seems cumbersome. At this stage, I'm not looking to do any editing. I also wouldn't want to sit there and watch in real time while the footage is being captured.

Of course I don't have a choice with my current HD camera which only produces multiple files. I kind of got used to it but I really don't like how the Media Player or VLC jumps from one clip to the next when navigation interface appears on the screen for a few seconds each time. With shorter clips, this gets really annoying. With this in mind, might it be better if not easier to capture one file per tape and then cut it based on content?

Just looking for some practical ideas from folks who have done it already. Thanks!

[Alwyn]

Re WinDV, you can adjust when the clips are captured into one file by using the Discontinuity Threshold. You could set it to say 28800 seconds (8 hours) so each day is captured into one file.

If you have events spanning multiple days, Scenalyzer is what you want. After you've captured all your individual clips, In Scenalyzer, open that folder and all your clips will be laid out, top to bottom. You can then click-select the files you want to join and Scenalyzer will join them up losslessly, still in DV format.

You can also easily split clips into separate files.

Scenalyzer, for the task, is unmatched and it's a pity that such a program wasn't made for HDV and MP4.

A viewing option for your HDV files is Video Hub App, a rather agricultural-looking program but which will scan a folder and display the contents in a stacked-timeline type of display, similar to Scenalyzer. You can't join files together, but at least it allows you to scroll through a folder of videos quickly without fuss to see what's in there.

[Ad_astra]

Thank you Alwyn. Will give Scenalyzer a try.

[Alwyn]

I have written a guide for Scenalyzer here. Hope that helps. I don't go into the editing part very deeply, but it's reasonably self explanatory. You basically make all the changes you want then "Commit" them.