DVD writer and miniDV (same quality?)

[fergums]

This may sound like a dumb question, but I am trying to find out what the quality difference, if any, between video captured on a miniDV camcorder and the output once burned onto a DVD. I have made some VCD's and SVCD's with Studio DV and Nero 5.5 and the quality is not even as good as VHS. I am looking at buying the Pioneer DVD A-04 but if the quality will not be as good as the tape it seems pointless to spend the money and not significantly improve quality. Many thanks, Michael

[vhelp]

fergums,

you're also confused here.

DVD quality is just that, DVD, after Hollywood (used generically) gets
finished with their PROFESSIONALLY made source materails, they pre-process
it with filters, and/or whatever touch-ups that are necessary for the
final DVD encode/creation.

DV is NOT DVD quality - - no matter what you may think or read here or
there, etc. DV is 720x480 resolution, weather your source is from a VHS
or Cable or Satalite, etc.
Quality will depend on the source. ie,
* VHS - worse, cause it's approx resolution is 352x240
* Cable - not sure, but most are low res too, but higher than VHS, AND a lot
noisy also, even as noisy as VHS too.
* Satalite - this source is much cleaner, and is in MPEG-2 format, and I
believe resolution is something like 480x480 or 640x480, but not 720x480.
You can capture it at 720x480 but it's true resolution wont be 720x480 (source'wise)
You can also use your mini DV (miniDV tapes) and transfer via firewire at
720x480, and still, source is 480x48 or 640x480, so it (720x480) wont be its
TRUE resolution, and yes, it's still not DVD quality - - no matter what
others may say.

SCENARIO 1:
I used my DV to transfer my VHS to DVD quality. Why ain't it DVD quality??
Dah! cause as I've stated earlier, VHS native approx resolution is 352x240.
Just because you capture or firewire'd it at 720x480 doesn't mean you made it
DVD quality. ie,
* VHS commercial movie ie, "Meatballs" - RESULT: VHS actually 352x240 resolution
* DV cam: taped onto miniDV tape - ok
* firewired to harddrive at 720x480 - ok
* GOAL: to create a DVD quality encode - RESULT: wont happen!
COMMENTS:
their are many reasons why quality wasn't as expected in this SCENARIO. ie,
* process of VHS movie
* or, maybe is was a home-made movie (worse even)
* quality of movie (tape/vcr/speed/etc)
* method of transfer, via firewire or analog capture
* method of encoding (incl. any filtering prior to and after)
* media
* burning method
* dvd player quality/ability
* combo of any/and/or all the above
So, the one main reason my VHS (as a source) will never give you DVD quality,
is because of it's very low resolution. No, again, NOT your DV's 720x480!!

SCENARIO 2:
I used my DV to transfer my Satalite to DVD quality. Why ain't it STILL no
DVD quality??
as stated above, VHS/Cable/Satalite, etc. all have variaiton(s) in resolutions
in their programs.
Just because you capture or firewire'd it at 720x480 doesn't mean you made it
DVD quality. ie,
* Satalite movie ie, "Deep Blue Steel" - RESULT: approx 480x480 or higher resolution
* DV cam: taped onto miniDV tape (SP MODE?) - ok
* firewired to harddrive at 720x480 - ok
* GOAL: to create a DVD quality encode - RESULT: may or may not happen!
COMMENTS:
their are many reasons why quality wasn't as expected in this SCENARIO. ie,
* process of Satalite's program/movie
* pre-processed a 2nd time, or barrowed from another affiliate
* quality of movie (noise/re-encode to MPEG-2)
* method of transfer, via firewire or analog capture
* method of encoding (incl. any telecine/ivtc/filtering prior to and after)
* media
* burning method
* dvd player quality/ability
* combo of any/and/or all the above

People just don't get it. Come on. DV is not DVD quality. DVD quality is
a professionally processed system, done w/ professional cameras, etc.
Your (mine too) puny little DV cam is not going to make you DVD qualiy.
At best, it will be very good quality (done right) but never give you DVD
quality. You need hollywood's assistance here, and 1 or 2 of their $$$$ cameras
wouldn't hurt, but then, you wouldn't be using your DV cam after all...

If you want better quality, the ultimate solution is to just plain raise your
bitrate very high, ie, 4000 or 6000 or higher. That's what those DVD unit's
do. And as a result, you have better quality, that is, w/out the blocks,
thanks to the higher bitrate. But, the DVD unit didn't make your quality.
But, you won't understand this till you start from the ground up. Course,
you don't want to do this. So, again, I say, you'll never understand this
fully. If you really want to have DVD (that is, close to DVD quality) then
just get a DVD unit, like the Instand DVD or Bungee or WinTV PVR, etc.
These units will create a DVD specification/compliant encode for you in no
time, and you wont have to wait hours and hours like most of us here (myself)

>> I have made some VCD's and SVCD's with Studio DV and Nero 5.5 and the quality
>> is not even as good as VHS. I am looking at buying the Pioneer DVD A-04 but if
>> the quality will not be as good as the tape it seems pointless to spend the
>> money and not significantly improve quality.
Well, maybe not for VHS, but you may find other uses for it, like if you have
Satalite. Much better quality. DV source too.
But, as far as improving VHS, you're out of luck. At best, maybe you'll get
as close to VHS, but never better. And that depends on the VHS and the movie
put on it, and the method used in doing so. But, you wont understand this either.
It's an art for me. I can tell you if the VHS movie will come out good or
not, course if done by me, but by you, maybe not. Noone can teach you what
they know over night. Giving you a tip or too ain't going to help you either.
Cause you'll run into another problem or too and be back w/ more questions.
If you want to be spared most of this headack (as it is) again, your best
alternative is to go w/ those Instant DVD makers I mentioned above.

-vhelp