VHS to VCD

[Noramando]

This is going to be a long .... mail.

I bought a Creative Video Blaster MovieMaker recently.

The following is the specification.
· Video Capture Formats
· MPEG-1: 352x240 resolution with 0.5-2.0Mb/second bit rate
· MPEG-2: 352x480 resolution with 1Mb-6.0Mb/second bit rate

Audio Capture Formats
· MPEG audio at 192 or 224 Kbps

Video Output File Types
· MPEG-1, MPEG-2

I have no problem to capture the VHS video. There are 3 formats I can save the captured video: MPEG1, MPEG2 and VCD.
Naturally I choose VCD.

I also have a NERO cd-burning application with a Plexter CD burner. In NERO, I choose VCD and managed to burn it into video. I put the CD into my DVD player and it runs OK. The problem I have is that the screen is showing a number of checker boxes on the screen with slight burr images. I have no problem with the sound.

Please advice me what I have done wrong. Is it because of the hardware problem or is there a better procedure to have better picture? I was expecting the images should be equal to VHS if not better.

Thanks in advance.

[Ricardo]

Simple answer I guess is that hardware encoding to Mpeg using (non professional) card tends to produce poor quality mpeg files compared to software encoding using a good encoder.

I use a Pinacle DC10+ which captures to Mjpeg, and I then encode using TMPGEnc.

Results are normally very good.

[Noramando]

Thanks mate. Sorry for being a pest.

Being a new comer in "Videomaking", should I capture it in MPEG2 first then encode using TMPGEnc.

Please also guide me on how to use the TMPGEnc. What are the steps?

Thanks again.

[Ricardo]

There's a good help file here on this website for help on TMPGEnc so I won't go through well trodden ground.

Ideally you want to capture in the best quality possible if you plan to produce SVCD's with your capturing.

Go for mpg2 with a high bitrate if you can to get best picture you can.