The best method to convert Laser Disc to PC to DVD

[Rogue3]

I'm looking for a solid method to move movies from a few of my Laser Discs to DVD via the computer.

Whats the best capture settings to keep full digital quality of the movie?

[Tommyknocker]

Capture at the highest setting possible, and convert using this guide using TMPGEnc's DVD template, then burn using your favorite software.

[SLK001]

I capture laserdisks at 9.5Mbps using a low delay GOP structure of IPPP with 48ksps MPA stereo audio at 384kbps. I then frameserve to CCE so I can perform an IVTC and convert the video to a more reasonable size and convert the audio to .AC3 to transfer onto DVD-R. This method hasn't failed me yet.

[onlyone]

I have an old Panasonic LD player I'd like to use to capture my LDs to my PC and then master to DVD, but I have a few questions.

Once youve captured each video clip in is there a way to keep the 5.1 surround of the audio file without an optical out on the LD player? Or is there some kind of intermediary hardware that can be used between the PC and the LD player to "see" and capture the actual 5.1 audio file itself...?

Finally, total newb question, what is IVTC?

Thanks in advance.

[monoxide77]

i made a guide with this specifically in mind
http://www22.brinkster.com/mikemelancholic/guide/guide_main.html

[wwaag]

Like the guide in the previous post, I use an ADVC-100 and Scenalyzer. However, I use the default Microsoft Codec and convert to a type II DV file, which CAN be read in Virtual Dub or Adobe Premiere. Using Vdub for simple editing and filtering, I then frameserve to either Tempgen, MainConcept or CCE. I then use Ifoedit for simple DVD authoring and either Nero or Record Now DX for burning. Works very well, although tedious.

One recommendation. Follow this process only for your LDs that haven't been released on DVD, like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc. LDs can be extremely "noisy", especially if your player is not properly adjusted. In fact, a lot of satellite captures are "better" than my LDs for this very reason. Some LDs work very well--others don't. I also find that one side of my LD player (a Pioneer) seems to produce better quality.

Hope this helps.

[mysticgohan17]

IVTC: InVerse TeleCine
The process of going from 30fps(actually 29.970) NTSC interlaced frames to the original 23.976 progressive framerate.

WTF does that mean?????
Click here to find out

[Marco33]

I just finished my first conversion of LD to DVD.

Specs:
AMD Athlon 1800 + XP, 1.5 gig
Win XP
512 Meg
64 vidcard Nvidia G3
MSI TV @nywhere capture card (Mpeg2)
Used card software to capture

Capture settings:
704X480
6400 bit rate
48 audio 16 bit 224

The disk in question did have some wear on the outside. Altho I don't know much about it I would say there was some rot. Periodiclly during the movies I would get boxed pixalation.

Ok, I did a test to see how great the picture was straight to the TV from the LD. My HDTV WS (43") had a fit. The picture IMOP was not much better than digital TV. Anyone who has a HDTV know's what I mean. I would rate it marginal above VHS and not anywhere near dvd. The sound was fine.

Ran some quick tests. 5 min captures to get a feal for brightness and how much I could stretch the bit rate. Using a high bit rate (9000) didn't provide much better results than (6400). Altho 4400 ( the amount needed to fit it onto one disk) showed very noticable results (poor) even during graphic friendly scenes. I desided that my best bet was to capture @ 6400 (recommended setting by capture software) and split to 2 disks. IMOP, encodding down to one disk will just kill it. Needed to set the brightness up to 50% from 25%.

Since the movie covers 3 sides of 2 LD I ended up with 3 MPEG-2 files. For those of you who don't realize how LD are setup they can only fit 45 min on each side, and we bitch about the limitations of dvd. No wonder these things never took off. It's like a rigid record album.

Didn't have any frame rate drop or sound sync issues. Thank the Luke... I mean lord Vader.

Cut the files with TMPgnc using the merge & cut Mpeg2 program VBR. Merging the first 2 files, They fit on the first disk and the last file fit on the 2nd disk.

Authoed with spruce up.
Played on a sony.

I DON'T recommend anybody waste their time doing this unless they just can't get the movies they want on DVD. EX-Star Wars Trilogy.

Results: The audio was good and by that I mean it sounded fine but was kinda low. The video was VHS all the way but, hey... it beats watching a crisp SE (bootleg) version of the trilogy.