Aggggggggggg to much jargon

[joeshmoe2000]

First hello to all Smart People
Now heres the problem
I am looking at getting the canopus ADVC-100 as i have heard its the best thing out there. My question is, how would i make a VCD and how could i do it for a super low cost. The unit and firewire card break the bank,
(i am only 13)
there is a lot of talk of codecs and stuff.
What is the method or steps to create a VCD
I understand the capture part but then what.
Why do i need to convert the video?

Joeshmoe2000

[q1aqza]

Not enough info. What are you planning to create VCDs from - a digital camcorder, a VCR, an analogue camcorder?

[fantomlord]

start reading through the guides, and you'll find answers to all your questions. you'll also find that all of the jargon will start to make sense as you read more.

[joeshmoe2000]

ok so you asked for more info
the ADVC-100 is and external box the alows analog and Firewire conections.
It then conects to the computer using firewire.
I intend to make VCDs from a 8mm analog camcorder and VHS tapes (analog vcr)

My system
Windows XP home edition
PIII 1GHZ
512Ram
no firewire card (i will neeed one)
CD burner
Creative Sound Blaster sound card
Nivida GEforce 2 video card (with TV out)

Joeshmoe2000

[kitty]

You will first need to capture the video via tyour new firewire card. This will be in a windows AVI file using a DV codec.

You will then want to edit it most likely. Simple editors are Pinnacle Studio and Ulead VideoStudio (free trial at www.ulead.com). You can output MPEG video from these or

You can encode your video with the free version of TMPGenc www.tmpgenc.net

Now you have a MPEG video. You can use the freeware vcdeasy program to author the VCD onto a CD-R. Or you could buy a copy of Nero.

[Bondiablo]

You might be able to get away without spending anymore than the cost of the ADVC and a firewire card.

1. shop around for firewire cards that include software you can use for capturing. i got an NEC firewire card for $15 which included Ulead Video Studio 5 SE. there's also a free program called DVIO which works well for capturing or a really good program called Scenalyzer Live for $33.

2. download TMPGEnc, it's free if you only plan to convert to MPEG1 for VCDs or $48 for the Plus version if you need MPEG2 for SVCD or DVD.

3. download VCDEasy, also free, and use it to author and burn your VCDs and SVCDs.

That's all you need, assuming you have a CD writer, some blank discs and some RCA cables to connect your VCR to the ADVC. You really don't need any codecs unless you want to use VirtualDub then you'll need a DV codec which you can also download for free, look for the Panasonic DV codec (pdvcodec.dll).

[joeshmoe2000]

Well there is no need for burning software i have roxio EZ CD creator 5 platnum which can make VCDs.
If anyone recomends the other software over this PLZ tell me.
But if once youve captured the video and edited it you can save it as mpeg then why the need to convert using TMPeg or what ever it is

Joeshmoe2000

[Bondiablo]

I suspect you'll get better results using VCDEasy than Roxio and VCDEasy is a free download so you may as well at least try it.

As for converting with TMPGEnc, it will give you better quality MPGs than any of the editing software you're likely to get. Also, when capturing with the ADVC you'll be creating a DV AVI and your best off editing and saving in DV and then converting to MPG to maintain quality.

[joeshmoe2000]

So technicaly the process would be
analog camera/vcr---canopus--- pc in DV AVI Scenalyzer---edit---TMPG thingy---freeware burning software---VCD
is it put in DV AVI because its easer to edit?
i think this helps
thanks
Joeshmoe2000

[joeshmoe2000]

ok i think im gonna go with the ADS PYRO 1394DV and bundled software
about $60 but it has ulead 6 and some other ulead stuff with it.
is this a good idea?

joeshmoe2000

[Gazorgan]

I must be missing the point. Are you ultimately capturing from VHS, or are you making CAM movies? It really makes a difference in cost and ease of use if the final product is ultimately VCD (not SVCD?). I mean you can do some near DVD quality VHS captures with a $30 US capture card (allowing for the s-video vcr).

[joeshmoe2000]

OK
We have a new (and hopefully final) game plan.
1.go out and buy myself a new snow shovel with some alowance
2.wait untill it snows again then shovel driveways and add to the $215 i made this summer mowing
3.In the meantime keep a look out on ebay for this device and a low cost card
4.Try the freeware on this site. if that doesnt work i think i have ulead 4 kicking around from a old TV card that never worked
will that work with an external DV device?

You said why not get a tv card. Well i have bad experences with tv cards
although i wont sell my last one just yet as i think it came with ulead 4.
the problem is i can no longer even try to get it to work after i got xp it is useless. I find them tempremental and anoying at the best of times.
This device has so many raving fans i thougt it would be a welcome change.
(it got 40 10 out of 10s in the user reviews section of this site)

Joeshmoe2000

[Bondiablo]

It's put in DV AVI because that's the format the Canopus uses, which is a good format for editing. The Canopus converts the analog signal to DV and that's what it sends to your computer through the firewire card.

The ADS Pyro line does include some nice software bundles but all firewire cards are pretty much the same. I guess they do use a TI chipset though which the Canopus site still cautions against but that may be an old issue that no longer applies and they never did give any details about which cards with TI chipsets had problems. You might want to check the Canopus forum and ask there.


http://forum.canopus.com/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=GenADVC

[joeshmoe2000]

ok things have changed
ive decided to go with a nice basic card first, and work my way up from there.
the leadtek winfast tv 2000 xp deluxe.
ordered it and it is coming by the end of the week.
plz wish me luck hope it works

joe

[vcdforme]

joeshmoe,
tho I belive your Leadtech can capture directly to mpeg, you'll
probably find that in the long run
your mpegs will be best if you capture to AVI first, then change to MPEG in TMPGENC.
Mpegs must be formatted for VCD,
and this is done in TMPGENC.
(EZ CD has a handy detail tool
which will tell you when all of
your details are copmpliant.)

Tho I prefer Nero myself.

And of course, if you go the AVI
route, your Hard Drive cannot be
fat32 unless you want to split
your files because of the 4gig
limit.

good luck
'8)'

[joeshmoe2000]

ok the leadtek works great, i have whole bunch of simpsons recorded, the capture MPEG is big, 1 gig per half hour but TEMPEnc can take that down to 300mb. i just bought a sharp viewcam which is charging upstairs as i speak. so the moviemaking thing has begun. thanks for al the help guys you have been great.

[joeshmoe2000]

oooops forgot
"Joe"