DirecTV Cap>DVD-R

[sbain]

I am thinking of going the DirecTV route and would like some suggestions. I want to cap from the sat receiver (at, what I understand, is 704x480 analogue) to a 720x480 AVI file and then re-encode to MPEG2 and then finally author to DVD... is this correct. Can I also capture directly to MPEG2 and be done with it?

The 2 capture solutions I am considering are Canopus ADVC-100 and the ATI AIW 9700 on a new high-end system (see my earlier thread)... Which way to go and what software to get the best quality with the lowest pain in the A**.

[Ironballs]

Sbain, you might want to consider the Happhauge pvr250. People will tell you it's a pig to set up and to some extent that's true. However you can capture at 704x480 direct to DVD Disc. No converting at all.

There's the added avantage in that the encoding is done by hardware.

[emigrant]

I do the exact thing you describe, and I use an ADVC-100. I capture directv a variety of ways, including using iuVCR and Premiere.

I edit out commercials, and author to DVD.

sbain wouldn't happen to be the same sbain I know as Gunfighter, would it?

Ni!!!

[sbain]

I'm afraid not. However, it's good to hear someone is using the setup I am thinking of.

Anybody using ATI AIW 9700?

Ironballs, I am not clear how the Happhauge achieves this. Is 704x480 a normal DVD compliant format. I am very new so this could very well be. Just wondering.

[next]

Great question. As it relates to the pvr 250 I have never tried capping directly to dvd-r real time. What is the file structure of the burn? Is it compliant? i.e video.ts etc...etc?

[BOXINGJUNKIE]

I use the ATI 8500 to capture 720x480 MPEG2 using MMC 8.1, I frames only. It works great. No reencoding to do. It captures DVD compliant video. I also capture off of Directv. I then use TMPGE to edit out commercials and then author and burn. Great pic too.

Boxingjunkie

[txpharoah]

Resolutions depend on your provider and even the station, as not each channel has the same res. Almost all DSS signals are non-standard MPEG2 in the USA and North America, many are DVD non-compliant, and use 704x480, 544x480, 480x480 and 352x480. They may or may not be MP@ML too, outside NA. And even then, not all of the signal is sent at that resolution.

Research DSS signals here:
http://www.henry-davis.com/CSD9512:MPEG.html
http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/#dss

But in any case, you cannot download the stream if you don't have a special homemade hardware rig-up for it. (FYI, they don't sell those things legally yet, last I heard.) You're still just capturing the signal, and 352x480 is just fine for anything on tv.

I wouln't compare DVD to DSS too much. Just acknowledge its good, and that it also uses 480x480 and 352x480 for signals most people consider perfect. Funny how those same people sometimes snub SVCD resolutions. (I just don't like SVCD since I have a DVD-R drive.)

Just throwing out some facts for you to munch on.

For capturing from tv source or VHS tapes, and using an ATI card, check out the guide written by LORDSMURF:
http://lordsmurf.hypermart.net/conversion/dvdguide.htm

[jsnkc]

Why don't you just get a standalone DVD player for like $400, seems like a lot less work than what you are trying to do.

[sbain]

Huh? Not too sure what you're talking about.

[verchad]

I think he meant a standalone DVD recorder. I have the panasonic dmr-hs2 which makes great recordings of directv programming. This unit has a hard drive to record to so you can do a limited amount of editing. If you don't need/want this option you could go with a dvd recorder without harddrive.

[txpharoah]

The recorders are nice and all, but most true video users never use them.

They are too expensive for one, given what little they can do. And second, the quality is almost uncontrollable outside of a few settings. So we all try to find the best way to get it to a real digital editing studio scene, and that's what he was doing.

But yeah, for the average video user, a DVD-R machine will be great someday. But it will look cheap and homemade, especially the menus. It's no more than a VCR that does DVD instead of VHS.

Good suggestion, in any case.