Help authoring dvd's from captured tv

[speedyrat]

I hope I posted this in the right area. I'm a newbie and just got an AIW ATI 9800 video card. I've captured some tv stuff and was interested in trying to burn some of it to dvd, so I can play it in my home dvd player. Can that be done?

I'm using the ATI vcr like program, but none of my other applications seem to know what it is. It uses the .vcr file extension. Do I need to use a different program to catpure with? And what program will best burn these onto to dvd?

I really don't have a lot of extra hd space right now, thus one reason I would like to burn some of these and get them off my hd.

Thanks

[housepig]

I would suggest that you use a different capture program, one that will capture in .avi format or .mpeg format, so that you can convert to a dvd-compliant file.

Virtualdub, Virtual VCR & iuVCR are good capture applications, and the first 2 are freeware. Check the Tools section.

Once you have them in a format where you can convert them to a dvd compliant file, you can import them into your authoring program and author your dvd.

[speedyrat]

Ok, I'm downloading virtual vcr right now

So, I just need to capture in avi or mpeg1? And then will I need to convert or encode that file with an encoder to make it a dvd file to burn?

Any suggestions on those? I know tmpgenc is suppose to be a good encoder, from what I've read. What about to burn the dvd's with?

I appreciate your help....sorry if these questions are to newbie...I've read alot, just trying to get some direction.

[dvcd]

ATI vcr can capture in .avi or .mpg format too (like Virtualdub, Virtual VCR & iuVCR).

For best quality, I capture .avi and then compress to .mpg (with tmpgenc). But this process takes too much time.

Now I capture svcd (with ati vcr) and burn svcd (with nero) on cd-r.

You should be able to author and burn these svcd-mpg (captured with ati vcr) to dvd-r.

[allaboutduncan]

Check Lord Smurf's site for capturing guide using the ATI All in Wonder Cards. I've imporved my capture and editing times and quality by going through them step by step.

http://www.lordsmurf.com

[speedyrat]

Thanks for the tips. One thing I noticed about virtual vcr is it does not allow for you to program or schedule recordings. You can set it up to record for a certain time period...e.g. 1 hour, but looks like you have to click the start record button to make it start.

I just downloaded it, but looked all through it...maybe I just missed it.

[housepig]

So, I just need to capture in avi or mpeg1?

since you are trying to put these on dvd, I would recommend you capture as an avi and convert to mpeg-2, or capture in mpeg-2 directly - do not capture in mpeg-1, you will just have to reconvert from an already highly-compressed format.

[speedyrat]

Thaks housepig,

I'm getting the hang of this. Already captured one hour of test vidoe in avi and encoding it now with tmpgenc.

I understand what you mean about capturing it in avi. When I dump my dv from my camcorder it saves it as avi and then I encode it and burn it to dvd. This needs to work the same way...basically.

Thanks!

[speedyrat]

Ok, here's the problem I've run into. I recorded an our of video using S-Video and using Virtual VCR. I captured it in avi format. I then took tmpgenc plus and encoded it. That gave me two files...an m2v and a wav file.

I took those two files and used the 'Import Asset' in DVD-Lab. Everything looked and worked great, but then when I took that dvd and played it in my home dvd player, the audio sounds really bad...like it was recorded really loud...it's real splattery. The audio in DVD-Lab shows it as PCM...is that ok?

I just put it in like tmpgenc did it.

Or do I need to be looking for some controls in Virtual VCR to turn the audio down?


Update: I just checked my avi file on my pc and it's really loud also...just like the dvd. So, I must need to turn something down in virtual vcr.

Suggestions?

[housepig]

I haven't used Virtual VCR in a while, but I remember there being an audio input level control.

try turning that down, and also turning down your line in level in your Volume Controls in Windows (or whatever input you are recording from... although it should be Line In and not Mic In, as Mic In adds a lot of gain to make up for the lower-than-line-level signal from a microphone).

this is the hard part - finding the right set of applications and methods that work. once you find some good procedures, trust me, it'll go very smooth from there on...

[mickle]

Thanks for the tips. One thing I noticed about virtual vcr is it does not allow for you to program or schedule recordings. You can set it up to record for a certain time period...e.g. 1 hour, but looks like you have to click the start record button to make it start.

I just downloaded it, but looked all through it...maybe I just missed it.

It progams just fine with Windows Task Scheduler

[speedyrat]

Ok, got the audio input resolved...thanks for the help.

Now another question.

Is there another recording program out there that will record in AVI format that has a scheduler in it?

Virtual VCR is nice, but has no way to schedule programs several hours off.

[mickle]

You can program VirtualVCR via windows task manager.

[housepig]

iuVCR has a scheduling component. I haven't used it, so I don't know how well it works.

(the rest of it is great, though.)

[Richard_G]

To schedule recordings, go back to using your ATI software. All you need to do is go into the setup and set it to record in avi format instead of ATIs own proprietry format.

It doesn't matter what you use to capture with as long as the format is right. You could of course buy (yes, I know it's a frowned upon concept on this board) a copy of Ulead DVD Moviefactory. I don't think it will allow you to schedule recordings but it will capture, encode and burn from the one app. That way, once you have the capture you can load a blank DVD in your writer and leave it to get on with the encoding and burning while you do something else (like sleep!). It will also allow you to add menus and titles. You don't have to use it for the capture, you can use previously captured files but it will do everything you want in one go.

[Kool_Aid]

ScenalyzerLive has a nice GUI, and a built in scheduler.

Great capture tool.

[speedyrat]

You can program VirtualVCR via windows task manager.

Instructions on how to do this would be nice I guess I could see how you could use the scheduler to bring it up, but how can you make it start recording with the scheduler?

Virtual VCR is a sweet little program..if they would have just taken the time to add a scheduler in it...it would be an unbeatable little app. I like Power VCR for it's scheduling stuff, but it will not do avi.



Thanks!

[FulciLives]

You can program VirtualVCR via windows task manager.

Instructions on how to do this would be nice I guess I could see how you could use the scheduler to bring it up, but how can you make it start recording with the scheduler?

Virtual VCR is a sweet little program..if they would have just taken the time to add a scheduler in it...it would be an unbeatable little app. I like Power VCR for it's scheduling stuff, but it will not do avi.



Thanks!

I figured out how to do by visiting the VirtualVCR website. They have a section there with instructions on there how to do it. It was easy to do (I'm using WinXP).

The VirtualVCR website is: http://www.digtv.ws/

I think you have to set up a PASSWORD for your WinXP account to be able to use the Scheduler. After you do that it is easy.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
When you go to the website CLICK on GENERAL INFO which is on the LEFT HAND SIDE under VIRTUAL VCR then you will see a LINK on the main page about how to schedule a program.

[leoncheong]

You may like to visit here for 2 programs that does scheduling for Virtual VCR

[presto]

Speedyrat,
Ignore all of the advice you've gotten so far. None of these people use their computer like a vcr to regularly schedule tv recordings and watch them on dvd. I guarantee that no one who advises you to capture in avi has hundreds of episodes of TV on their harddrive and puts 14 hours or more of TV on DVD in a single evening.

I do. Right now I have several seasons of many of my favorite shows on my computer. Whenever I get 7 or 8 episodes in a row I burn then to a DVD for archiving (that's right 7 or 8 hours on a DVD and they look awesome).

I have an ATI AIW Radeon 7500. Here is the recipe.

1) Start with the vcd setting (yes it's mpeg 1, don't worry it's completely DVD compliant accept for one small change in the audio setting).

2) Use the modify button to give your template a new name andn then change the vcd template from mpg1-vcd to just mpg1. If you don't do this and you choose crop video you will get an odd sized video. Since you made the above change go ahead and choose crop video. (I got myself a little confused on that last point so to be safe DON'T choose crop video) Change the audio to 4800. If you don't change the audio Tmpgenc DVD author will still work but will take longer because it has to change the audio.

3) Do a test captue with the above setting. You will be dissapointed in the result. It will look washed out. Now the important step go back to the template and modify the video soap settings. Use combo 1 at 65% and sharpness at 15%. Now do a test capture. You will find a huge improvement. If the video is a tiny bit choppy on the computer don't worry. It will look smoother and brighter when you play it on your TV from a DVD.

If you don't allready have it download the free trial of Tmpgenc DVD Author (Not to be confused with Tmpgenc). Load your files into Tmpgenc DVD Author and chop out the commercials if you want (I don't accept for really special movies). It will take about a half hour for Tmpgenc DVD Author to create your DVD files. There is no faster or easier way to author a DVD with editing, chapters, and menus.

Burn the resulting files to DVD using Nero. Use the latest version of Nero and choose DVD video. Be sure to put all the files created by Tmpgenc DVD author into the VIDEO_TS folder.

My results using the above recipe have been exactly what I have wanted all along. I plan to write a guide soon and I'd like to start getting feedback so I hope you try this and let me know what you think.

I know other people have their favorite tools and I'm sure there are many variations of the above that would work. I'm really not claiming to have the only answer, even if I sound like that. I just went from frustrated and angry to delighted and productive when I finally got this all to work.

Good Luck

[FulciLives]

Right now I have several seasons of many of my favorite shows on my computer. Whenever I get 7 or 8 episodes in a row I burn then to a DVD for archiving (that's right 7 or 8 hours on a DVD and they look awesome).

Each person is an individual and as an individual we all have our own idea of what is poor quality, acceptable quality, good quality and excellent quality.

However there are some constants ... certain things that most people will agree with.

In this case I believe that constant to be that VCD resolution (352x240 NTSC or 352x288 PAL) is very poor. I don't care how you filter it in an attempt to improve quality ... the resolution is simply too low to be considered anything but poor quality.

I cannot recommend enough to the original person asking for help to at least stick to what is called Half D1 resolution (352x480 NTSC or 352x576 PAL) as you will get more than acceptable quality at that level of resolution.

As for being short on time I see no real difference in the resolution used ... as long as you computer is fast enough to capture direct to MPEG-2 at your target resolution then so be it. You gain no real speed advantage capturing direct to VCD resolution than to half D1 or full D1 resolution. Either way the capture to MPEG-2 is real time.

The only real benefit to capturing to such a low resolution is it requires less HDD space and fewer burned DVD-R discs. It really has very little if anything at all to do with speeding up the process.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[presto]

In this case I believe that constant to be that VCD resolution (352x240 NTSC or 352x288 PAL) is very poor. I don't care how you filter it in an attempt to improve quality ... the resolution is simply too low to be considered anything but poor quality.

The quality is suprisingly good. If I played my DVDs for someone who thought they were watching TV I doubt they would notice anything. Objectively the picture is "softer" than the original, but not much.

I'm not sure if Fucilives comments on saving time were in answer to my post or not. I never said the using mpg1 was faster than mpg2. Using mpg is immensely faster than using avi. Using mpg1 saves some space over mpg2.

If anyone on this thread captures TV regularly (ie several shows every day) and keeps them on their computer untill they get enough to burn to DVD I'd like to hear how you do it. How many hour long shows can you keep on your computer at one time and how long do you spend getting them onto DVD?