better conversion software than DVD MF 2.0 SE

[airwid]

Well, I took too long typing this before and lost all my work, so I'll try to make this as short as possible. For about a year, I've been capturing VHS video using the Canopus ADVC-100 (and Ulead VideoStudio 7.0), then converting the AVI to DVD and creating the DVD menu with DVD Movie Factory 2.0 SE. Results looked great on my 19-inch TV. But then I bought a 30" widescreen HDTV, and I noticed that the original VHS would look slightly better than the DVDs I created. The VHS' colors were a bit more vibrant (especially with flesh tones) than my DVDs, and the DVDs picture wasn't quite as sharp. The DVDs I guess literally "pale" in comparison. The DVDs still look pretty good, if the original VHS picture quality could be considered an A, then the DVDs could be considered an A- in picture quality. I've tried using different VCRs, VCRs with S-Video connection, etc. and get the same results. I'm wondering if this quality loss is inevitable, or if I should try encoding the video with a different program. If anybody has any suggestions for a program to try that would help my specific issues, (or if something else could help me get a sharper picture with fuller color), please help. I'm not looking to spend too much money, as I don't consider this to be a dealbreaker. Just looking for that last little piece that would make the DVDs I make perfect.

I would post screen captures to help you all see what I mean, but I don't know how to do that. And frankly, that's what has been keeping from posting about this. But I thought I'd see what wisdom I could cull from this forum first before worrying about that.

Thanks,

AW

[airwid]

oh, forgot to mention that the difference in picture quality has been noticed on TVs other than my own.

[lenti_75]

i used that soft, and on 27 inch tv looked the same.

you should see if you use the max quality.

[reboot]

I would probably invest in a very good encoder.
Canopus probably, or CCE or Mainconcept...tmpgenc after those 3.
Some would say CCE, and yes, it is good, however you may not want to learn scripting with avisynth to generate "perfect" mpegs.
Next I would invest in a better authoring app, and (you guessed it ) I would get DVDLab Pro.
Burn to good high quality media, and span 2 disks if needed to maintain bitrate/quality.

[airwid]

I would probably invest in a very good encoder.
Canopus probably, or CCE or Mainconcept...tmpgenc after those 3.
Some would say CCE, and yes, it is good, however you may not want to learn scripting with avisynth to generate "perfect" mpegs.
Next I would invest in a better authoring app, and (you guessed it ) I would get DVDLab Pro.
Burn to good high quality media, and span 2 disks if needed to maintain bitrate/quality.

Canopus Procoder? Regarding media, have been using Taiyo Yuden DVD-Rs. Pretty sure those aren't contributing to the problem. Thanks for the suggestions.

[reboot]

Yup, Canopus Procoder, and Taiyo Yuden DVD-Rs.

[airwid]

would I see improvements from procoder express, or should I go for the souped-up version?

[reboot]

I would think procoder express will work. Not as many bells and whistles, but the same encoder engine.
Set output to Mastering Quality, 2 pass VBR, bitrate about 9000. Careful going too high, as some players choke.
Try to keep the aspect ratio as close to your original as possible, and still be within dvd spec.
It'll take a huge amount of time, and be a huge mpeg when done, but it will be as good as it get's for encoded mpeg from avi.
CCE Pro with the right script may do as well, but again, it's a LOT more work.