What is the better choice?

[Gaskan]

I have a VHS tape from cable TV of a basketball game. I want to transfer it to DVD. Which is the better choice to capture the game. I own an ADS DVD express capture box and I own a Sony Digital 8 camcorder with pass through capability. Keep in mind that I have access to all sorts of software video encoders and authoring programs (CCE, TMPG, Premiere, Vegas 5, etc...). I am looking to archive these games and also to possibly make highlight reels in the future. Please give your opinions and reasoning. Thanks, in advance, for all of your input

[jdizzy40]

Well why don't you try using the methods you have outlined and the hardware, software you have, and then check the results. This sort of question is like asking "I wonder what that might taste like", but never take a bite to see for yourself. This hobby is about trial and error. What works for you may not work for someone else. And lastly, having access to video encoders and authoring programs serves one very little use if he never sits down for hours and learns to use them. Opinions and Reasoning...........? Just experiment and if you have issues then come and post and ask specific questions.

[Gaskan]

Thanks for the reply. I should have given more information. I'm a strapped for time so I was hoping that someone could enlighten me with there experiences if they had used either of these devices. I also know how to use all of the software I mention very well. I am looking for some general input or feedback from anyone who has experience or theories as to which method will give better video quality, without much loss. Keeping in mind that future edits will be done before authoring. I guess my main question is will using the camcorder for the capture and future software encoding give worse results then doing a stright capture to Mpeg2 with my DVD express box. Thanks again for everyone's help.

[fmctm1sw]

This always gets bounced back and forth here. What is the best way to do it? You have the standalone DVD recorder proponents and you have the cap card/PC camp. Given that you mention editing, you may want the PC route. For all of its convienience, a set top recorder is just not as versitile as a PC/cap card set up. Yes, you can go back and edit your MPEG-2 files from a set top, but I just will not be convinced that a set top is the end-all be-all solution for this. Not to say it isn't awful convienient. I have nothing against set tops (and will probably buy one seeing the prices are droppiong like a rock). You mention quality and I can't speak for set tops on that. I just know with my cap card/PC, I have basically an infinite number of bitrate options to fit what I want on a disk. If you want the most on a disk you can fit, you can drop your frame size down to 352x240 and be DVD compliant and fit a LOT of stuff onto a disk. I could go on and on. I just don't look for all-in-one solutions. I dissect every piece of the process and get the most I can out of it. Playback hardware, capturing, editing/filtering, encoding, and authoring. I just don't think that is as effective on a set top as it is a PC. Then again, I've been accused of being way too anal about this whole thing. I recommend trying different things and see what works for you as far as effort vs. quality. Happy converting!

[reboot]

I've been accused of being way too anal about this whole thing.

You and me both!
I had quite a "discussion" about VSO Divx to dvd, versus the "edit/encode/author" method

[Gaskan]

Thanks for the replies everyone, but I did not mention anything about a standalone recorder. I have (MPEG only) capture device and a Sony digital camcorder with analog to DV passthrough capability. Based on that info, which do you think is the better option?

[The_Doman]

The sony DV passthrough will give you probably the best result (assuming you use a good MPG encoder)
The advantage of the DV-passtrough will be a much more stable video signal.
I do the same here with my SonyD8 when I have to transfer VHS stuff.
And you have already all the stuff there, a good thing to test both options then!

[Gaskan]

Thanks for the input. Does anyone know what tends to yield better results Harware MPEG encoders or Software.

[reboot]

Software, if the source is very high quality, otherwise it doesn't matter much.