Capturing/Converting from Canopus ADVC-110

[ADigitalMan]

So I picked up the Canopus ADVC-110 earlier this week. Was a cinch to set up, but I'm having all kinds of capturing issues.

I have the latest version of Nero installed. I can capture perfectly fine with Nero, but when I try to author a DVD in nero using the captured file, it crashes every time. (It's NeroVision that's crashing, giving the error NeroVision.exe Application error: The instruction at "0x00746d04" referenced memory at "0x01933990". The memory could not be "read". Their tech support hasn't been too helpful thus far.

Trying a different route, I have converted one of my captured files from DV to MPEG-2 using TMPGEnc 2.5 and authored a disc and used TMPGEnc DVD Author. I'm quite disappointed in the final look. I used the default DVD NTSC settings in TMPGEnc. Should I be doing anything beyond this to get better looking VHS to DVD conversions?

I would love to capture at 640x480 or 720x480, but that doesn't seem to be possible using VirtualDub and the ADVC because of the DV format. I can't seem to capture in VirtualDub at all, getting the following: "Capture Error" The current video capture format is not compatible with AVI files."

I read the sticky thread on VHS-DVD expectations, but I didn't notice discussion on best practices and procedures for DV->M2V conversion.

Questions:
1) For raw DV captures, is Nero as good as anything else, or is there something that captures better looking / full resolution files from the DV stream?

2) If Nero is as good as it gets, what is the best-looking method for converting the DV (AVI) file to M2V format? If it is TMPGEnc, what should my settings be?

Thanks to any and all for your advice.

[jimmalenko]

1) Nero is crap IMO for anything other than burning. period.

2) I have an ADVC-100 and I use the guide here, which uses AVISynth scripts and involves using virtualdubmod to do any editing if required, uses the convolution3D noise filter (much much quicker than TMPGEnc's inbuilt noise filter), and then at the very end of this guide you feed the AVS script into TMPGEnc, and convert to MPEG-2. Then you author with your favorite authoring program (mine is TMPGEnc DVD Author).

It may sound complicated when you first try this method, but after a couple of go's at it you'll be a pro !

[Barnabas]

Lots of programs to capture with.

Windows Movie Maker, Ulead Video Studio, WinDV etc. I own a Canopus ADVC-55, and a Hauppauge PVR-250, bit since I bought the Canopus, I don't use the Hauppauge, as the quality of the captures with the Canopus is outstanding.

I cap at 720x480 with Windows Movie maker, then open the file in Virtual Dub, filter out the logos with DeLogo, and frameserve to TMPGEnc. 2.5 and finally author with TMPGEnc DVD Author. The end results look fantastic. I only use Nero to burn the final project.

[wwjd]

I have a Canopus ADVC-100 which is essentially the same as the 110. It converts the VHS analog to DV. What you want is to transfer not capture the DV output from the 110. You DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE DV that is put out by the 110 you just want to put it on your hard drive.

There are many software apps that will do what you want but many of them have lots of options that can lead to mistakenly re-encoding the DV as it is being put on your hard drive. My recommendation is to use a freeware app called WinDV. Make sure it is set to Type II. If you do not hear any audio during capture do not worry the audio is there. I recommend this app because it is bullit proof, there is no chance at all that your DV data will be re-encoded or changed in any way.

TMPGenc is a good DV to mpeg2 converter, slow but good. If you are not familiar with the settings do some trial and error. TDA is also a very good authoring app. One great feature is that it will not re-encode your mpeg2 files not matter what. NVE will if you are not very careful and I personally do not like NVE and I do not recommend it.

I can not recommend what the best settings are for TMPGenc but I bet there is a guide somewhere on this site that can. I use CCE Basic to convert my DV avi to compliant mpeg2.

Also keep in mind that your resulting video will generally not look any better than what you started with. Yes there are some things that can be done but for the most part garbage in, garbage out.

[ADigitalMan]

Thanks, and please keep the info coming. I'll begin work on trying the solutions already offered. I'm having an awful time getting VirtualDub to capture anything at any resolution, so the suggestions will hopefully help me find another route.

[ADigitalMan]

Already things are looking a thousand times better. I followed this guide http://www.dvd-guides.com/content/view/33/59/ and modified the appropriate places for NTSC where it was obviously referencing PAL. I authored about 10 seconds and could see a massive difference. I think it's all about WinDV capturing the DV stream at a much higher resolution.

Addional questions:
1) Should I de-interlace the video?
2) What is the actual resolution? 704 or 720? TMPGEnc brings up 704 by default.

[jimmalenko]

1) If your source is interlaced, leave it interlaced. It will look normal on TV, or when played on your PC using PowerDVD or any other player that does a proper deinterlace on the fly. The only time you'd ever consider deinterlacing IMO is when you're only ever gonna play it back on your computer, and you don't want to procure an app that properly deinterlaces while it plays.

2) Probably 720.
You can always just load the unlock template and change the template you're using so that the default is 720.

[ADigitalMan]

If the "main" source is not interlaced but the secondary source is, should the secondary source be deinterlaced (or IVTC'ed) to get it to a matching format? Is it wise to mix non-interlaced and interlaced sources?

[thecoalman]

I think it's all about WinDV capturing the DV stream at a much higher resolution.

Just want to point out that DV-AVI is DV-AVI. It's not a capture but a transfer..... Unless you pick some other format you'll get the same result from whatever application no matter which one it is providing you use DV-AVI as the format. It very similar to copying a file, the only difference being that your comp has to be able to write the data fast enough.

Note: there is a choice between type1 and type2. The differ only in how the audio is stored in the file.

[redwudz]

I use a ADVC-100 also. I transfer with WinDV, Type 2 because it's compatible with Virtualdub and TMPGEnc encoder. If you use WinDV, read the notes on adjusting the settings. With Virtualdub you need a DV codec. I use the Panasonic DV codec. BTW, VirtualDub won't work with transferring DV streams into the computer, only with the DV file after it's on your HD.

If you want a quick conversion to DVD format and your computer is fast enough, you can use Mainconcept encoder and convert to MPEG-2 on the fly. Not as good of quality, but fine for TV caps as long as you don't need to edit.

For editing and filtering the original DV stream I use Virtualdub Mod most of the time, then frameserve that to TMPGEnc encoder to eliminate the extra file. You can check out frameserving here. https://www.videohelp.com/virtualdubframeserve.htm

For TMPGEnc settings, I think the posts above have some good suggestions. jimmalenko's method sounds interesting.