MiniDV To DVD

[bitsurfer]

I've been transferring videos to DVD for sometime now and have had varied results.

I've got a MiniDV camera with DV (firewire) output.

Until recently, I've transferred from the tapes to the PC at DV quality (creating AVI files). I then use Roxio DVD creator to make MPG's and DVD's with titles, effects, edits,etc.

I recently bought a DVR with a DV input and went directly from the MiniDV tape to the DVD (creating .VOB files). The quality difference was remarkable.

I'm considering foregoing the titles and edits to retain the video quality (and live with the DVR's basic titling).

I tried converting the VOB files to MPeg (with DVD2MPG), but the resulting MPeg file looked no better than the MPeg created by going from tape to PC.

Is this a function of my software? my PC? my firewire card? the cost of encoding via PC?

I'm trying to figure our how to get my remaining tapes to DVD. I prefer nice menus and titles, but want the best quality video possible.

Any input you can provide is much appreciated.
Bitsurfer

[bits]

DVD recorders do a good job but I think you are not comparing apples to apples. Roxio is not known for being very good at encoding mpeg2, you should try something like CCE Basic (60$) or Mainconcept or Procoder using quality settings. My bet is that you will be very surprised at how much better the resulting mpeg files will look.

One reason why the edited DVD looked poorly after burning is probably because it was re-encoded by Roxio in order to author it and then burn to DVD. If you go the route of editing the DVDs burned by your DVR then you need to make sure you use a good mpeg editor and that you use authoring software that does not re-encode compliant mpeg.

[daamon]

@ bitsurfer: I shoot with a MiniDV cam and go the cam -> PC (DV AVI) -> MPEG2 -> DVD route and get excellent results. So much so that, to the eye, the quality is virtually indistinguishable from the footage on the tape.

Why? Coz I use a good quality dedicated encoder (TMPGEnc Plus) that's configured to how I need it.

The short of it is that it's possible to get excellent quality DVDs from DV cams, you just need to read up, learn and persevere.

It's not unrealistic, in time, to expect to be knocking out high quality DVDs with impressive looking transitional menus.

[bitsurfer]

Well then here's my dilemma.............

No one , but me will ever look at the MiniDV tapes. Everyone will look at the DVDs. Camcorder to DVR/DVD takes 1 hour per DVD (with crude menus). Camcorder to PC to editing (including learning and "perservering") to authoring takes much, much longer.

In the interest of time, I think I'll just dump to DVR/DVD and convert the VOBs to Mpeg (or AVI) when I have a faster PC, more disk space, more time and better (re)encoding software.

I end up with a lot of unwanted video, but at least when my camcorder dies, I'm not left with MiniDV tapes and nothing to play them on.

Am I crazy?

[Frobozz]

bitsurfer, what you're doing makes good sense. You are connecting the camcorder to the DVD recorder to make video DVDs from your DV tapes. When you want you can extract tho MPEGs from those DVDs you can use any of a variety of PC applications. There is no need to re-encode those MPEGs if all you want to do is some cutting and trimming. If you want to make a cool movie with titles, transitions, multiple soundtracks, special effects and mix in some still images as well you can use the PC to convert the MPEGs to a format that works with movie-making applications.

If you choose to use an MPEG-editing application to cut or trim the original MPEGs the resulting video will be no different in quality than the one recorded by your DVD recorder.

[BrainStorm69]

Why don't you just record to a DVD-RW on the stand alone, and then re-author (no re-encoding involved) using something like TMPG DVD Author?

That should let keep your quality and have more control over the menus.

[bitsurfer]

Will TMPG DVD Author read the vob files on my existing DVDs, allow me to edit them on the PC, then re-burn them to DVDs (without re-encoding)?

[Baldrick]

yes, just select add dvd video in tda.

[JAB285]

Well then here's my dilemma.............

No one , but me will ever look at the MiniDV tapes. Everyone will look at the DVDs. Camcorder to DVR/DVD takes 1 hour per DVD (with crude menus). Camcorder to PC to editing (including learning and "perservering") to authoring takes much, much longer.

In the interest of time, I think I'll just dump to DVR/DVD and convert the VOBs to Mpeg (or AVI) when I have a faster PC, more disk space, more time and better (re)encoding software.

I end up with a lot of unwanted video, but at least when my camcorder dies, I'm not left with MiniDV tapes and nothing to play them on.

Am I crazy?

I don't think you're crazy. I also don't think MiniDv is going anywhere soon either. I think the format will be around for quite some time. Save those master tapes as it is easier to edit avi than it is to edit mpeg. If your camcorder breaks, you can get it fixed or buy a cheap one just to play your tapes on.. If your really concerned about backups, you could always transfer your minidv tapes to dvd as an avi file. It would take three dvds for one hour of minidv video. This way, you would always have the original avi file to make more dvds from. Could be a solution to your problem.