Need overal setup help

[pugvader]

I understand the rules say not to just say HELP! but I think I will make my self clear enough as to what i'm asking.
I have a newer computer, video Ipod, Digital camcorder, tv card(ati tv wonder pro). I want to be able to capture video from cable via the tv card and move to dvd or convert to ipod format. I want to be able to hook my camcorder and transfer the footage in the best quality to dvd.
First off my computer: Dell Dimension dim3000
intel pentium 4 3.00 ghz
512 mb of ram
HD says 146 total
118 gb used
27.9 free
XP service pack 2
I put in a Nvidia g force mx 4000 128mb ddr pci Card
I have all the tools but seem to run into problems everywhere.
Programs I have are Super, DVD shrink3.2, ulead video6, nero vision express, windows media encoder, ati multimedia center(which capture tv shows), ads instant dvd, window movie maker, sonic my dvd.
My main problem is getting useful quality, and I am worried I will lose my self quality with the wrong settings. For example if I tape something on the camcorder I worry I will select the wrong program and wrong setting, so what ends up on the dvd is less quilty then the original that i could of had.
I am just looking for general over all suggestions on the right program and setting for optimal performance.
My system also seem to be locking up everytime I open a video file now. I think my hard drive is to full?
I also have converted file in super but I can't get them into the Itunes libaray. I click open, it flashes a second then nothing happens.
So i guess to start some times on how to stop the locking up and setting for the camcorder transfer and tv wonder capture would be cool. i mostly tape sports events and it tends to "tile" when something fast happens.

[thecoalman]

For the digital cam that's simple, transfer as DV-AVI, it's an exact duplicate of what is on the cam. You're not actually capturing but transferring from cam to computer. From their you use that footage as your source material. You can drop it in a editor, edit it and ouput to different formats for the ipod and DVD.

For the ATI see digitalfaq.com. look under capturing with a ATI card.

The "tile" you see is called macroblocking and is usually caused by insufficient bitrate. Can also be caused by trying to capture directly to a compressed format such as MPEG or a piece of s*** encoder.

Just to give you an example the footage you transfer from the digital cam and convert to DVD should be indistiguishable from what you would see if it were plaed from cam to TV without very close inspection.

[redwudz]

For quality, you might look into a separate encoder program. This will give you more control over quality and bitrate. If you are getting pixelation with fast scenes, the bitrate may have been too low.

For video, you need lots of hard drive space. If you are running low, consider getting a second hard drive. This should also improve your capture speed. With your present drive, get rid of some files to free up some space and see if your drive needs defragging.

If your camcorder has a Firewire out port, you should be using that. I use WinDV for Firewire transfers to the hard drive. From there it's mostly encoder settings for quality.

For ATI capture cards, look here: http://digitalfaq.com/


Generally I get along fine with WinDV, VirtualDub Mod, TMPGEnc encoder and TMPGEnc DVD Author as my main tools for DV to DVD. I rarely use all-in-one programs for DVD conversion except DivxToDVD, and then only for a quick conversion that doesn't need high quality.

[kschang]

The main problem here is you didn't describe what you wanted properly, basically. That's why you're confused.

Computer stability is a separate issue than transcode quality, and those two are separate from which program is best suited to the task. If you mixed them all up and try to sweep them all at once you won't solve any one of the problems.

So, calm down, and tell us what you want to fix first.

1) Stability of your computer
2) Quality transcode settings (specify program)
3) What program is better for task X?

[pugvader]

Thanks guys! some good info so far, and kschang you are exactly right, I tried to cover a bit of everything but you response is what I was looking for as far as a pecking order. Exactly as you said I should focus the stability of the computer first. I think I need to move all my photo’s off (which I hate to do because I don’t like having them only on a dvd that can scratch or break) Also need to see if the itunes library can come off , way to big to just keep on there. I also need to learn how to take a screen shot as I have to much running on start up and need opinions on what I need to uncheck.
Any other stability tips?

PS I did finally get the video files on the ipod, I thought you could drag anything in and click convert, but I guess some files if you don’t have them in the right format they won’t even go into the library. I just don’t understand why it lets me instead of giving me the circle with a line thru it.

[kschang]

Easiest is use Gadwin's Screenshot, it's free. Just hit the key and it pops the file onto clipboard, into a file, or variations thereof.

[pugvader]

I got the videos on to ipod, but when i used dvd shrink and reautohered them i got a copy protect error i did not get on a full back up.
Also the sound goes off from the picture after awhile