Can I just save my dv video in a compressed format?

[ridethebike]

Hi Folks,

I am a novice at this stuff so pretend you are talking to an 8 year old!

I have an old Sony DV camera.

My goal is to transfer the DV's to DVD and keep the encoded data (time stamp, and whatever else is in there).

I have the camera connected via firewire and can transfer the file. The file size ends up at 12.4 GB. (These are 640x480 videos I think (not HD) so I don't think I'll lose much if I get them to fit on a DVD).

When I tried to encode them with a program called "DVDFlick", it took about 4 hours to process the 1 hour file! Do I need to encode them or can I just save it in a compressed format? Will I still keep my data codes?

Is there a better way. I recall importing these before (a long time ago) using Windows Movie Maker or something, and it automatically split the files based on the time stamps or fadeouts or something.

Finally, can this happen in real time as the transfer is being made?

Thanks so much.

Greg

[sanlyn]

not so simple. Need more info. Your 12.4 GB capture file size is not unusual, but you don't say what format/compression you recorded to. Depending on the playing time and complexity of your recording, encoding to MPEG2 for DVD is entirely different from "recording". Yes, it takes longer.

Windows Movie Maker is among the lowest-quality apps you can find for immortalizing your prized videos.

[johns0]

ridethebike-in the future please use a more descriptive subject title in your posts to allow others to search for similar topics. I will change yours this time.

What you're doing is the best method.The only way to get what you are doing faster is to get a better computer.The dv avi you are capturing is a straight data transfer so you get the original quality.

[ridethebike]

Thanks for getting back guys.

The pc is pretty fast. 64bit, 16GB, Dual Core 3200 MHZ with and ATI Fire GL 3600 ? video card.

Not a speed demon but works for my graphics programs. (I'm a graphic designer but you can probably tell, not a camera or video guy)

I guess my question then is what and how to encode. For example, does MP4 maintain my , what is it, "embedded data"? (like date codes and stops and starts?) I swear, I tried an old version of some software that recognized the stops and starts, and dates, etc of the video. I think when I imported it it broke it up automatically in the timeline. I think iMovie does that right? So 2 questions.

1: For importing, what program will split the movie into chapters like iMove?
2: To get this to fit on a DVD. What's the best encoding that maintains the times and chapters, etc?

Thanks again

Greg

[johns0]

Your system is slow,i can encode the same type of file in 20 minutes in 2pass encoding,read the section to your left on HOW TO:author and choose dvd.