Do I have to capture at 720x480 before I convert to MPEG2?

[aubrey_q]

Hi:

I am using VirtualDub VCR for capturing AVI, and I was wondering if it was necessary to capture the AVI at 720x480. Can I get by with 352xsomething and then let TMPGEnc convert to MPEG-2 at 720x480?

The reason I ask this is that so far Virtual Dub and Virtual Dub VCR will not let me save the capture setting at 720x480. It says it's an unsupported capture format by my device although other capture software doesn't have a problem capturing at that resolution.

[Jonathan Archer]

no you dont have to

[Vejita-sama]

You can capture at any resolution you want. But your final mpeg has to be at a resoultion supported by the DVD standard: 720x480, 352x480, or 352x240.

As a general rule the best results come from capturing at the highest resolution and bitrate you're PC will support, then encoding/converting as necessary.

[aubrey_q]

Thanks. One question I forgot to ask is if I capture at a resolution lower than 720x480, do I lose quality when TMPGEnc converts to 720x480?

[Dodzzz]

Thanks. One question I forgot to ask is if I capture at a resolution lower than 720x480, do I lose quality when TMPGEnc converts to 720x480?

Of course, the image will not be as sharp as you capture at 720 x 480

[aubrey_q]

That's what I thought. Thanks again.

[pijetro]

Horse crap. You won't see a difference at a higher capture resolutiong, especially if your source is VHS. The only advantage you have capturing at that size, is that the encoder will work faster. 640x480 is sufficient. I'll bet you a week's wages that 352x480 is just as good.

When you talk about conversion to Mpg, then it's the bitrates that make the major difference, and not so much the resolution......What's the final output for your Mpg2? SVCD or DVD????

[aubrey_q]

My source is a satellite receiver hooked up to my AverMedia Stereo capture card (analog, of course). I am capturing in AVI, but I suppose the satellite receiver's analog output is pretty much equivalent to VHS?

Anyway, it turned out that I didn't have enough hard drive space to capture the 87min file at 720x480. So I'm going back to 352x480 which I know it will fit.

BTW, I'm using TMPGEnc to convert the file to MPEG-2 in order to burn a DVD.

[mcdermd]

wouldn't you want to capture and encode at half D1 to author the "lesser quality" VHS or TV cap to DVD?

[aubrey_q]

Could you explain (or refer me to) the term "half D1"? Thanks.

[crahak]

Horse crap. You won't see a difference at a higher capture resolutiong

You absolutely WILL. It is by FAR recommended to capture at a higher resolution than what you're converting to. It will most definately give more details, lessen noise and all. Much much much better.

Satellite systems are not equal to VHS, and it's basically on a system to system basis. Some are not bad, some suck...

720x480=D1, and 1/2 D1 352x480.

[aubrey_q]

Thanks, crahak.

Can anyone tell me how to get Virtual Dub VCR or regular Virtual Dub to record at 352x480? It won't let me capture at any resolution other than 320x240

[crahak]

What's your capture card? An ATI one? (in which case you have to install MMC), bt8x8? ... It usually works if you have the right drivers installed.

[Anonymous65]

For more information about capture resolutions and how to do it, goto http://steve.kittelsen.com/vcd/

[aubrey_q]

Crahak:

I have an AverMedia TV Stereo PCI.

Steve:

Interesting info on capturing. I'm gonna try Virtual VCR...

[aubrey_q]

Well, I installed Virtual VCR and it totally screwed up my capture card. I couldn't see anything from my satellite receiver, no video at all. I thought the receiver was damaged, but I fed the video signal to my camcorder and it was fine. I then thought my capture card was damaged, but I decided to do a System Restore first. Voilá! My capture card shows video.

Oh well, all I want to do is capture AVI at 352x480.

[Anonymous65]

VirtualVCR does not do anything to your capture card, it only communicates via the WDM driver. So, you eigther don't have a good WDM driver installed, or you use VFW.

[aubrey_q]

Well, I can tell you that my driver was working fine before I installed Virtual VCR. That's all I can say.

Anyway, I've decided that capturing MPEG-2 with hardware encoding might be the way to go. It will save me time and frustration.

With that in mind, coincidentially there are a few capture cards that have discounts or rebates starting tomorrow in my neighborhood. These are:

1. The Hauppauge PVR-250 - $99 after mail-in rebate.
2. AverMedia's AverDVD EZMaker - $30 after mail-in rebate.
3. Pinncale PCTV - $35 after rebate
4. Creative Labs Digital VCR - $50 after rebate
5. Adaptec VideOh! DVD - $150 after mail-in rebate.

I've read the reviews here and it seems that the PVR-250 will be the likely choice based on final price and performance.

By the way Steve, even though the PVR-250 is great at MPEG-2 capture, can it still capture AVI? Or does the MPEG-2 hardware encoder prevent it?

[Anonymous65]

Only option 1 and 5 is hardware encodeing.
As far as I know the PVR-250 cannot capture AVI. Some people have claimed to have installed a WDM driver for the card, but I have never tested this.

I believe the Adaptec card can only capture in the MyDVD (authoring) program, and does not come with a seperate capture program. I can't confirm this, but that is what it says on the web site.

[crahak]

That card is a generic bt8x8 card. Try the drivers off sourceforge and see what happens Oh, v'dub is not to blame.