Vhs/DVD clarity question

[RWH]

The help file that comes with Virtualdub is help-full as well. If you decide to use it.

[sanlyn]

You could use Windows built in Movie Maker. You can add titles and stuff super easy.

Umm....never mind. I'll let someone else tackle that one. Otherwise, the o.p. will find out for himself about WMM.

[RWH]

Those links point to Movie Maker Live 2012. That's not the same as XP's built-in Movie Maker. It's rated 7.1/10. Most of comments refer to the XP version. It's free and easy to use. A lot of people use it and like it. Definitely not snarky people.

The only issue I had on some machines was random crashes. In the programs options menu you turn off external codecs. Problem solved.

True your limited on codecs.

http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/Tutorials/

http://www.papajohn.org/

My reasoning is to help the OP get comfortable with video editing. Maybe he can learn and enjoy at the same time. I know everyone wants to be helpful. I don't believe being bombarded with scripts is helping. Not yet.

Being overly critical doesn't help either. Basically telling the guy your VCR isn't any good, the device you just purchased isn't any good. That's gotta be depressing.

[sanlyn]

The O.P. came here with complaints about the sorry results he got from the equipment and methods he used. He wants to know about "better" and seems willing to learn how to get it. Obviously some shortcuts would be helpful, but I really don't think that many software apps would be appropriate or give him what he wants. He has already discovered the difference between a poor player and a better one. There are many editors and compilers around, some at budget prices, some at no cost, that will give excellent results. WMM isn't one of them.

[RWH]

Can't encode mkv or mpeg with WMM. I'll post a wmv just to give the OP a glimpse of WMM. Have to use DV-NTSC on a real project. Of course it's not lossless. and then you need to encode to the desired format. It's easy though.

I'm all ears about doing it with scripts.

Is this getting to sidetracked.

[Caiosouza]

Quick question: how you guys dealt with the master copies (lossless) type of this case, around 70GB, in the age of Pentium 2, Pentium 3 HD 20GB (top PC season) ?

[sanlyn]

Nice little demo.

Is this getting to sidetracked.

Lossy re-encoding loses data. There should be only one encode, and it's the last step. This sort of editing and timeline work can be done with lossless media, but encoded only once to final output after everything flows properly.

The demo could have been done in a script, but it's...well, complicated, and many touches aren't practical or possible in Avisynth/VirtualDub. I use some timeline and layer editors in lossless mode-- TMPGEnc Video Mastering Works (which also has good multi-format encoders) and After Effects (but save output as lossless). In the dim past I used (ugh!) Pinnacle, the latter being horrible even with lossless source. I have a couple of slide shows to prove how bad it is and had to do them over again from scratch, which took weeks and a better encoder. Pinnacle crashing every 10 minutes and demanding a system restart didn't raise my opinion of it. Also played with Premiere Elements a while back using lossless, but it's encoder was noisy and some of the transitions are kinda jerky. Whoever designed its interface must have been on medication. Transitions, fades, dissolves and the lot are much cleaner with lossles AVI. And usually faster while you're doing the work. Freebie NLE's seemed too limitiing and clumsy. The encoders I use are from TMPGEnc, HCenc, and TX264. Those three guys can handle pretty much everything. But like everyone, I'm always on the lookout for other apps.

We're probably getting ahead of the game for oldretiredguy, and making it seem tougher than it really is. Let's give him some time to catch up.

[sanlyn]

Quick question: how you guys dealt with the master copies (lossless) type of this case, around 70GB, in the age of Pentium 2, Pentium 3 HD 20GB (top PC season) ?

Yes. Since Windows 95. If by "HD" you mean "hard drive", then yes. Newer software and newer formats demand faster chips, bigger drives, etc. For VHS capture I still use 2.2 dual-core AMD machines from 2007 that I built for my ATI cards. No problems, and I can also run some Avisynth/Vdub processing if I'm not in a hurry. I used to have After Effects installed on them, but AE has been transferred to my new build. In the past I used those same cards with Win95/2000/XP and 1.5GHz Pentiums.

[Oldretiredguy]

Can't encode mkv or mpeg with WMM. I'll post a wmv just to give the OP a glimpse of WMM. Have to use DV-NTSC on a real project. Of course it's not lossless. and then you need to encode to the desired format. It's easy though.

I'm all ears about doing it with scripts.

Is this getting to sidetracked.

Thanks for the clip. I like what you did with all the captions etc. Playing it on my laptop, I still see lot's of room for improvement but that may just be because of the lousy sample that I posted. I'm going to try out my new video capture device ASAP and get the video onto my laptop. Then I will try to post a better sample. Give me some time though. I have more 'honey do's" that have to be taken care of. Later,

Ray

[Brad]

Quick question: how you guys dealt with the master copies (lossless) type of this case, around 70GB, in the age of Pentium 2, Pentium 3 HD 20GB (top PC season) ?

Yes. Since Windows 95.

I think the question was how anyone managed to work with large lossless videos when hard drives topped out at 20GB. I wasn't doing lossless back then, but it seems to me the answer is by working on smaller chunks at a time and deleting the lossless files as you go.

[RWH]

SCSI drives?

[RWH]

Oldretireguy

I just did the title stuff in WMM. I used Virtualdub to crop it, resize it, blur it a little, and convert it to a format that Movie Maker likes. I used the huffyuv-2.1.1 lossless codec. Pretty much makes little if any difference here though. It was compressed to lossy format mpeg2 to go on your DVD. And I compressed it again to lossy format .wmv.

If you use your device and the software that came with it, I'm pretty sure you'll have 3 options. Mpeg 1/2 or 4. Mpeg2 for DVD. That means you will lose quality if you edit this file and save it. Because it will be rencoded again. If it doesn't need to be edited you should have a decent quality DVD.

Using Virtualdub means you can capture with a lossless codec. There might be some debate about huffyuv. But to me that means you can edit it without concern.

If your interested there's the Movie Maker Option. With a lossy (but less than other lossy )DV-NTSC codec.

I just want make sure your clear on the lossy vs. lossless. I don't want to steer you wrong. If the Mpeg2 with your device doesn't turn out, and you edit it the quality will be diminished. Then you'll have to recapture again in a lossless format.

All that being said, I would still try it. Unless your feeling comfortable with Virtualdub.

[Oldretiredguy]

Would it asking WAAAAY too much for one of you guys with time on your hands to maybe give me a 1--20 steps or whatever on what I should do once I have my neighbor's vcr connected to the capture device that's connected to my laptop? I will probably use the S-video cable that was suggested way back in this thread. Once I start playing my tape I push the record button on the device and it should be sending the film to my hard disk in a file that I have named. What I'm not sure of or actually don't have a clue is what settings might have to be set by me in the software, (either what came with the device or VirtualDub). Or am I making too big of a deal of the capture? Since the tape is of 2 hrs. long I want to do it right the first time if at all possible.

Thanks so much for all of your patience and for trying to help me learn something.

Ray

[RWH]

Here's the quickstart guide.

[sanlyn]

RWH, those instructions are for capture using Arcsoft to lossy MPEG2. The device is going to be used to capture to lossless media with VirtuaLDub's capture utility.

Ray, you'll have to bypass that startup guide. Member vaporeon800 is familiar with using the devive with VirtualDub. Good idea for wait for his insight, as I don;'t use that device, even though I've been caopturing with VirtualDub since 2002 but have used it with other capture.

And by the way, I just noticed: DO NOT HIT "RECORD" on your VCR to start the capture. You will erase your tape.

[Oldretiredguy]

RWH, how in the world did you put that together so fast? I can't begin to thank you enough for the concise easy to follow instructions. I have got it all installed on my laptop and I'm going to also put it on my desktop pc even though it is old and slow. Once I have the video on my laptop I will want to start the learning curve to try my hand at making it better. I can only hope that you will be able to hold my hand when that time comes as you did for this part. Thank you so much.

Ray

[sanlyn]

Ray, you can't use those instruction to capture to lossless media with VirtualDub.

[Oldretiredguy]

Ok, this thread is getting confusing. I saw your post but I didn't see the one above it telling that I shouldn't use the ArcSoft software. I think I'm starting to understand somewhat. If I'm thinking right, once I have the tape running in the vcr with VirtualDub open I click on the capture option under the file menu and then tell it where to save the file etc. Right so far?

R

[Caiosouza]

Quick question: how you guys dealt with the master copies (lossless) type of this case, around 70GB, in the age of Pentium 2, Pentium 3 HD 20GB (top PC season) ?

Yes. Since Windows 95. If by "HD" you mean "hard drive", then yes. Newer software and newer formats demand faster chips, bigger drives, etc. For VHS capture I still use 2.2 dual-core AMD machines from 2007 that I built for my ATI cards. No problems, and I can also run some Avisynth/Vdub processing if I'm not in a hurry. I used to have After Effects installed on them, but AE has been transferred to my new build. In the past I used those same cards with Win95/2000/XP and 1.5GHz Pentiums.

If by "HD" you mean "high definiton", no way. You need new equipment for HD.

Yes I know that in time the software was "light" and suitable for construction of the season.
I'm referred to how as you manipulate it Lossless files 70GB for example, at that time.
The Hard disks (Here in Brazil HD=Hard Disk) were around 20, 10 gigabytes or less, and relatively low processing power.
Type: where I would store and work a 70GB file in 1995?

[RWH]

Oldretiredguy

I just found that on the Diamond website. sanlyns right the software won't help with Virtualdub. Now you've got the drivers installed, and can use the device. You can try the Arcsoft software. It's your call, and it won't hurt to see what vaporeon800 has to say. He did mention any Virtualdub guide will do. There are a number of settings that have to be configured. If you go that route I don't know what settings would be best.

[Oldretiredguy]

RWH, from what I am gathering though, I can use this device to capture tv and other audio/video content. So, it is not a loss as far as the software goes. I am going to read the "how to" guide that I downloaded for VirtualDub. I want to try to get somewhat of a handle on using it before I do anything. Another question, how do I go about making a "lossless" copy of my tape? I gather that is what I want to do my editing/correcting on or am I mistaken? All of this is like sitting down in a Chinese restaurant and trying figure out the menu when it's all in Chinese. I remember back when I first started getting into learning about computers and it was frustrating not knowing what everybody was talking about but in time I learned it. So, now it's just another language to learn. But, I am running low on RAM memory in my brain cavity. I do appreciate your time and patience.

Ray

[sanlyn]

RWH is correct in that you have to install the VC500's software to get its drivers into your system, so that other programs can recognize the device. I'll have to get my capture PC going and switch to that for a while. Can't remember all of VirtualDub's settings.

[Oldretiredguy]

Sanlyn, once I get the vcr all hooked up and I open VirtualDub, will it automatically recognize my capture device and start to capture the video or is there more to it? I guess if I read the doc I'll find out though huh?

R

[RWH]

The docs will help but Virtualdub has changed a bit over the years.

Select File >Capture Avi Select Device and see if your device is listed.

Need to install a lossless codec. https://www.videohelp.com/tools/HuffYUV Simple install read readme.

[Oldretiredguy]

Ok, thanks you guys. I have to sign off for tonight. Wifey wants some attention. See ya tomorrow.

Ray

[sanlyn]

Wives just don't understand that video has priority. (Mine is the same way )

[Brad]

I don't think 480 lines for Field Threshold is correct, as the tooltip mouseover says that interlaced processing is enabled for values above the threshold only. The default 288 is good (anything between 288-479, realistically).

The correct frame rate is 30000/1001 which is 29.9700299700299700... (note the repeating pattern). VirtualDub's capture menu only lets you set a limited precision decimal for some reason, even though AVI files only use fractions internally.

Ray, once you've gone through sanlyn's instructions, go to Video -> Capture filter. Click on the Video Proc Amp tab at the top of the window that pops up and please attach a screenshot of that tab. I haven't used the device on XP so I don't know whether the controls are accessible in that OS.

The other settings to tick are the Timing options I mentioned before.

[sanlyn]

Thanks for checking, vaporeon800. I forgot to remind oldretiredguy to set up a capture file name and location before starting. When setup is complete, I just hit "F6" (and usually have to stop when I forgot something else!). The "ESC" key in the top left corner of the keyboard will stop capture. The Timing Options are similar to those for my old cards, only 1 item looks different but I think I see its purpose with a different type of capture device.

There is an info panel at the right-hand side of the window. During capture, most of those numbers will change constantly.

[RWH]

If it's necessary for him to change the Field threshold value. He needs the patched version of huffyuv.

http://code.google.com/p/huffyuv/downloads/detail?name=HuffyuvSetup_2.1.1_r19.exe&can=2&q=

The option doesn't show in unpatched huffyuf. Might be confusing.

Oldretiredguy

This all makes mud look like a precision optical device huh?

[jagabo]

A lot of people have problems using VirtualDub to capture when audio playback is enabled. So you may need to disable audio playback in VirtualDub while capturing. Ie, deselect Audio -> Enable Audio Playback. It will still capture the audio (assuming you have Audio -> Enable Audio Capture selected) but it won't play it while capturing.