dazzle success

[mixxerr]

a month or so ago, i bought a dazzle digital video creator 80.after running into problems, i finally got it working.i captured video from a vcr,using avi_io.i used the morgan m-jpeg codec set at 100%.and audio was set at cd quality.i successfully captured a 65 minute movie this way.
then,using tmpgenc, i encoded each clip (there were 4 of them) to mpg format.i then used the mpeg tools in tmpgenc to merge & cut.i joined all the clips this way.i then edited the mpg file.there was some unwanted stuff at the very begginning and very end if the movie that i didnt want.after that, i saved the mpg file and burned it as a vcd using nero.the overall quality was pretty good,in my opinion.

now, for a few questions.

1 i dropped a lot of frames while capturing.i dont recall exactly how many,but there were a lot.i am thinking about buying a usb 2.0 pci card.will that give better results??

2 after i viewed the mpg file, i noticed a screech(?) where the clips joined together. is there a better program to join clips??i also have camels mpeg join.i recall reading somwhere that you shouldnt use that program to join videos.

3 nero seemed to have a problem with the clip.nero said that the clip wasnt a valid mpg file.i burned it anyway.with no problems after that.

4 the vcd i burned was 68 minutes long.the edited mpg file was 60 minutes.what happened??

5 last question.i think i got good results using the above methods.is there a better way of doing it???feedback IS appreciated!!!

[Tommyknocker]

Remember to do your research before buying a capture card. Your demands may be more than what a PCI card can give you.

If you are dropping a lot of frames, it only matters that you think it is a lot. Me, if my program drops more than one frame in one thousand, I adjust the settings. The are several articles that address minimizing dropped frames, so burning a little midnight oil may come into play here as well.

If you like tyring new ways of doing things, you may try to solve you audio screech problem by reducing it, or replacing it with a audio program like Gold Wave, and then joining it with your original videos.

When you format a file to be used by Nero, make sure it is formatted correctly. TMPGEnc has templates you can use to suit Nero.

[The village idiot]

And I bet Razzle tech support helped you alot, didn't they?

[dcsos]

They do make one good product..(DAZZLE)
Unfortunately Its not a computer piece
I'm referring to the STAND ALONE HOLLYWOOD BRIDGE
if MIXXERR had bought this, there would be no frames dropped..as this unit converts ANALOG VIDEO to DV otside the computer and allows the USER to then capture VIA firewire

Poor MIXXERR is using USB- which if its 1.1 USB dropps frames like crazy
GET A FASTER PROCESSOR or MORE RAM..If you can't stomach capturing at a lower quality...

Otherwise, I've gotten those audio HITS at the cut or merge point more times than I'd care to remember. If you're joing MPG audio this happens (it shouldn't but it does)
two fixes
1. If you're in a non linear editing application, turn the sound down just befor the clips join (a few frames before the join point-If you can go the GOP # of frames you're good!)
2..for MIXERR..re join from new clips that are several frames longer or shorter (may require re-render)