File conversion types

[sjmaye]

I have a company offering to transfer my Super 8 film to either MPEG or .avi. I thought I wanted .avi to avoid any quality loss and to keep these files as sort of a digital archive of the original.

I will subsequently be editing the files with a video editor and make a DVD.

Does it really matter which file type I get? What would you recommend?

[Gees]

I will subsequently be editing the files with a video editor and make a DVD.

If that's the case, go for avi. It will be easier to work with when you are ready. And you can retain the avi for archiving, should you ever decide to make changes.

That is, assuming the avi version would be uncompressed, highest possible quality.

[sjmaye]

That is, assuming the avi version would be uncompressed, highest possible quality

I wasn't aware that you could compress .avi. Do I simply specify I want no compression?

[Gees]

Yes, I would definitely specify "no compression".

Then you will have the most pure, so to speak, version of your source with which to work.

:c)

Also, this procedure would not cost them any more than a compressed version except that it will take much more disk space.

[sjmaye]

Thanks, Gees.

The company I have been exchanging emails with about the transfer is really reasonable at the transfer rates ($0.07/foot film). Their media costs eem high, though. A single MiniDV tape is $20. Each "DVD" is $45. They told me my 1350' of Super 8 (~75 minutes of run time) would take maybe one "DVD" in MPEG formate and 4 "DVD's" in .avi format. I thought these were standard file types that could be simply transferred to a standard CD-R.

What's right here?

[Gees]

I won't say anything about the prices, except, shop around. :c)

If you are asking for transfer only services (ie: no playable DVD with menus & extras) in my mind they should charge you a MINIMAL amount for the additional discs (4 vs 1) that transferring in avi would require.

As I said that would require a large amount of disc space, and is not feasible on CD. You would have to break the footage up among too many discs. Whether mpg or avi.

I would think transferring to avi is the least work intensive for them and I would pay no more than the mpg (DVD ready) conversion price, plus a reasonable per disc charge. Certainly not $45.00 each x 4.

ie: footage is footage no matter the final conversion type.

[holistic]

DV = 3.7Mb/second= 222Mb minute --> ~19 minutes 40 seconds on a DVD disk.

..A single MiniDV tape is $20..

If you have access to a camera this is the best way to go. DV tape has a good life 5 years or better if cared for.

Have the tape made . Buy a cheap 20Gb harddrive**. Beg/borrow DV camera. Transfer DV 'footage' on tape to the hardrive. Edit at your leisure.

** 75 minutes @ 222Mb minute is 16.6 Gigabytes. Of course ,nothing wrong with a 200Gb drive either.

][

[sjmaye]

About how many minutes of film per DV tape?

[holistic]

http://www.btinternet.com/~mike_eins/MY_TAPE_right.htm

http://www.high-techproductions.com/minidv.htm