VHS -> DVD -- More than 2 hours possible?

[derekj212]

I am using a Dazzle DVD Creation Station 200 with a Sony DRU-500A DVD+-RW on a 1ghz Athlon Tbird....anyways, the software i *must* use to capture is MovieStar 5. Every other program will crash! Anyways, as of now, I capture it with that and re-encode MPEG2 audio with TMPGenc Authoring. This process takes about 30 mins which is great, and out comes the vobs i can place in Nero to burn. However, I can only fit 2 hours on a DVD-R and I would like to place about 3-4 without losing much quality if possible. Since the source is VHS, it seems like DVD quality is overkill, however when i capture in VCD or SVCD format, TMPGenc or those kind of programs will not accept it, or if they do, it will reencode and take MANY hours, anyone have any suggestions for a newbie?

Derek J
derekj212 at attbi.com

[txpharoah]

Read the guide in my sig for VHS->DVD. It has some info.

I suggest using MPEG2 at a bitrate of about 2.5 MB/S (2500k) at 352x480 resolution, but you're going to potentially have more noticeable errors as you lower the bitrate. That should give 3 or so hours.

I put a ~3-hour (2:50 I think) movie (sourced from DVDrip) onto a single disc with a bitrate of 2900k at 352x480. It barely fit, with only a few megs to spare. I had to redo it because the 3 MB/S was too big the first time.

Maximum DVD MPEG1 at 352x240 at 1856k (1.85 MB/S) will give about 4 hours, but quality loss is going to occur to some degree.

The important thing for you to do is use a bitrate calcular, and then experiment with varying bitrates, and you can use lower bitrates on lower resolution. Theoretically, a 720x480 at 8 MB/S should look at good as a 352x480 at 4 MB/S encode. If you could interlace with MPEG1 or with MPEG2 at low resolutions, 352x240 at 2 MB/S would probably look good too, as it would still be VHS resolution at this mark.

[derekj212]

The only program that allows me to capture doesnt seem to have those settings anywhere....the bitrate that is...where can i set that? I am using MovieStar5..

Derek J

[txpharoah]

Sorry, but it's not a very good program. Not to be a jerk, but you own a very crappy capture device (Dazzle anything). That's terrible that it doesn't have option for adjusting bitrates and resolution. Just capture with it as best as possible.

Then use TMPGenc to convert to final MPEG1/MPEG2 (reconvert if necessary). That program has all the options.

[Raen]

Don't listen to newbie boy there. Your card is fine, its the ssoftware you are using.

Click on over to the tools section here and look at the other capture programs out there. I'd suggest capturing it in Vdub an an AVI and then converting it with Tmpgenc for best qualilty. With only a 1ghz machine it might be hard for you to capture a flawless copy without many dropped frames. But capturing it an an avi(either uncompressed--takes LOTS of harddrive space- or using huffyuv codec--also takes lots of HD space, about 30 gigs for an hour) is your best bet, then convert it to a mpg2 to the size you want it

[derekj212]

Wont that take forever? Also, I can still return the capture device and trade it for any one i want...any suggestions? I am trying to make encoding time minimal as it is now, but also fitting more on a DVD. If i have to do 10 hours of encoding to get 4hrs on a DVD, i might as well only do 20mins of encoding, and just use 2 DVDs. My capture device captures directly to DVD format on the fly with its built in DVD encoder chip which saves quite a bit of time, and i like that...

[LanEvo7]

I've fit up around 6 1/2 hours on one DVD before with pretty good quality.
I used Virtual Dub and MJEPG codec at 18 quality to capture. If you don't have the MJEPG codec and don't want to pay for it, you can use your current program and capture at 720x480(or whatever the corresponding PAL resolution is).

Then use TMPGEnc and opening to SVCD template. Change the resolution to 352x480(NTSC, PAL is different). Make the max GOP 18, and close it. Then change the encoding bitrate to CQ quality 65 or 70(Depending on how much moviement your movie has) and keep the bitrate max at 2520 and change the lowest bitrate to 300. Should yeild some pretty good results.

[Raen]

Depends on yer definition of 'forever.'

To re-encode it after you capture..with your 1ghz machine.. will prolly take 4-5times the length of the capture. So if its an hour show you captured it would take about 5 hours to convert it to a dvd-compliant mpg2. That's using VBR. If you use CBR you can cut the time in half--the downside is the file ends up being abit larger for the same quality.

The problem is your 1ghz cpu. I'm not sure any capture device will let you capture a flawless copy without dropping frames, especially with fastmoving scenes. For basic capturing the ATI all-in-wonder cards work great. They have superb capturing software with loads of features. You can get an ATI All-in-wonder 8500 for like 150 bucks now(or so I hear) I saw somewhere the 9000 AIW for 199 bucks. The newest one goes for like 399.

As far as capturing ability the AIW's are all about the same. So if you dont care for the vid card then go with the cheapest you can find(heck you might find a 7500 on ebay for cheap)

[derekj212]

Well, the "problem" is that my capture device does this:

"The DCS 200 hardware converts your video into DVD quality MPEG-2 video in real-time so there is no need to go back and convert the video later."

I like this because I dont have to encode it again which takes a long time on my machine. However, by not re-encoding it, it can only fit 2 hours. I was hoping for a way to fit more than 2 hours without having to re-encode it.

Derek

[txpharoah]

Don't listen to newbie boy there

I've worked with video since 1992. I have a pretty good handle on media knowledge, with lots of expert experience in video, media law, writing, and news photography.

I've never read a positive industry review of a Dazzle product, and in fact see many bad customer reviews, and the cards have a high rate of return at a VERY LARGE local computer store (Fry's Electronics).

If you can still take it back, consider doing so. Look into ATI All In Wonder cards if you have the money (excellent real-time MPEG encoders), or if you insist on DV AVI, give Canopus products a try. Maybe Pinnacle, but you're slipping in quality again, although not as bad as Dazzle.

[txpharoah]

Well, the "problem" is that my capture device does this: "The DCS 200 hardware converts your video into DVD quality MPEG-2 video in real-time so there is no need to go back and convert the video later." I like this because I dont have to encode it again which takes a long time on my machine. However, by not re-encoding it, it can only fit 2 hours. I was hoping for a way to fit more than 2 hours without having to re-encode it. Derek

If I'm not mistaken, I believe you're experiencing software MPEG encoding, so it may not have any options available for you. Hardware encoding would yield greater options and better results. I'm not overly familiar with all of their products, as they are on the very dead-last wrung on the quality card ladder, so nothing I've really been asked to test often.

I've seen the ATI All In Wonder 7500 cards on closeout sales recently (having been replaced by the 8500 and 9700 cards) going as low as $119. My 7500 card was $200+ and my 7200 card was $300+ back in the day, and they've yielded excellent results at home. (I'm spoiled with Panasonic, Matrox, and Canopus products at work. )

[derekj212]

If i can take care of my audio sync problem with AC3 ill be happy...

Derek