How to get the best quality out of MiniDV capture

[rchopra]

Experts,

I would like to ask you better way to create DVD. This is what i do...

Capture using windows movie maker in DV-AVI format which is basically an AVI file.

Import that file in Showbiz and edit that .

Save the file in MPEG-2 Format or directly save to DVD-R.

Its a very simple process but i do loose quality from avi to Dvd format.

I would really appreciate if you guys can express what is the better way to do this job. I am not looking for fancy stuff at the moment but i just dont want to loose the quality if possible.

Thanks in advance.

[holistic]

Greets rchopra

Some suggestions :

Try a different DV codec such as mainconcepts

http://www.mainconcept.com/index_flash.shtml


Try a different "advanced" NLE (non linear editor) such as Premiere, Vegas, or Media Studio

https://www.videohelp.com/tools#Advanced Video Editors

Not sure about others but I know Premiere 6.5 has a decent MPEG2 encoder.

Try 'frameserving' to a better MPEG2 encoder from your current editor

https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?howtoselect=5;21

Above is for Premiere but the same principle apply for NLE's that support it.


Try a higher 'bitrate' OR if space is a concern try (multi)pass VBR.

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[q1aqza]

On PC playback, my miniDV home footage looks better when encoded to MPEG2 DVD spec using the Mainconcept encoder that comes part of Premiere 6.5 than when playing the raw DV AVI file.

In reality the MPEG is much more "lossy" than the DV AVI but in visual appeal I think the MPEG looks better. It may be that PC mpeg decoders are better than PC AVI decoders - I don't know, I just go by what my eyes tell me !!

[bugster]

One thing to remember is that DV is interlaced, and this does not look good on a PC monitor unless you play it with a player that does on the fly de-interlacing. I know PowerDVD can do this.

[mkelley]

Yes, let me echo some others here: I "capture" (it actually is a file transfer) my DV footage using Premiere 6.5 and encode with MainConcept that comes with Premiere and the resultant DVD looks identical to the original footage (at the high quality setting of MainConcept). As others note, it might actually look better (there are certainly some things you can do to your footage aside from editing that can improve the perceived quality).

You'll be happy with the results -- I'm sure of that.

[q1aqza]

One thing to remember is that DV is interlaced, and this does not look good on a PC monitor unless you play it with a player that does on the fly de-interlacing. I know PowerDVD can do this.

The MPEG2 remains interlaced if encoded from a DV AVI (provided no de-interlacing filters are used) - I'm sure.

I use PowerDVD and the MPEG2 (interlaced) using medium or high quality templates in MC encoder looks much sharper than the DV AVI.

If I had a firewire port on my TV then I'm sure the DV would look better on it.

[bugster]

One thing to remember is that DV is interlaced, and this does not look good on a PC monitor unless you play it with a player that does on the fly de-interlacing. I know PowerDVD can do this.

The MPEG2 remains interlaced if encoded from a DV AVI (provided no de-interlacing filters are used) - I'm sure.

I use PowerDVD and the MPEG2 (interlaced) using medium or high quality templates in MC encoder looks much sharper than the DV AVI.

If I had a firewire port on my TV then I'm sure the DV would look better on it.

yes, the encoded mpeg-2 will still be interlaced, but when playing back on a PC you have to choose your playback application with care.

q1aqza, you play back your mpegs with PowerDVD. This will de-interlace on the fly. Do you play the original DV-Avi's with powerDVD, or do you use somethinge else like WMP?

[navatweb]

I had similar problems till I found out one way. And it probably is going to be a lot cheaper than buying Adobe Premier:

1) Capture to AVI as you are doing.
2) Convert to MPEG2 using Cinema Craft Encoder Basic (CCE Basic). Download a trial version from visiblelight.com (3 min limit) Use a 2 pass CBR option with say 8000 bit rate.
3) Author the DVD using Dazzle DVD Complete. DVD Complete will not re-encode the MPEG2 file. Or use whatever authoring program you have, making sure it will not re-encode.
3) Burn away.

I see excellent results with this approach. I have converted many VHS-C tapes and several miniDV tapes this way, and the quality is excellent.

Total cost: CCE Basic $58, DVD Complete $50-100.

[BJ_M]

on DV interlaced material , the Mainconcept encoder does a better job than the CCE basic encoder ... but the cce basic is cheaper ...

the main concept 1.4 version encoder is even better (in beta now) ..

[holistic]

Hey navatweb, a lot of people have a step :

1 a )

That is edit/add transitions/titles ...blah blah . I guess you don't??

BTW - VirtualDub is free ,it handles DV and has some nice filters.

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[rchopra]

Holistic,

I guess i will try with the last option you suggested using VirtualDub because its free.. I am just confused between the paid encoders. I never get the idea which one to buy if i have to.

Thanks for everyones response.

[q1aqza]

Bugster,

Yes I do use PowerDVD for playback of the AVIs also. I'm wondering whether my DV codec is cr*p, which is why teh MPEG2 looks better. I have Studio 7 installed (although I no longer use it) and I belive this is the default DV codec.

[navatweb]

I agree about the step 1a): that is editing the captured video to remove unwanted stuff or add transitions etc. But I thought it was too much trouble. With DVD it is so easy to just fast forward stuff you don't want to watch. And chapters help too in quickly going through the video.

I have however tried VirtualDub to frameserve CCE basic, after removing parts I did not want, and it worked well. I have used Pinnacle Studio 7 also to edit the AVI file. But rarely. I just capture, encode and insert chapters and burn.

With VirtualDub, I found it was difficult to quickly identify the parts I wanted to delete, because I generally get one large AVI file after capture. With Studio7, it is easier because Studio divides the file into multiple scenes, but it just takes long (about 1:1, that is 1 hour for an hour worth of captured AVI).

[navatweb]

As far as what commercial encodes to buy, it is not all that difficult. Most (all?) such encoders have trial versions that you can download and try them on your videos. Burn the DVD and see for yourself if it acceptable.
Just make sure though that your authoring program does not try and re-encode.

I decided to buy CCE Basic because I tried it and it gave me a DVD that was of excellent quality. Also encoding was very fast. And the price was right. There are several other high quality encoders but they cost a few hundred or thousand $$s.

Note also that there is no such thing as the best solution. There are several good methods: combinations of editors, encoders, DVD authors, and burners. Try a few and if one works, stick with it. Currently it is quite painful to create a DVD, but with all the interest in DVD burners, the technology will improve and become easier to use soon.