how would you handle this situation?

[feh]

I want to convert/edit old VHS tapes to DVD. May plan was this:

1) record VHS to DVD-RAM (Panasonic DMR-E20)
2) place DVD-RAM in computer (I've got the hardware to do this),
and import mpegs from disc into Ulead MovieStudio
3) edit
4) author
5) burn results to DVD-R

This plan goes bad at step 2, because the mpegs on the RAM disc have AC-3 audio, which MovieStudio can't deal with.

So, got any suggestions for how I can work around this? Thanks!

[housepig]

I was going to say use DVD Lab, as it supports ac3 audio... but you need to edit as well...

you may have to strip your audio and convert it to another format to do your editing. BeSweet should convert your ac3 to wav.

[SLK001]

AC3 ain't all that "editable". If you have an option to use LPCM in your recorder, then do that. If not, you have to demux and convert your .AC3 to .WAV or LPCM, then mux it back into the MPEG stream, then edit.

[Nolonemo]

mpeg is not a good format for editing. Your best shot, if you can do it is to capture the VHS using the analog pass-though feature of a mini DV camera, edit and then convert the edited avi to mpeg for authoring.

[feh]

mpeg is not a good format for editing. Your best shot, if you can do it is to capture the VHS using the analog pass-though feature of a mini DV camera, edit and then convert the edited avi to mpeg for authoring.

I've also been wondering about this. I don't have a DV camera, so if it's a bad idea to edit in mpeg, I would need to capture the VHS tapes via coax cable to my Hauppauge card.

I'd like to avoid that if possible. What are the drawbacks of editing mpegs? Would I be losing quality by capturing via coax cable as opposed to using RCA cables between my VCR & DVD recorder?

[housepig]

What are the drawbacks of editing mpegs?

the main drawbacks are it's harder to get a precise cut (compared to an avi file), and you can have a/v sync problems after you cut mpegs.

as far as capturing through coax vs rca cables, if you're using decent cables, analog is analog.. I don't think you'll see a significant drop in quality.

certainly worth a try... I didn't realize you had a capture card, otherwise I would have recommended you capture in avi and encode to mpeg after editing.

[next]

I want to convert/edit old VHS tapes to DVD. May plan was this:

1) record VHS to DVD-RAM (Panasonic DMR-E20)
2) place DVD-RAM in computer (I've got the hardware to do this),
and import mpegs from disc into Ulead MovieStudio
3) edit
4) author
5) burn results to DVD-R

This plan goes bad at step 2, because the mpegs on the RAM disc have AC-3 audio, which MovieStudio can't deal with.

So, got any suggestions for how I can work around this? Thanks!

I have felt your pain. MovieStudio is not the answer for AC3.

This does cost some money but Mpeg2Vcr by Womble will solve your problem. It has no problem editing AC3 and also is format friendly with VRO files. The cost is around $120.

As I have struggled with editing over the years I have found this product and the company that produces it to be extremely responsive. For me the investment was money well spent.

[next]

Another possible solution is to bypass MovieStudio. Do not use the import feature. Simply copy the VRO file off of the DVD-Ram disc to your hard drive.

You should be able to change the file extension from vro to mpg and then author. From my experience this works but you cannot edit - without creating more problems such as A/V sync issues..

[next]

Sorry bad advice.

I confused MovieStudio with MovieAlbum. Too many products out there. In any event I have found that I can edit using Mpeg2Vcr and AC3 and author with the program of my choice without the problems you are encountering.

[feh]

Sorry bad advice.

I confused MovieStudio with MovieAlbum. Too many products out there. In any event I have found that I can edit using Mpeg2Vcr and AC3 and author with the program of my choice without the problems you are encountering.

So you are editing mpegs, as opposed to avi's? If so, have you run into any of the editing problems that people have been mentioning?

Thanks.