What hardware should I get for video->DVD transfer?

[MikeR33333]

Ok, total newbie here, first time posting.

Here's my situation: I'm looking at buying a new computer soon, and am looking for a way to transfer all my old VHS home videos onto DVD... a DVD that I can play in my standalone DVD player. I'm not just looking to transfer the files, but edit them, and do some higher level stuff as I learn how.

Here are my questions: What do I need? When looking for a computer, how much CPU speed, memory, or video memory should I look at getting? What kind of DVD-R or DVD+R or such should I get for my computer? What will I actually have to do to transfer the video over from the VCR to the computer for editing and eventually burning?

Any help would be appreciated. This seems like a great forum and I'm looking forward to using it more as I learn more about DVDs.

Thanks
Miker

[lordsmurf]

Hardware:
-Intel P4 1.5 or higher
-512 DDR RAM or RDRAM
-Put all work on HD #1
-Have a HD #2 for captures only
-ATI All In Wonder Radeon card for AVI or MPEG2 captures

Usage:
-Capture MPEG2 for transfers.
-Capture AVI for editing.

Software:
-Womble MPEG2VCR for "editing" MPEG (cut/join)
-Adobe Premiere 6.5 (with Adobe MPEG Encoder) for hefty editing
-Adobe After Effects for fancy editing (plugin for Premiere)
-Any authoring package, look in the TOOLS list on the left navbar
I prefer AC3 packages such as DVD Workshop AC3, DVDit! PE
-Nero 5.5 (to burn DVD)

Enjoy new DVDs.

I wrote a guide (actually now a full site), which is progressively getting larger, that expands on using this kind of setup.

[MikeR33333]

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for! I'll check out your site ASAP.

edit: One more question though... any good brand names for a DVD burner itself? And what about the differences between DVD-R and DVD+R?

[lordsmurf]

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for! I'll check out your site ASAP.
edit: One more question though... any good brand names for a DVD burner itself? And what about the differences between DVD-R and DVD+R?

Pioneer 105 and 106 drives are a safe bet. I hear good reports on NEC 1300. Other brands/models have both good and bad comments.

DVD-R is slightly more DVD-Video compatible. DVD-R is cheaper when bought online in bulks of 25 or more. Other than that, no differences. But beware DVD+R requires -ROM bitsetting for DVD-Video (extra step, extra software).

[Bob W]

After trying my hand at capturing then the editing/authoring/converting to wind up with a DVDR with marginal quality, I finally gave up and just bought a DVD recorder. IMO this is the way to go with exceptional quality without all the problems.

[lordsmurf]

After trying my hand at capturing then the editing/authoring/converting to wind up with a DVDR with marginal quality, I finally gave up and just bought a DVD recorder. IMO this is the way to go with exceptional quality without all the problems.

But you cannot edit with this method. For hefty editing, you need an AVI, and the recorder can only do MPEG2.

[farmkid]

In response to the first couple of posts:

Lordsmurft suggested getting a P4 based machine. If MPEG2 encoding is the primary task, you are better off with a AMD processor. If you look at hardware review sites, they sometimes use MPEG2 encoding as a benchmark, and it is clear that the Athlon architecture is better suited to the task than the P4 architecture. You will get the most bang for your buck with a Thoroughbred Athlon in a nForce2 based motherboard with dual channel DDR memory. As an example, see http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20030217/cpu_charts-26.html

Just my 2 cents worth.

[FulciLives]

In response to the first couple of posts:

Lordsmurft suggested getting a P4 based machine. If MPEG2 encoding is the primary task, you are better off with a AMD processor. If you look at hardware review sites, they sometimes use MPEG2 encoding as a benchmark, and it is clear that the Athlon architecture is better suited to the task than the P4 architecture. You will get the most bang for your buck with a Thoroughbred Athlon in a nForce2 based motherboard with dual channel DDR memory. As an example, see http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20030217/cpu_charts-26.html

Just my 2 cents worth.

I thought that TMPGEnc (the most popular MPEG-2 software encoder) is "tuned" to work better (i.e., faster) with INTEL P4 chips?

Plus you have to remember that when doing a lot of MPEG-2 software encoding that you will be leaving the computer on for long periods of time and AMD chips have a history of heat related "issues" so to be safe you need to buy an extra big CASE with extra fans etc. and by then (the price increase) you might as well just get an INTEL P4

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

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DVD-Ram

[FulciLives]

DVD-Ram

You are SO ******* annoying

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

TMPGEnc is "tuned" to work better (i.e., faster) with INTEL P4 chips?.... AMD chips have a history of heat related "issues"

Bingo.

I too have heard many stories, and seen with my own eyes, AMD chipsets fail after extended use. I witnessed a close friend's AMD processor zap out during encoding. The motherboard alarm was great too... and it was loud... only it went off AFTER the chip failed. Was spending the night at his place, on the couch, and was rudely awakened by what I first thought was the fire alarm. Scared the hell out of me. Was an AMD Athlon 2200+ that died a quick death. The guy's a computer programmer too, not some dope, the processor just wasn't cut out for extended high usage. He's now an Intel-only user.

And most encoders, just in general, are more aligned to INTEL instructions.

And if you want the best RAM, get RDRAM, not DDR. I bought mine on a whim, and I'm glad I did. It's the best and fastest stuff around, operating at PC800 speed, and I think it goes to PC1066 or higher these days. Just be warned it's expensive, and rightly so.