Analog Capture--Help

[kdbrier]

I need some help. I want to convert 1 hour VHS tapes to DVD very fast. I will be doing some menus and light editing. I just ordered a new dell 2.8 p4 and 1gig of ram with 120 gig hd and DVD 4X burner. I am looking for a capture card or capture device that will allow me to Capture VHS video to AVI or MPEG2 and be able to have audio sync. I’m trying to speed up the process of conversion by going to straight MPEG2 and then authoring. What capture card do you recommend to do this? Is there one that doesn’t cost a $1000. I also want a card that will not give me audio problems. I want excellent quality in the video too. I am going for speed here. I just read about some software Called NEODVD that captures and burns in one go. Does the capture card matter for that?

What I need in a nut shell
Speedy capture to MPEG2
Able to capture in AVI
Able to capture from DV devices
SPEED SPEED for a one hour video. Can it be captured with a menu and burned to DVD in an hour and half total?
I DO not want to wait for encoding. I need to be fast on this.
Good software?

Thanks
Kevin

[allaboutduncan]

I'd suggest a ATI All in Wonder Card. It's what I use and the video is quite good. Using version 8.1 and above of their software you can capture compliant MPEG2 clips at the bitrate you specify and use open or close GOP.

There's really no need for NEODVD, and from the comments it sounds a little too simple. I'd suggest using TMPEnc DVD Author.

It's an easy to use, full featured program that will take your compliant MPEG2 files and let you edit out the commercials, author and burn a DVD. It can do motion menus, but that adds significantly to the autor time. Counting your capture time, you should be able to do it in about 2-3 hours.[/url]

[presto]

I agree with the above post completely. I have an ATI All In Wonder Radeon 7500. It was a real headache for a while but with all the latest patches on Windows XP and the card itself it is working beautifully. Capturing with ATI MMC (which comes with the card) in DVD format and then using TMPGenc for light editingm menus, chapters and burning is by far the fastest way to go from VHS to excellent DVD.

I had synch issues only when I edit with another program and then Use TMPGenc. If I only use TMPGenc the sound sync is always perfect.

[allaboutduncan]

Same here on synch issues. With a lot of the popular (easy to use) authoring programs, they will always try to re-encode the video is some fashion. I used to use ULEAD DVD Movie Factory, but experienced the audio synch issues mentioned. Not so with TMPGEnc DVD Author. I don't use it for editing out commercials, for that I use Virtualdub.

[kdbrier]

is there RCA jacks on the All in wonder cards for VHS capture? Doesn't TMPGEnc have really long encoding?

[FOO]

I have an ATI 8500. I capture direct to MPEG2
with VBR 4000k - 5000 kbps from either the tuner
or VHS. I think the source is the limiting quality factor
rather than the encoding.

I edit commercials Frame Accurately with MPEG2VCR
which takes about 5 minutes to run a 2 hour movie
(not counting editing)

So if you get a 4x burner you might be able to turn a
1 hr movie around in 1.5 hrs.

I have done over 250 movies like this

They will do AVI with your choice of codec.
There is a version that does DV

[allaboutduncan]

The AIW cards have a breakout box that has S-Video and RCA input for video. Standard cable can be input directly into the card and audio is hooked in using either a mini-to-RCA plug from your sound card or an internal connection.

TMPGEnc encodes in approximately real time on a fast PC. If you add filters and color correction, this can slow down quite a bit. If you search the forums, you'll see the general consenus is that TMPGEnc is one of the best encoders.

[housepig]

Doesn't TMPGEnc have really long encoding?

TMPG DVD Author is different from the TMPG encoder - it doesn't encode, it just authors.

[bpjenn]

Get this new ATI All-in-Wonder card. With the included MMC 8.6 you can capture high quality MPEG-2 DVD compliant video and author to DVD with included software.
http://www.ati.com/products/radeon9600/aiw9600pro/features.html

[overloaded_ide]

If your a newbie at this please be aware Tmpgenc is two programs.
Tmpgenc plus I geuss would be called a encoder or rendering program while of course Tmpgenc DVD Author is a DVD authoring program, both good but do different things.

Rendering encoding is time consuming but not really what you asked about. Authoring a DVD is fast with Tmpgenc DVD author, the plus encoder is more like real time, thus a 1 hr movie 1 hour to render.

I use an ATI AIW 7500radeon for VHS capture direct to mp2 files, then open those in Tmpgenc DVD author, create any menus and chapter points and cut anything I don't want onthe disk, the program create the needed file to hardrive and then I point the program to those files and burn the disk with the built in burner.

As for capturing DV, not a clue here. Use a firewire port to your DV device (camcorder ?). Don't know what software to use either.
I too could use help on that as I just bought a DV camcorder last night
I can use the analog out of the cam corder like today, but that defeats the purpose of buying a DV over VHS-c

[kdbrier]

Does it matter if its PCI or APG? I have one APG Video card already. If I put it in will it fit and work?

[bpjenn]

The All-in-Wonder would replace your AGP card. Sell it on eBay.

[kdbrier]

Should I keep both? I can use the ATI card for capturing and the Matrox for other things?

[bpjenn]

You could use it in another computer. There is only one AGP slot. Besides the ATI card, in my opinion, is a better video card anyway.

[kdbrier]

So I see you guys recommend the ATI ALL IN WONDER and the TMPGEnc software to help me capture, author and burn. AND this is the fastest way to capture, author and burn a 1 hour VHS video. Which should take me a total of 2 and half hours from start to finish with very light authoring?

[qpskfec]

The fastest way to get vhs onto dvd is with a set top dvd recorder. Many models can be purchased for less than $400 today. Captures are encoded in real time and you get a finished dvd at the end.

If you only need to do "light" editing like changing title names, the limited dvd editing functions will be enough on the set top.

If you need to do more, copy the vobs/vros to your hard drive and use mpeg2vcr to edit. Then use your favorite sw to author/burn.

[kdbrier]

Do the top set recorders allow you author. Add menus and chapters. I didnt think that any software would edit VOB's and if thats the case can you still burn edited authored vobs to the set recorder?

[andkiich]

No authoring on the set tops, just makes a DVD.

[overloaded_ide]

I take it you plan to do this as a business of some sort or need about 500 home movie tapes on DVD for Christmas gifts

Or are you doing AOL DVDs for a mass mailing?

It might help narrow down the fastest/best method if we knew what your doing that a 1 hr DVD needs to be done so fast. Not required, but might help.

For instance I just did a theatre play, wanted that real fast as it was a rehersal so the cast could view the play themselfs BEFORE the first performance. See what changes they wanted to make and such. Not something I will do alot though. Used a VHS camcorder for recording, captured with ATI AIW card as mp2, Authored it with Tmpgenc DVD Author and burned to disk. It took over two hours to record the play with the camcorder, so it took the same time to play it back for capture. With my system it took maybe 15minutes (give or take a few) to create the DVD files, then I burned onto a 1X disk (about an hour burn time). Of course if your using 4X disks a full one is supposed to be about 15 minutes burn time. Rather a 1Hour movie will fill the disk depends on your mp2 settings. The higher the settings larger the files, but better quality too.

ATI cards come in both PCI or APG, or at least the older ones did. All I ever used are the APG ones though so I don't know if there is any performance difference with a PCI one or not. I dought it. Though you may or may not have a conflict if you try to run two video cards like that.

Bascally with the software and ATI card and a fast burner (4x) and good 4X disks, I would say it should take 30 minutes longer than the actual movie to have your disk if you don't spend anytime doing any extras like menus chapters ect.. Just capture, create, burn. Movie play time + 30 minutes.
We do need some way to capture VHS faster than realtime playback
That is the most time consuming part for doing a fast job

[kdbrier]

Thanks for all advice. I am going to start a VHS to DVD business. So you can see why speed is essential. I hear a lot of that Tmpgenc DVD Author program. Is that the best for under $500? Any more advice on how to speed up the process would be appreciated.

[housepig]

I hear a lot of that Tmpgenc DVD Author program. Is that the best for under $500?

I would say that DVD Lab is the best for under $500... or under $100.

and once you've used it a bit, you can have simple authoring projects ready to compile in about 5 minutes.

[overloaded_ide]

I'm thinking same thing plus recording bands and making music vids for them.

Unless you are going to limit your business, you might want to do alot of playing and burning DVDs before you jump into too much. I know lots of people who still have those large 2hr VHS camcorders and tapes

Some how using a friends Saterday night, I got 2:30hrs on a 2hr tape and it even had 10mintues already recorded on the tape! How a full tape came out to 2hr 40 mintues I don't know, but it was a pain for me somewhat.
Ya, I know various modes, but SP should have been 2hrs, LP or EP should have been more than 3hrs. So how that odd time of 2:40??

Anyway, I have captured nearly 2hrs VHS as an mpeg2, used tpmgenc dvd author and burned a 2hr VHS quality DVD. You never really get any better than VHS quality from a VHS source, so I go for what ever length the movie is for the time on the disk. Just try to set my bit rates durring capture so I nearly fill the disk and fit in the whole movie. When/if I start doing this as a business for others, I figure I'll charge so much based on the time of the movie, not number of disks, since the capture is the most time consuming part.

As for recording any type performance or event, then creating the disks, well I'll just see what the market bares for a good profit without ripping anyone off. Also based on how well I like it myself or how boring it is

For instance if someone wants me to make a RAP or punk rock video of their band, it will cost them out the *** cause I hate that stuff! Now if it's something I enjoy and I get $50 worth of free tickets, well I'll cut em abreak
If it's a boring chess game, well that costs a little extra, someone has to pay for the NO-Doze caffine to keep me awake. I find Chess and Golf boring to watch, though I used to like playing Chess myself.

[Markus_Karma]

I knew that the Tmpgenc DVD Author dont re-encode ur already mpeg2 compliant files, it just take about 8-10 minutes to "convert" it in "VIDEO_TS" folder/files compliant format to burn direct on DVD.

In example, i capture my VHS's with Leadtek Winfast2000XP in DVD NTSC scheme (mpeg2-720x480-6000 kbps-audio mpg layer2 48khz), then after 1 hr of capruring, i need just 10 or 15 minutes to make the chapter editing in Tmpgenc DVD Author and the mentioned 8-10 minutes for creating the VIDEO_TS folder, after that just about 15 minutes to burn with Nero over 4X dvd burner.

60 min - VHS to MPEG2
15 min - Chapter editing
10 min - VIDEO_TS compliant files creation
15 min - Burn process
---------
100 minutes - Total Time

--------------
As usual im sorry about my limited english.

[thinger62]

I use a different, slightly easier approach. I use Hauppauge pvr250 card that creates (hardware encoding on the card) mpeg2 files, ready immediately for authoring. Adding menus and chapter marks is not a problem, other editing lengthens the process. Some people complain about bugs with this card, in my XP system it installed, updated and has run perfectly. I've recorded probably 50 vhs tapes and 8mm tapes with this and never had a problem. Quality is fine (and adjustable). Total time for each tape is 2 hours for playback, 2 minutes to add menus and chapter marks with MF2, and 15 minutes to burn.

[kdbrier]

thinger62

Okay I'm confused. Doesn't the ATI AIW card have hardware encoding on the card to make mpeg2 files? Does the Hauppauge pvr250 card does something different to mpeg2's? From what I've read on the posts here is that ATI AIW will make a MPEG2 and you put it in an authoring program, do your thing and burn to DVD. Does the Hauppauge pvr250 not encode in the authoring process to DVD?

[Markus_Karma]

There are 2 kinds of capturing cards, harware and "software"...

What thinger62 means its their card capture in a "ready" mpeg2 file compliant for authoring in real time (hardware encode, wich process its done by the card itself and no much CPU process its needed), this means a better way to capture (in most cases yes, and others not).

In my case the Leadtek Winfast2000XP capture via software... this means the encode process its done directly 100% by CPU, passing trought the Winfast drivers; so u need a very fancy comp to do the job with decent results.

You can grab Leadtek about $50-60 bucks, and i get very decent quality videos... dunno about haupage, some guys here can tell us...

[Markus_Karma]

Forgot to say what in some cases ur captured mpeg2 files are not ready for authoring, these files need another process, like the most used TMPGE encoder wich "standarize" ur mpeg2 to be easily authoring in many programs out there.

If i want to DVD/author my mpeg2 files in Pinnacle Studio 8 (nice and easy way to do that) i have a big problem, cuz S8 cant open the audio of these files, i read some post about S8 cant open the audio mpeg layer 2, S8 needs a PCM audio codec.

In the thinger's case his files are fully editable right after the capture, it means a very handy thing as long as he skip the "re-encode/standarize" on these files.

It would be apreciated if some cool guy can tell me how can i get ready files to author in S8 with my Winfast2000XP, wich right codec ineed to setup??

[DeepX]

I've got a Hauppauge PVR-350.

Capture straight to mpeg2 and edit with Womble and burn it on DVD.

With other capture cards (pinnacle) the audio/video was always out of sync.

But with this card it captures full-screen mpeg2 with the hardware encoder/decoder.

Greetz. DeepX

[thinger62]

On the Hauppauge 250, my cpu usage is still pretty high. There is a chip on the card that does the encoding, but my cpu is still occupied at about 60% I think. Not sure why, but it's never bothered me. I think a search for that issue on one of the Hauppauge forums would yield some info on cpu usage.

[cplevel42]

The ATI card with TMPGEnc DVD Author, Ulead DVD Workshop, or DVD Lab is the way to go. I have the ATI AIW 9700 Pro, and lemme tell ya, it's smooth and ready for prime time.

Good luck on your new business!!!