best quality software realtime mpeg 1, 2 and 4?

[freakyalbino]

At the moment im using the new lifeview software to capture vcd and svcd compliant video in realtime, but i also have power vcr 2 which i plan to use and compare the output quality of both. Now my question, what is the best realtime mpeg1 and 2 capture software you''ve used? i dont mind if the interface is unintuitive, its solely quality that im concerned about.

Also, what should i use to capture in realtime direct to divx? i wish to do so at vcd resolutions and am using a:

1.53ghz, 256mb ram, geforce2mx400, 80gb 72krpm hdd

thanks for any help

[Megadeus Ver. 3]

I've been told that the hardware/software setup I use to capture is a fluke for the quality that I get from it.

HardWare:
AthlonXP 1800+ (Not O.C'd.)
384mb Ram
Voodoo3 3000
AverTV Stereo Cap. Card
2 Western Digital 40gb Hard drives.
Pioneer 105

Software:
WinDVR
Vegas 4

Ok, my process that I use to capture an anime series with the best results is this.
I setup a template in WinDVR to capture to a file with all the settings for DVD NTSC EXCEPT, I capture to mpeg, not mpeg2.
After the capture session is done I edit the commercials and then re-encode to mpeg2/DVD NTSC using Vegas 4. The resulting file is a very good/excellent quality mpeg2/DVD NTSC - Ready to burn.
When I capture to mpeg I use a bitrate of 6000 to get the best possible video AND not too large of file size.

If you have any doubts about this just ask Lord Smurf. He has seen my captured work and is very impressed with it.

[lordsmurf]

If you have any doubts about this just ask Lord Smurf. He has seen my captured work and is very impressed with it.

Yeah, the 25-minute clip I got from you is an enigma. I've seen lots of WinDVR work, and done numerous tests on several systems. Never seen anything as clean as that clip, using that software.

I still like true interlaced MPEG-2, but for runner-up, what I saw would get my vote.

WinDVR normally captures MPEG-2 with a pretty bad blended deinterlace, with macroblocks caused by P or B where an I should be (though I'm aware you still get some of this macroblock effect on some captures sometimes). Sometimes it just encodes badly too. I did see some encodes glitches on my computer from your footage, but the tv covered them up pretty well.

The show also had high motion, and while I did see the occasional blur, it wasn't too temporal and was only there if I looked for it.

This variation of high-res MPEG-1 capture with a re-encode is an interesting approach. In still requires re-encode, and from MPEG at that, but when room for AVI is not abundant, and you want a decent alternative, not bad if you can get it to cooperate. I've got to test this method more.

And let's not forget that you have an AVerMedia card. Wow! Now that's pretty impressive too. Those cards have known issues at audio/video sync, something I have fought with on mine (use mine for PAL). Though this was animated footage I saw, which is more forgiving, it didn't appear out of sync.

A fluke? Very possible. Enjoy it.

------------

As above, WinDVR can perform, though I've only seen it once. Try it.

I've tried MainConcept 1.4, and if it will not drop frames, quality is excellent on it too. Best on external cards. Try it.

Also PowerVCR II can sometimes be alright, but only at 720x480 and only if hacked for interlace. It has audio errors and sync problem for some people too, so beware. Try it.

If using ATI cards, ATI MMC can't be beat.

NeoDVD has known sync issues. Try it.

[Scobo]

I would agree with Lordsmurf that Mainconcept 1.4 captures are excellent and amongst the best real-time mpeg capture I've seen but it takes an age to set up and you can't save the settings.
It's a great AVI to MPEG encoder too. The fastest I've seen yet.
I use Ulead Movie Factory 2 to capture MPEG2 at 720X576 and 8000kbps with a WinTV card.
I find this gives great results and it can also capture direct-to-disc like a set-top recorder.
It's a good program for authoring and burning too.