Question about output of ADVC-100

[jcat]

My goal is to transfer VHS to DVD, with some editing but not a huge amount (including menu creation) and I'm thinking of getting an ADVC-100. I'm a little confused about it, though, even after doing lots of searching on this site.

First of all, what precisely can the ADVC output? Do I choose a type of output, or is there only one? I understand that the output will be an avi file - but is there only one kind of avi file, or do I have to choose one, and if the latter, how do I know which type to choose if my goal is to make a DVD?

Second, once I have captured the avi file, using DVIO or Scenealyzer or whatever, how do I do basic editing? Is VirtualDub appropriate for this - I'm not precisely sure about all the things that program can do? And what about menu creation - I'm assuming I do this with a DVD authoring program after using TMPGenc Plus to convert to MPEG2, but I just want to make sure.

Finally, after editing the avi file and converting it into MPEG2 in TMPGenc Plus, I assume it is possible that the MPEG file will be too large for a single DVD. In that case, can I use something like DVDShrink or DVD2One, or will that possibly screw up my audio sync and/or defeat the whole purpose of having used ADVC-100 to begin with? Or is there some other way to control the size of the MPEG file produced from the avi file?

[DaveS]

jcat - the output of the advc-100 will look like a MiniDV camcorder to your PC, although without the start/stop device control. You hook up a firewire (aka 1394 or sony calls it i.link) cabe from your advc-100 to a firewire port on your PC; if your PC doesn't have one, you can get a fiewire card - they're not that expensive but you need to make sure it's compatible (if you look around on this site, one particular chipset is recommended and another is to be avoided - I would post a link to the ref if I had it). So strictly speaking, the advc-100 doesn't itself create a file but makes available a video(&audio) stream to your PC which your capture software takes and turns into a file.

your capture software will then take the DV format off the firewire and convert it to an AVI file / mult. AVI files (mult if you are using scene detection).

you can then edit it in your s/w of choice - I can't comment on virtualdub b/c I use something different, but yes, you can use that to edit.

once you are done editing it, you will either render it to mpeg2 using your editor (if it does that) or you will save an avi file that you will then encode using an encoder. for the file size, you can use the dvdr bitrate calculator to help you set the right bit rate so that your video will fit onto one dvd. You don't want to render to mpeg then shrink it since you have the avi file itself.

you then author your project to create menus, etc. (e.g. dvdlab) , then burn it using either your author software if it can do it or nero, et. al.

this is just a little info but I hope it helps - you have the process correct in your post. also see the guides on this site for more. good luck!

[jcat]

Dave, that helps a lot. I have a firewire card (hopefully the chipset is compatible; it's an Adaptec DuoConnect combo firewire and USB2 card); I understood that part - it was after the capture that I was confused about. Your info was very helpful. I see now that I can set the bitrate in my encoding software (I'm using TMPGenc Plus) so it produces the right size MPEG file for a DVD. It seemed to me that using an MPEG shrinking software wasn't the way to go.

What editing software do you use for your AVI files? And what software do you use to encode?

[mturcott]

I use the ADVC-100 device to capture mine and my friends' home movies to DV. No choice on the type of AVI produced but that doesn't matter at this step. I use VirtualDub for the basic cutting and splicing and then the same tool to produce a second AVI file that will be converted to MPEG2. If you want to accomplish more than that as far as editing goes, I don't have any experience with that.

I use Cinema Craft Encoder Basic ($40 I think) to encode to MPEG2 but have used TMPGEnc Plus as well so I know they both work. This is the step where you set your bitrate and type (variable vs. constant) to achieve the balance between quality of output and size. I usually use VBR encoding and I like to keep my average value above 4500 if possible. You'll have to experiment to see how low you can go and get good results for your purposes. Try encoding fast-motion segments at various bitrates to determine what you want to use for the whole clip. Higher is better at the cost of bigger output file sizes obviously. Good luck.

[rcb]

jcat -
I also use an ADVC-100 with good results. Some pros/cons/caveats:

Check the canopus website support area to be sure your firewire (1394) setup is compatable. They have a listing for such.
output is avi, but dv capture apps, such as Scenalyzer Live, can give you the option of choosing type 1 or type 2 - which can have an impact on whatever editing app you utilize. Some like 1, others 2.
Best ADVC feature (IMHO) is it's "locked a/v sync". Unit can also handle full 720 x 480 frame size.
Expect to use about 12 gigs/capture hour.