Best capture software for DV

[Merijeek]

Hi folks.

I recently went through quite an adventure (ie. irritation until my eyes bled) in going through the following process to make a bunch of DVDs:

Capture video with a Polycom video conferencing system and a Starbak VCG
Export to ASF
Convert from ASF to MPEG2
Burn to DVD

Not as big a deal as you'd think, but there were a couple dozen extra steps in there as I stumbled through incompatible formats, crappy software, crappier software, and crappiest software.

I guess I'm trying to say that the software was my biggest pain.

In the end, I found myself using what's probably the cheapest software out there - the TMPGEnc stuff. It's great. The only thing was the amount of suffering and wasted time it took to get the right software.

I'm hoping to avoid the same stuff with capturing DV.

Here's what I want to do:

I want to have a DV camcorder hooked via Firewire or USB2 straight to a PC. I'll be running capture software, but I want it to do a couple things for me.

Save in MPEG2 video format so that I don't need to do any conversions to get it onto a DVD.
Allow me to put in breaks (chapters, split the video, whatever) live as I'm watching the performance

That's the big stuff.

If I can name the sections as I create them (by splitting, starting a new chapter, whatever), even better.

Assuming a generic camera, what software will allow me to do this? I'm hoping to avoid the huge amount of wasted time as I try program after program like I did with the DVD editing.

Thanks
-Joe

[lenti_75]

try Ulead VideoStudio 7....
even though many might say that is to easy....this is one of the best software I've tried. even as of today, I couldn'd find a better one.
the best way is to capture as AVI the convert into MPEG2....
if you don't go below 6000kb your quality is as the original...

[redwudz]

Mainconcept can import DV and encode directly to MPG. Then you can author with something like TMPGEnc DVD Author. However if you plan to do much editing, it would be better to transfer with DVIO or WinDV in DV format and edit in that format, then encode with maybe TMPGEnc and author. For DV you will need a Firewire card and Firewire cable.

[Merijeek]

So, it can't do a capture straight to MPEG2 then?

Other than that, I've got to admit that my biggest waste of time with the DVD writing was because of Ulead software.

So, I'd kind of like to avoid them...

-Joe

[heyjjjaded]

I think that Windv is great. I was getting dropped frames with ULead ... Windv doesn't have a problem with dropped frames at all.

[BJ_M]

So, it can't do a capture straight to MPEG2 then?

Other than that, I've got to admit that my biggest waste of time with the DVD writing was because of Ulead software.

So, I'd kind of like to avoid them...

-Joe

main concept can do a straight capture to mpeg2

[Merijeek]

Concept is definitely on thie list. As for WinDV, can that do the MPEG2?

And what about the splits/breaks/chapters? Can either do that?

Thanks
-Joe

[heyjjjaded]

I believe that Windv will only save your video file as an AVI (type 1 or type 2). I'm not positive though. It's strength is that it's only job is transferring video and it is great at it.

[Merijeek]

Well, that's unfortunate, but if it's the best thing out there, I might still have to bite the bullet and take it.

As for Main Concept, I see 3 tools listed on here, but none that looks explicitly a DV capture program.

Am I missing something?

-Joe

[Tommyknocker]

I do know Video Strudio 7 can capture MPEG-2 and transfer DV as well. It can also burn DVDs, set chapters, add subtitles, etc.

[FulciLives]

All you really need for DV AVI capture (which is really just a transfer) is the freeware tool DVIO

If you want to spend money there is always ScenalyzerLive which some people seem to think works better in that those who have sync trouble don't have it with ScenalyzerLive.

No need to buy anything expensive if all you need is DV AVI capture to DV AVI format.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[heyjjjaded]

I haven't been doing this long enough to be able to say that Windv is the best at this, but I've used it & it's very good. Many others on this forum agree. Plus, it's free. Like FulciLives, I have also heard very good things about DVIO, but I haven't tried it.

[redwudz]

Mainconcept encoder will 'capture' DV and convert to MPG in close to realtime. Only one step.

[lacywest]

I use Intervideo WinDVD Creator 2 ... as soon as I connect my firewire cable to my JVC GRDV800US camcorder ... the window pops up and I choose ... Intervideo WinDVD Creator 2

Mpg-2 with 3 choices of audio ... mpeg, lpcm or ac-3

[unxeen888]

I use Pinnacle 9. It can capture into any type u like. VCD, SVCD,DVD etc..

[firefoxx]

Unless you're really strapped for time, it isn't a good idea to capture directly from mpeg2 to DV, especially if your ultimate goal is DVD. Capture programs that do capture real time mpeg2 from DV will give mpeg2 files that have seriously degraded quality and image artifacts.

The best bet is to just capture directly to DV, then use Tmpgenc to convert it to mpeg2. This will give you high quality output. If you're strapped for time, then leave it on overnight. Quality is the reason that Tmpgenc uses so much time and capture programs use so little.

If you're not worried about quality, then use those capture programs and capture to mpeg resolution, but high quality. Saves space and time, and gets about the same quality as direct mpeg2 capture. The files can still be burned to DVD and played on a normal DVD player.

[BJ_M]

Unless you're really strapped for time, it isn't a good idea to capture directly from mpeg2 to DV, especially if your ultimate goal is DVD. Capture programs that do capture real time mpeg2 from DV will give mpeg2 files that have seriously degraded quality and image artifacts.

The best bet is to just capture directly to DV, then use Tmpgenc to convert it to mpeg2. This will give you high quality output. If you're strapped for time, then leave it on overnight. Quality is the reason that Tmpgenc uses so much time and capture programs use so little.

If you're not worried about quality, then use those capture programs and capture to mpeg resolution, but high quality. Saves space and time, and gets about the same quality as direct mpeg2 capture. The files can still be burned to DVD and played on a normal DVD player.

this isnt really true .. even pro encoders capture directly to mpeg (like as in most of your dvd's) and can be excellent quality ..

[upshot]

For DV capture DVIO and iuVCR get my votes....

For real-time mpeg2 cap... I've been experimenting with mainconcept PVR... It does a decent job when you set the timer and make sure the system resources are free... I can't seem to find a way to disable the preview when "one touch" recording which puts too much strain on the system for good mpeg2 caps... (audio skips and lost frames)

I'm using a advc-100 btw...

[firefoxx]

Mayhaps I was a bit harsh about the quality, since that was my experience a couple of years ago. I haven't tried recent products, which probably have improved. However, it should still be true that Tmpgenc can produce better output than a real-time DV-MPEG process, and the whole point of using DV/DVD is usually quality. However, if the poster really has no need of the best quality, go ahead and use real-time encoding. I've simply never used that method with anything I actually want to watch later.

So far no one has addressed the part about real-time chapter editing. I don't know of any products that do that, but why not just use Tmpgenc dvd author after making the mpeg? You'll need to author it anyways. Doing things with your computer during capture usually means dropped frames.

[lordsmurf]

I'm under the impression that SCENALYZER is the best DV transport, while MAINCONCEPT 1.4 is the best MPEG-2 on-the-fly re-coder.

[likwid8]

Everyone forgot about Ulead Mediastudio Pro 7.0

It does vcd, and I think it does svcd, no loss in frames and really kool proggie

[finny]

For DV you will need a Firewire card and Firewire cable.

My SONY 'DV' CAM comes with a USB cable to connect the CAM to the Computer.

Can i use that USB cable to capture the DV to My computer OR is it necessary to use a Firewire cable?

[FulciLives]

For DV you will need a Firewire card and Firewire cable.

My SONY 'DV' CAM comes with a USB cable to connect the CAM to the Computer.

Can i use that USB cable to capture the DV to My computer OR is it necessary to use a Firewire cable?

You have to use FIREWIRE aka IEEE 1394 aka i.link for DV AVI

Forget trying the USB connection.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[FOO]

this isnt really true .. even pro encoders capture directly to mpeg (like as in most of your dvd's) and can be excellent quality ..

A fine point of semantics here : Nothing captures directly to MPEG2

The MPEG2 encoder either runs at the same time as the capture/transfer
or it is run later. The only difference is in the first case , the encoder
is obviously constrained to a certain speed , and may not do as well
as one that has all the time in the world.

[satori]

So(with Ulead Video Studio), it can't do a capture straight to MPEG2 then?

Other than that, I've got to admit that my biggest waste of time with the DVD writing was because of Ulead software.

So, I'd kind of like to avoid them...

-Joe

Can someone help clarify this statement for me? I've been reading a lot of reviews on the Ulead Videostudio and I had basically come out with the idea that it is the best product in it's price range. The Ulead site says:
Capture video directly from analog and DV sources as DVD-ready MPEG video, reduce hard drive requirements and minimize long transcode times when authoring DVDs and Video CDs.
http://www.ulead.com/vs/features_capture.htm
This doesn't really agree with the AVI to MPEG bit that's written in a post above... can anyone that owns the version 7 of this software confirm this?
Also Joe states that the DVD writing was the biggest waste of time... What does that mean? It's a pretty damning statement for a product that I have read in 3 different reputable sources as being really good. Can anyone help me out on this so I can figure out if I should buy it or not? Links on the facts would be greatly appreciated.

[victor010170]

I get the version 7 from a friend last month. It works great. Here is what I see.

1. With Sony, pixela Image mixer. down load only 4 gb then stop. Have to manually find whee it stops and continue manually. Overall: SUCK.

2. Windv: great. Fix my frustration. Down load movie whole thing in multiple avi files. Still have to use virtualdub for filtering.

3. Ulead 7. Work likes windv but better in transfer movie. It does not create multiple avi files but at the end, it gives me a big avi file. my movie had around 32 gb. The program also has filtering function where you can use for sharpen. color fixed, etc... Then encode to mpeg2. I love this program. I definitely will buy the update later. All you need is Nero for burning or other software for burning.

[satori]

Thanks for the quick reply. Just wondering though... I followed the process in a guide here on how to transfer high end work to DVD. Will the Ulead software keep the files withmost of the quality that I recorded?

[victor010170]

The same qa as your vcr putout. Actually, ulead with firewire connection will transfer the movie into avi format for pc. There is no qa lost nor sound lost. Remeber, garbage in, garbage out. If your vcr produce bad qa movie, you will get bad qa movie in pc. There is some problem that filter can do but most at all, your vcr has to have clean head.

[satori]

The same qa as your vcr putout. Actually, ulead with firewire connection will transfer the movie into avi format for pc. There is no qa lost nor sound lost. Remeber, garbage in, garbage out.

My concern is that switching between avi to Mpeg formats is compressing the file and information (therefore quality) is being lost. I don't really see it directly as garbage in/garbage out when you're working with compression algorithms. Are you saying that there is negligible compression between the two?

[Bstansbury]

I have both Ulead VideoStudio Ver 6.0 and Ver 7.0. I think for any Video Capture/Edit/Title/Effects/Encode/Burn software there is a very large learning curve. I know that when I first started on VS 6.0 I had a lot of problems, mostly not knowing how to use the software. NLE (Non Linear Editing) is not that easy, and this software, because it can do "Everything", was difficult to learn.

To answer your question, VideoStudio does everything Ulead says it does. It "Will" directly transfter DV from your Camcorder via a Firewire connection and compress it to MPEG-2 in real time. However, I would never suggest doing that. If you are doing anything serious, you are going to have to Edit, cut, add, and delete many sections of your video. Doing that within MPEG-2 (by using I-Frames) won't be easy and will probably cause errors. I also can't imagine messing around with the Transfer process, by attemping to start and stop the transfer process to add chapters, that is not the way that software makes a DVD.

The new version of Ulead comes with Video Tutorials that can teach you how to use the software. The great thing about VideoStudio is that you don't need any other software, no conversions, no having to learn (and master) 4 different programs. This means everything from the connection and detection of your camcorder, all the way to detecting your DVD burner and burning the final DVD.

Here are the step I use and I have made some really successful DVD's that some people say look professional. I know they are not.
1. Transfer DV to hard disk in Type-2 AVI format. VS 7.0
2. Edit by viewing and cutting out bad scenes "
3. Add still frame shots were required "
4. Add transistion effects between scene changes "
5. Add music backround, and/or voice over track "
6. Start the finish process for DVD,SVCD, or VCD and customize MPEG
output. At this point the program will bring up the DVD Wizard and
help you make chapters, and scene selection menus that will start
your DVD.
7. Once your done with scenes, load a DVD blank and select record.

There is one other thing I do for my videos. Ulead VS comes with COOL 3D software which is great for creating short avi video clips such as "Introductions, Titles, list of characters, etc.,.. all in vivid 3d animated video. I add these to the beginning of my movies, and have given them all a "Stuido" name. These are inserted into the main movie as easy as opening a file list and clicking on the video you want.

Your comments indicated you've had problems with Ulead and want to avoid them now. I had problems too,...and I was cussing all over the place,... but you know what,... the problems were all mine,... I just didn't know how to use the software. Once I took the time to learn it, I will tell you it really works,.. from start to finish. The Quality is as good as anything I've seen, including TMPGen, which everyone will say is as good as MPEG encoders get. What I'm talking about is quality as good as you can get from Satallite TV on a good quality TV. It will give you as good as you will need if your source is a consumer grade Camcorder. Digital Video is better that S-Video and that is all you can really get from Digital Satallite Box.

If you're talking about Professional level Cameras then your not looking for $50 to $100 software,.. you need a professional Avid NLE system.

There are several places you can get help with Ulead products. Some of the posts above mention great programs, but look very close, I don't believe that they can do everything in one place, including Transfer, edit, effects, transistions, inserting still frames, audio,Voice, Titles, chapters, scene selection, output to AVI, DVD, SVCD,VCD, or just MPEG, and then burn your DVD, CD for you. The key is you have to learn how to use it, but you're only learning one program, not 4+. Hope this helps.