Need help with some definitions...

[xinjingqiao]

I have loved reading your website but, apparently like other newbies, when I run into some new words I get confused about the overall meaning of your articles. I have some basic questions and then a general question.

What is the difference between AVI, MPEG and DV? I am using Ulead Studio 6.0 and it has these options to capture. AVI files are HUGE, almost 4 GB per 8 minutes, MPEG are more reasonable. I have not tried DV yet. I am trying to convert a DV tape into DVD. The MPEG format produces poor quality, 320 X 2?? although the size is manageable. I have read some other questions talking about other programs to use but I think these programs are only one piece of the puzzle and either have to continue using Ulead afterwards or find other programs to take the project to completion. I am reluctant to try other programs until I have a general idea of the whole picture. Ulead, for better or worse gives me all the pieces in one box, although the result is not adequate I still know I will get a result.

[xinjingqiao]

PS While my computer does have a firewire port I do not have a cable to connect to the DV port on the Handycam that I am borrowing. Would that make a difference?

T

[presto]

I do not have a cable to connect to the DV port on the Handycam that I am borrowing. Would that make a difference?

All the difference in the world. For one thing if you use DV you can control the camera from the program rather than having to use the controls on the camera.

If you are low on disk space you can capture the DV in preview mode (lower quality) and do your editing and then the program will actually control the camera to re-capture only the parts you want (in high quality this time) and stitch them togethor according to your edits.

If you have plenty of disk space just capture in DV. In either case you will no loss in quality. Capture avi or mpg will always involve some loss in quality because a conversion is involved.

[bbulldog]

@presto what program would you use to do that?
seems like i am doing it the hard way

[presto]

Ulead Video Studio and Pinnacle Studio are the two that I have used.

Actually I don't have a DV camera yet but I got a chance to use one when working with a friend on a small film project. I'm determined to get a DV camera now.

[xinjingqiao]

Thanks! Your info on DV was especilly helpful..but is there anyway right now to get better resolution when my computer has captured at 320X2XX?

T

[Tommyknocker]

You cannot increased the quality of a captured video by increasing the resolution after it has been captured. Once you get you fire wire cable and camera working, your DV transfers will automatically be 720 x 480. And like the gurus above said, it will make a world of difference!

[xinjingqiao]

Thanks! So for each 1 hour of DV tape how much hard drive real estate will I need?

[xinjingqiao]

How much hard drive...assuming I just do a complete transfer from the tap at the highest resolution, if this kind of setting is possible...I understand there is a way to do a low res transfer... it seems to me that a DV camera hooked up to fireware becomes a kind of mass storage device for the computer??

How much is a DV cable? Do I need a special cable or is there a generic cable for all DV cameras (fat chance )?

[jimmalenko]

DV is about 13GB per hour.

I think you are better off transferring to your computer at the best quality possible, then using your encoding to fit to size.

[MpegEncoder]

How much is a DV cable? Do I need a special cable or is there a generic cable for all DV cameras (fat chance )?

It will probably run you about $20-$30 US.

You need to check what type of connectors you have at both ends. The camcorders have small 4 pin connectors. Laptops also have 4 pin, desktops are usually 6 pin.

[presto]

Thanks! Your info on DV was especilly helpful..but is there anyway right now to get better resolution when my computer has captured at 320X2XX?

You're a lttle vague here. If you're saying you did an analog capture from your camera to the computer then, as stated above you can't improve that capture by changing the resolution.

If you re-capture

320x240 mpg1 is for vcd quality. You can use this for DVD but qual is low.

352x480 mpg2 is for HD1 which is acceptable for DVD. I use this a lot

720x480 mpg2 is full DVD but an analog transfer will not be as good as the digital transfer you can get with DV.

For analog capture the most important thing is the bitrate. I use 4000 most of the time for my vhs tape to DVD transfers. Just to further show that I'm no expert, I don't know offhand what units go with that. I just know I put in a number between 1130 and 6000 in my capture program.