HOW does a standalone DVD recorder "encode" ?

[tmh]

Just wondering how a standalone actually takes the various inputs (VCR, TV receiver, mini DV via firewire, etc) and makes them DVD compliant? It seems like it's a fairly complex chore to do it well on ones computer but the recorder does it all at once. Is it similar to an "all-in-one" DV to DVD software program like DVDSanta? Is there an actual "encode" program in the DVD Recorder that determines the quality of the DVD created? Are the more expensive ones "better" at this process?

Thanks.

[mikesbytes]

Yes there is one. It is usually built into the hardware, ie an encoder on a chip.

[lordsmurf]

It's not at all like DVD Santa, and is not a single piece of hardware.

The encoder chip (or chips if a/v is separately encoded), encodes. Other chips on the motherboard control authoring and burning. It's a lot like a computer, but with a different chip hardware instead of different softwares. And then the options are very limited on the recorder, usually just a handful of preset for menu style, bitrate, etc.

[tmh]

OK, very interesting - thanks. In your opinions, how does the hardware encoder compare to the software encoders? I realize the options are far more limited, but is the output generally very good or more like a mediocre encode software? I'm particularily interested in the Camcorder DV via firewire to DVD encode. Thanks again.

I guess I could just do some tests and compare results but I have one problem.....Santa isn't bringing my DVD Recorder until Saturday! NO, No, No, NOT THAT LOUSY DVDSANTA! The real one! (What a stupid name for a retail software, btw. Yeah, when you offer it for free you have the right to give it any stupid name that pleases you or makes you laugh knowing others will have to say it, but when you're trying to SELL it, lose the Jolly Fat Elf references!

[lordsmurf]

It depends.

I'm not a fan of DV for analog conversions. It leaves color artifacts and has various errors. DV was never intended for conversion, it's a shooting format.

I'm a huge fan of ATI AIW cards, and I like the output of Hauppauge MPEG hardware, but neither can compete with LSI chips found in certain DVD recorders (the original Apex DRX9000, and the current JVC DRM10S models, for example).

It's not really an argument of hardware vs software. Those are just different methods to do things. A good software encode (uncompressed AVI to MPEG encode in Procoder) will always look better than a Panasonic DVD recorder. Inversely, a JVC recorder will always look better than a cheapo BT chipset using PowerVCRII to capture MPEG.

As always... just use good hardware and/or software. Quality will follow, if used correctly.