Capture/Encode and Catalog

[Fed]

We are trying to go digital here in our court. What I want to due is capture and encode all of our video conference sessions from a Polycom FX (Analog Signal) to a local PC directly in DVD format.(ie Video_TS.VOB/IFO). This way I can catalog all of the videos and write what sessions I want to DVD with NERO without having to encode the file first. I have a Pinnacle AV/DV capture card installed now with Studio 9.4.3 installed. Looking through the options I can not do this unless I go from a DV cam. So my question is, Is there a card internal or external that can allow me to do this? Or a way to convert all the files at night by a schedule. Thanks

[Donny661]

What you would want would be one of the WinTV PVR cards, or another card with a hardware MPEG-2 encoder. That would put just the DVD compliant MPEG-2 file on your hard drive, so you would still need to author it to get the .vob/.ifo files, but that doesn't take much longer than just burning it if you make a simple DVD with no chapters or menus.

Another option is to buy a standalone DVD recorder which will record everything right to DVD without any hassle. From what I read, I think that would be your best option.

If you want use what you have, though, you can set up a batch encode on most encoding programs to convert your files to MPEG-2 overnight. You still have to set up each encode before you start it, but you can set it up to do a list of jobs while you sleep.

[Fed]

Thanks for the reply Donny!! I thought about just getting a stand alone, But I don't think it will work for my situation. We are trying to get from having a physical library of videos. Once we get a call someone wants a recorded video we need to just write it then, then mail it.
I guess I need to know if a file could be authored to .vob or .ifo directly after the video is captured. I don't need any titles or menus. the DVD just needs to be a drop in and play.

[thecoalman]

Thanks for the reply Donny!! I thought about just getting a stand alone, But I don't think it will work for my situation. We are trying to get from having a physical library of videos. Once we get a call someone wants a recorded video we need to just write it then, then mail it.

To just write it you'll need copies, you can make make master copies that you would make copies of to send if speed is your goal.

I guess I need to know if a file could be authored to .vob or .ifo directly after the video is captured. I don't need any titles or menus. the DVD just needs to be a drop in and play.

That's about what a DVD recorder does. The harware encoder mentioned above is about the same, just slightly more time time consuming. By far the longest part of converting to DVD is converting to dvd compliant mpeg, the harware encoder or DVD recoredr takes care of that for you as the footage is being captured.

The difference between the harware encoder and the recoder is that it offers a little more flexibility in the menus without having to transfer it to PC since it's already on your drive.

Once captured using a harware encoder the DVD could be created in minutes excluding burn time. You could even add some auto schapters and still have it done fast.

Another solution is using software encoding which requires some PC horsepower. You could try Ulead Viodeo Studio for that, don't know if it's compatible with your current capture card.