Comp to MiniDV to DVD recorder?

[moxiecat]

Hey everyone. I've editing my first lengthy video on the computer (2 hours, using a Mac and FCP). I need to get this video onto a DVD. However, because of various concerns (primarily hard drive space), I am hoping to use the following method:

1. Use Print-to-Video and export the movie to two MiniDV tapes
2. Connect the MiniDV camcorder to the standalone DVD recorder via Firewire, and using 2-hour encoding mode, record the two MiniDV tapes onto a DVD

I know there are other methods, such as running the video directly from the computer to the recorder, or encoding the MPEG directly on the computer. However, what I need to know right now is if the above process will work. I know there is quality loss whenever you encode to an MPEG-2, but am I correct that there is no quality loss with the Print-to-Video/MiniDV transfer?

Thanks in advance.

[Richard_G]

Why not cut out the camcorder? Go computer Firewire to DVD recorder Firewire and Print-to -Video directly. You are right that there is no quality loss when going DV avi from computer to MiniDV, that happens when you encode. In either case the recorder is doing the mpeg encoding, you just need to decide if it is good enough. You could probably improve it marginally doing the encode in the computer but you would than have to transfer analogue video from computer to recorder. You would then risk losing that extra little bit of quality that you had gained.

[canadateck]

I know there are other methods, such as running the video directly from the computer to the recorder

assuming you mean Fire-Wire.?

Is this somthing that can be done easily with a MAC? Because I know not one program for the PC to do this.

[moxiecat]

Yes, I was reading other posts where people had run their video directly from the Mac to the DVD recorder via a Firewire cable...I think Final Cut Pro enables this.

To answer Richard G: I only have half the movie (1 hour) on the computer at one time because my hard drive is so small. So I can't run the entire 2-hour movie at once directly to the DVD recorder and cut out the MiniDV tapes (the other half of the movie is backed up on an external hard drive). This is why I wanted to put the two halves of the movie on MiniDV tapes and then run the whole thing to the DVD recorder.

I know it's horribly complicated. I was just concerned about possibly adding another "quality generation" by using MiniDV as a step...but it seems that's not an issue. I'm sensitive to this because I've made many VHS-to-VHS-to-VHS dubs in the past and definitely don't want a loss in quality with this project.

Thanks....of course if anyone else would like to weigh in with advice, it would be appreciated!

[canadateck]

I thought there was a program to do this but I didn't think you could do with final cut Pro. Do you have a link to where you read this, that would be great?

[moxiecat]

Here is the thread I was reading regarding computer--DVD recorder transfer:
https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=254186

If you look a ways down, a member named pluche talks about his success using Final Cut Pro with this method.

Hope that helps you. I would try that method myself if I had the hard drive space. Oh well!