Capture with intent to Edit and burn DVD - Format HELP!!!

[tarrickb]

Hello all.
I just purchased the PX-402U and need to record off VCR. I plan to do intensive editing and will eventually be burning to DVD (MPEG-2).
I need your opinions on which option you all think is best.

1. Capture using virtual dub in DivX (4500 Kbps).
2. Capture using another program to .mpeg-2 at the highest quality setting. (btw the I'm having trouble getting a good mpeg capture).

I know there are better alternatives like capturing uncompressed AVI or DV but my hardware does not allow this. Remember, I will be re-encoding all captures using Sony Vegas 6.0c to .mpeg-2.
Please let me know which format you think will give me the best quality and editing performance.
Thank you all!
- Tarrick

[redwudz]

Neither one is exactly 'editor friendly' compared to some AVI formats. But if you could get MPEG-2 to work you would have possibly better quality and one less encode to do.

I would look into MPEG-VCR or MPEG Video Wizard for editng. Then maybe TMPGEnc DVD Author to do the authoring.

EDIT: OK, how are you 'capturing'? From what I see that unit outputs encoded video and it does the capturing in hardware . You would just need to edit it, then maybe encode it if you wanted a different format.

[tarrickb]

Well i will be (have to) use Sony Vegas 6.0c for the editing and final mpeg-2 encoding.
Thanks for the response...

Any other suggestions???

[jagabo]

The ConvertX boxes always deinterlace when capturing in MPEG4. Originally, they blend deinterlaced MPEG2 too but I think the software has been updated to allow for interlaced capture (if not there are registry hacks).

http://forums.divx.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/996105602/m/269107342

For best results capture as interlaced MPEG2.

I'm pretty sure you can't capture from a ConvertX with VirtualDub. You're probably stuck with whatever software comes with the box.

[tarrickb]

Thanks for the response. How can I tell if the software on my ConvertX is capturing interlaced or deinterlaced mpeg2???

Btw. I can capture MPEG4 and DIVX using Virtual DUB, but have no quality control (it defaults to the highest quality).

[pchan]

Looking at the PX-402U specs, there is an option for output to AVI format. Can check out bundle software for output to AVI format. Anyway, you are able to capture using VirtualDub, can you try using Huffy or PICVideo MJPEC codec(can get a copy from the TOOL - Codec section).

[jagabo]

Thanks for the response. How can I tell if the software on my ConvertX is capturing interlaced or deinterlaced mpeg2???

Capture something and use VirtualDub to single step through the frames where something is moving. If you see interlace comb lines it's interlaced. Blend deinterlacing will often look like a double exposure.



On the left is a crop with interlace, on the right with a blend deinterlace.

[tarrickb]

Capture something and use VirtualDub to single step through the frames where something is moving. If you see interlace comb lines it's interlaced. Blend deinterlacing will often look like a double exposure.

That makes complete sense, and i will try that out.

With regards to VirtualDub and .avi, because it is hardware encoded I can only save to DivX or MPEG4, and have no control beyond that (not even volume!). Meaning that i would not be able to use different compression.

[pchan]

If no option for avi, next best thing to do is to caputure in MPEG2 and edit with MPEG Video Wizard.

[tarrickb]

Ok so i guess I will be capturing in MPEG.

Do you guys think MPEG Video Wizard is better for Sony Vegas 6.0c?

[pchan]

MPEG Video Wizard has basic transitions, filters, audio line editor, and add audio track. One real advantage is MPEG2 streaming and it's super fast. Can try the 30 days trial.

[FulciLives]

There is a new version now called MPEG Video Wizard DVD which I have not tried but my understanding is that it has all the features of MPEG Video Wizard but also includes DVD authoring and burning.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[tarrickb]

So i guess it's MPEG wizard then.....???

Also, what does the feature of mpeg streaming do??
THANKS.

[pijetro]

tarrickb wrote:

I plan to do intensive editing

Like titling, transitions, adjustment layers, etc...?
Or just cutting and joining??

I need your opinions on which option you all think is best.

1. Capture using virtual dub in DivX (4500 Kbps).
2. Capture using another program to .mpeg-2 at the highest quality setting. (btw the I'm having trouble getting a good mpeg capture).

Unless Divx has become a favoured capturing codec, stay away..
Great for playback though..
Capturing to MPEG2 would be a better option, but then, it's really not a great editing format.....Catch 22 eh??

I know there are better alternatives like capturing uncompressed AVI or DV

Aw crap, that was gonna be the seller....
Seriously though, if you're gonna do some serious editing, then that's the way you need to go..Sorry..

Please let me know which format you think will give me the best quality and editing performance.

Considering the parameters of your setup, i will let you decide...But apart from this, if you want to improve quality, then i would strongly suggest going to the restoration forum, and see their techniques..

Sorry i couldn't be of any more help..

[tarrickb]

Well, thought i would post the conclusion to my story.
I came to the realization that my Plextor PX-M402U is not capable of doing the job i want it to do, so i purchased the Cannopus ADVC - 100 on ebay. I'm sure this will give me what im' looking for.

I just hope the ADVC-100 is a nice durable unit becasue i'm buying it used (has been used for about 2-3 years) and its not being shipped in it's original box.
I hope things go well.
THank you all for your posts!

[redwudz]

With the ADVC-100, make sure it has the proper power supply. Hopefully the original.

If the unit works properly, you should like it. I've had mine for a couple of years, not a single problem.

The DV it outputs is easy to edit. I use the freeware VirtualDub Mod for that, but most any AVI editor should work. If you use VDM, install a DV codec like the Panasonic DV codec. Do your transfers to the computer with a program like WinDV. I use Type 2 for VDM. You can use Type 1 with VD 1.6.

Let us know how it works out.

[tarrickb]

Ok THANKS!
Do you think there would be any tell tale indications that I don't have a proper power supply? (I'm guessing it may cause intermittent problems if I don't).
Also...,

The DV it outputs is easy to edit. I use the freeware VirtualDub Mod for that, but most any AVI editor should work. If you use VDM, install a DV codec like the Panasonic DV codec. Do your transfers to the computer with a program like WinDV. I use Type 2 for VDM. You can use Type 1 with VD 1.6.

When you say you use "Type one" or "Type two" what are you referring to, and also, what does the vdub mod offer over vdub 1.6. Thank you for your informative response, and i will post my results later on in the week.

Oh, btw, I was planning on using Sony Vegas 6.0c to transfer the DV footage to my PC.

[jagabo]

DV from a camcorder or other device has audio and video data multiplexed together. Some programs, especially older ones, do as little processing as possible when storing it into an AVI file (to keep the file size down and to keep CPU usage as low as possible to reduce the possibility of dropping data while capturing). The DV data is saved as a single stream within the AVI file, marked as video even though it has both audio and video. This is a type 1 file. To make a type 2 file a program creates a second copy of the audio marked explicitly as an audio stream.

Programs that expect to find video in a video stream and audio in an audio stream don't know how to deal with the audio in type 1 files. Some software doesn't work with type 2 files because they were designed explicitly for type 1.

[redwudz]

My ADVC-100 PS is 5VC, 2.5A, made by Jet and the PS box is in the middle of the two cords. If you have a different one, just make sure the voltage, polarity of the connector and the supplied current is the same or better.

Here's a link to the specs and manual for the ADVC unit. (Which is only a few pages.)

http://dv411.com/advc100.html

I use VDMod because it accepts MPEGs also. It uses an older version of VD. VD 1.6 is one of the latest versions, AVI only.

[tarrickb]

wicked...thanks!
I can now say that,
my questions now have all officially been answered!
Thank you all.

[pfh]

Before you give up on the ConvertX, try capturing with GoCap- set GOP to 9, bit rate ~8000, and know it will always be interlaced. The convertX boxes only do mpeg but considering the vhs source it's results are good, however, support has waned and it appears to be headed for the legacy label.

[tarrickb]

My ADVC-100 PS is 5VC, 2.5A, made by Jet and the PS box is in the middle of the two cords. If you have a different one, just make sure the voltage, polarity of the connector and the supplied current is the same or better.

The PSU I got is 5VC and its 3A, so I'm guessing that is better rather than worse. However, please let me know if I have anything to worry about!