DV straight to Disc in AVI or MPEG2 format

[jclary2]

I am trying to save footage from a miniDV onto a CD or DVD in AVI or MPEG2 format with only one step. Basically, I would like to cut the time it takes to do this in half by not having to save onto my hard drive before burning to CD or DVD. I have seen the programs that create a DVD in one step like this, but they convert the file to a .VCD format so that it can be viewed using a standard DVD player.

[Baldrick]

try ulead dvd moviefactory, neodvd.

or get a standalone dvd recorder with firewire input,
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdrecorders.php?DVDname=&Submit=Search&pcilink2=1&hdsize=Any...&Search=Search

and read https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=267926

[BJ_M]

prassi has a pro version (they did anyway) that had stream mode - where you could do this ..

not a good idea for DV over firewire though ... where are you going to stop it ? and since it is at 1x recording - freaking slow , and in that time period - chance of an error are greatly increased ...

just capture it to hard drive with split DV into 4gig chunks and burn it ..

you will need a lot of disks... why not just archive on tape ?

though you are not to clear saying 'avi" -- there are some 50 types of avi files .. including DV ... do you mean some other type of avi ?

maybe what you should get is a standalone dvd burner ... that would be the simple easy solution

[jclary2]

Basically, miniDV tapes are expensive and I need to be able to recycle these (due to budget issues at my work site). The footage on the tapes has to be stored in a format that can be viewed on a DVD player, but I also need to be able to fully edit the footage at a later date. I don't want to archive onto VHS because of loss of quality immaediately and over the years. I converted a great deal of footage using an external DVD burner that allowed a firewire connection, but now I have footage in .VCD format that I can only edit by ripping (which has produced sketchy results). The best option that I have found to accomplish my goals is to buy a DVD player that plays .AVI and/or MPEG2 files and then archive all footage in MPEG2 format (or .AVI where better quality is required) and save to DVD. In this way, I should have the same control (editing & viewing) as a VHS tape, but without the lowering of tape quality. Since this is the option I seem to have...I wanted to reduce the time it takes to complete this procedure by saving myself a step (copturing to the hard drive).

[BJ_M]

if you are going to edit this in the future and care at all about quality --

save in the dv format .. mpeg2 is not really a format made for editing (except in some cases)

a minidv tape is 2.50$ to 7$ each .... not exactly expensive .... still your best choice , since it will cost you more in labour and blanks for dvd storage ...

[jclary2]

I go through 20 miniDV tapes per day and can copy two or more to DVD. It takes 3 computers and one full time staff to accomplish the transfer. Two copies of each miniDV are created (1 for archive and one to send out to the families that we see and or researchers that code the footage). Unfortunately, it is not an option to keep it on miniDV. If there is no quicker solution then we will continue in the manner that we are currently. I had only hoped that there may be some shortcut I wasn't aware of because at this time it takes me an hour to capture and an hour to create a disc with the footage in editable format. I can go straight to .VOB on the external maching in an hour plus a few minutes to finalize the disc. I had hoped there may be an option like this if you wanted the files in an editable AVI or MPEG2 format.

[Cornucopia]

It seems to me, you can go in one of two ways:

#1-Get a GOOD settop DVD recorder that supports Firewire In, and record straight to DVD-Video. You'll end up with VOB files (MPEG2) that aren't as editable as a DV-AVI file would, but is still somewhat usable and is (nearly) as good quality as the source DV. (Sounds like your other burner/recorder was making VCD's--not nearly as good quality)

#2-Get used to the extra step of recording to HD. Step1:Capsfer to HD as DV-AVI. Step2:Cut to 4GB sizes. (Depending on application, those 2 steps might be able to be combined) Step3: Burn DV-AVI file to DVD-recordable as a file on UDF data disc. This is RARELY playable on settops, but retains complete editability and quality.

Scott