Capture / Minor editing question

[Tekken]

I''ve got approx. 17 vhs tapes (old home movies) I want to convert over to DVD. I have a standalone dvd-recorder, but I'm also willing to go the PC route... whichever you think is best.

I'm not wanting to do a bunch of editing, but I do want to do some trimming on the PC to get rid of sections of blank spots in between recordings, and I would also like to setup a DVD menu.

Knowing what I'm wanting to accomplish, will the standalone route work for me? From the many posts I've read, using the standalone, and then dumping to the PC for minor editing will cause my video to be encoded twice. Will the video quality take a big hit when doing this? If I go the capture route, I'm going to go with the Canopus ADVC110, but if the DVDRecorder route will work I will just save the money. However, these videos are important, so if the quality difference is that severe, then the $200.00 for the canopus will be worth it. Please advise.

[jagabo]

You can do minor editing and simple menus on the set-top recorder. If you transfer to a PC and don't perform any filtering you can use smart editors that only reencode a few frames (15 or less) around the cuts. No loss of quality.

[Tekken]

Are programs like Vegas & Ulead capable of this "smart editing" of mpeg2 files? Do the programs do this automatically or do I have to specify for it to do this type of editing?

What about when I join 2 clips? Will it do the same thing?(only re-encode around the join) If so, then I will probably use my stand-alone to do the capturing and not go the canopus route.

[guns1inger]

Vegas and Premiere expand the mpeg on the timeline, so you have to re-render every frame.

Womble Mpeg Wizard is a pretty easy to use editor that can also do transitions and titles, and only re-encodes the minimum it needs to. It is pretty fast, and the DVD version can also create menus for you as well.

However, if you believe that the video will need any sort of processing (noise reduction, colour adjustments etc) then you should consider capturing to your HDD in a lossless format, processing with avisynth, then encoding and authoring for DVD.

[Tekken]

Thanks for the info. on womble. I'm going to do some experimenting and figure out from there which way I'm going to go.

[jackie2]

I see you have vhs to put on dvd's? That is what I want to do. I have the dvdexpress dx2 I had no problem using it too tranfer home movies from 2 camcorders, But I am having trouble with it trying too tranfers vhs movies from the vcr, it has the audio but no pictures in the preview. It there anything wrong I am using combo dvd and vhs player? Can you help or know any one out there to help me? I have valuable movies of my children I need on dvd's

[olyteddy]

I see you have vhs to put on dvd's? That is what I want to do. I have the dvdexpress dx2 I had no problem using it too tranfer home movies from 2 camcorders, But I am having trouble with it trying too tranfers vhs movies from the vcr, it has the audio but no pictures in the preview. It there anything wrong I am using combo dvd and vhs player? Can you help or know any one out there to help me? I have valuable movies of my children I need on dvd's

A lot of combo units have separate video outputs for VHS and DVD. My Samsung only has composite (RCA yellow plug) output for the VHS and S-video for the DVD section. You might want to check that on yours.

[jackie2]

thank you so much for replying
I check my vcr it is a Symphonic, and i have the rca yellow video out, L and R for audio out.I hooked it right to the dvdexpress right, how I know it works because I tranfers some home movies from a camcorder I even check my computer about the graphic card, settings on my computer. I have done everything possible. So what am I doing wrong .

[olyteddy]

Ah, I re-read your post and I take it the movies you want to capture are commercial (store bought) movies. If this is the case do a search on the forum for 'video stabilizer'. Sounds like you might have a case of 'Macrovision' (another good search term).