MiniDV to DVD - Questions about quality (SP vs. HQ)

[nikbone]

Hello,

Long time reader - first post. I really appreciate all the good info I get from this site. So I'm trying to put my home videos from my Canon Elura 100 MiniDV onto DVD in the highest quality format possible. I am using Cyberlink PowerProducer 3 to capture to AVI, then edit out unwanted footage, add chapters / menus, etc. I noticed that there is an option of HQ or SP recording (among others but these are the two I'm deciding between). It seems to me that I don't even have an HQ mode option on my Canon Elura 100 (I currently record in SP mode), so to me it doesn't make any sense to burn the DVD in HQ mode when the footage was recorded in SP mode. Is my thinking correct? Does anyone with the Elura 100 know if it is possible to record in HQ mode (I have read the manual and can't find any mention of it)?

It seems there would be no way for the software to upconvert SP footage to HQ quality. Or is that possible? (i.e. I get higher quality video on the DVD (burned in HQ mode) than my camera actually took (in SP mode)?

Thanks for your help,

Nik

[Richard_G]

Not being familiar with the software, it sounds as though it is capturing and compressing on the fly. Transfer over Firewire as DVavi using WinDV and then import the transferred files into PowerProducer. A DVavi transfer is just that, a transfer of a digital file from tape to hard drive.

Welcome to the forum.

[edDV]

Hello,

Long time reader - first post. I really appreciate all the good info I get from this site. So I'm trying to put my home videos from my Canon Elura 100 MiniDV onto DVD in the highest quality format possible. I am using Cyberlink PowerProducer 3 to capture to AVI, then edit out unwanted footage, add chapters / menus, etc. I noticed that there is an option of HQ or SP recording (among others but these are the two I'm deciding between). It seems to me that I don't even have an HQ mode option on my Canon Elura 100 (I currently record in SP mode), so to me it doesn't make any sense to burn the DVD in HQ mode when the footage was recorded in SP mode. Is my thinking correct? Does anyone with the Elura 100 know if it is possible to record in HQ mode (I have read the manual and can't find any mention of it)?

It seems there would be no way for the software to upconvert SP footage to HQ quality. Or is that possible? (i.e. I get higher quality video on the DVD (burned in HQ mode) than my camera actually took (in SP mode)?

Thanks for your help,

Nik

I haven't used PowerProducer for a while but DV SP has nothing to do with DVD encoder HQ, SP, etc.

DV tape SP (standard play) relates to tape speed and track widths. The only alternative is LP (long play) that is equal signal quality but uses slower tape speed and narrower tracks. LP shouldn't be used for long term storage. The narrow tracks may become unplayable as the machine wears and may be unplayable on any other deck. Best to avoid LP.

DVD has variable quality by bitrate and frame size used. HQ is the higher bitrate than SP. Better to go into the custom preferences and adjust bitrate directly. Handheld camcorder material needs high bitrates since all pixels are in constant motion (unless you use a tripod) making MPeg motion compression difficult. I recommend 8500 Kb/s or more bitrate for camcorder material.