HELP right now, want to capture "The Stand" on SciFi Sunday at 3:

[Ohmster]

One of my all time favorite movies is "The Stand" by Steven King. It will be playing on Sunday September 23rd 2007 at 3:00PM. Since this is such a freaking huge movie, it is called a "Miniseries" and each of 4 parts run consecutively from 3:00PM and ends at 11:00PM on Sunday night. The first time I watched the whole thing in bed with my current at the time girlfriend and the 8 hours in bed was Heaven. Now that I am solo, I don't think I can do it again. I called Blockbuster to just rent it and it is not available. So the only way I can get this movie to watch would be to capture it on my PC live as it plays. The question is, would my computer be up to the task?

Specs:
Athlon XP 3200 64 bit
1 Gb DDRAM
300Gb ST3320620AS SATA drive in 3 100Gb partitions, XP Pro installed
400Gb ST3400832A IDE in 4 400Gb partitions. None free, can free one up though.
WinTV PCI TV and Cable tuner, capture card. Needs external mpeg decoder for encoding mpeg but can encode capture to disk raw or with AV codecs.
nvidia GeForce 6800 GT (I think it is a GT, it is a 6800)

What I want to do is to capture the movie on my hard drive so that I can watch it at my leisure and not have to be in front of the TV for 8 hours and then miss stuff when the phone rings, etc. I did a test capture of just snow, have to connect the cable again, and 6 seconds of avi created a 20Mb avi file. Pulling 8 hours of video to hard disk raw would eat those 100Gb partitions like Ritz crackers and I would therefore have to specify a compression method for video and audio. I would like to use mp3 for audio and Xvid or DviX for the video to get a good quality and a decent and reasonable file size. I have encoded 1 hour Playtime Video videos to once CD (700Mb) or two CDs (1,400Mb) and have had spectacular results with a 640 x480 screen size with frame rates from 25 to 29 or 30 per second. I do this encoding with Auto GK or Auto Gordian;\'s Knot so I know that the compression is great but would it fit? I hour video at 700 or 1,400Mb in size on a 100Gb partition but more importantly, does my machine have the balls to do this kind of on the fly encoding in real time as needed for capturing the movie as it comes in? A dual or quad core might be better for this sort of thing but I don't have it.

When I setup the WinTV for capture, I can specify what kind of encoding and I have Xvid available and mp3 for audio. My question is do you think that this is worth it and is it doable? I don't want to go through all of this crap just to waste my entire Sunday off and get frustrated. If I can capture it to hard disk, I can then put it on some DVD-R or even DVD+R discs with this Samsung and then watch the movie at my own pace, pause when I want, etc. heck, this player will even play avi flicks recorded in DivX or Xvid and mp3 as 700Mb or larger data files and the result is the same as if I really transcoded the thing to create an actual DVD. I can just create the avi movies and throw them on the DVD disc as data files and the Samsung will play them with amazing clarity.

Question:
Is this realistic and does my machine have the power to do this encoding on the fly in real time and do I have any shot in hell in getting this done? The movie will broadcast in a little less than 18 hours. Can this be done or is it all just a waste of time and energy and an exercise in futility and frustration?

Thank you for your immediate input.

[Soopafresh]

Good question. I think the lack of available disk space is gonna take the fun out of it all. You're going spend too much time making sure you're not running out of room.

Instead:


http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Rick-Aviles/dp/B00006AUIN

[Ohmster]

Yeah, it looks that way to me too. Spend all the time watching the disk space go by and not even be able to enjoy anything else. The VHS tapes are only $3.80 as you pointed out, DVDs are $31. Might as well just buy the tapes then. Probably would need an industrial machine to do this with striped terrabytes of storage available and a really high end processor, lot of RAM, to grab that stream and encode and record it with any reasonable means of quality. I guess I will just watch the movie for now as best I can. Thanks.

[themaster1]

Well i'd advice you something simple but proven efficient & certified by me :

The software is called win dvr3 (intervideo company) you can record in .mpg : dvd,svcd-vcd...i'd advice dvd quality of course.

2 hours of videos take 8 gb if i'm not mistaken (8x8=64 Gb)

I advice you this software because its quality to me is great in conjunction with a good capture card & most of all stable & simple to use.
It require very few resource on your pc while recording

it's got a schedule and everything

Don't bother to record in divx or xvid you will have problems to record with these codecs in real time especially 8 hours of program! You need something stable period!

[edDV]

Your problem crys for a hardware encoding capture card.

DV format (25Mb/s) - Canopus, ADS, Datavideo
MPeg2 (3-15Mb/s) - Hauppage PVR and HDR

Or TB internal drive for uncompressed or Huffyuv capture ...

Or a realtime MPeg2 encoder. Here is an example
http://www.mainconcept.com/site/consumer-products-4/mpeg-2/information.html

Oops, they just raised their price from $155 to 450

They also have a realtime MJPEG codec for $21 (downloadable).
http://www.mainconcept.com/site/consumer-products-4/motion-jpeg-codec-785/information-797.html

PicVideo and Morgan also have MJPEG software codecs.

[ebenton]

Rent it from Netflix.

[edDV]

So it is...
I though he was saying it wasn't on DVD.
http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Stand/60030528?trkid=189530&strkid=1285704866_0_0

BTW: The Sci Fi network analog signal here is full of noise. Borderline unacceptable. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00006AUIN/ref=pd_bbs_olp_1/103-3161643-7478246...0589385&sr=8-1

[ebenton]

Yeah, I thought so, too for a minute, but then I read it again and interpreted it to mean that he called his local Blockbuster and it wan't available. Or maybe he meant it was not available at Blockbuster online.
But wait! That's not true, either:
http://www.blockbuster.com/catalog/movieDetails/92177
Maybe he just doesn't like to rent online.

[edDV]

Editing commercials, filtering and encoding an eight hour series sounds like several days work.

[SmokieStover]

It's too late to help now, but edDV pointed to a hardware capture card. VBR of 6.0 kbs would take 4 DVD's after the commercials are cut-out. No filtering or encoding time required.

I still use the trusty old VCR for jobs like this. One T-160 tape ($2.50) and EP (SLP) for an 8 hour recording.

Last 8 hour recording I made was of "Jesus of Nazareth" from the History Channel. Watched it over 4 nights. Two friends borrowed the tape and watched it as well. Both have VCR's and could have taped it themselves. There are so many cable channels that the average cable subscriber cannot tell what's coming on without a web based EPG. I like TitanTV and it's free.

I also generally tape the older 3 to 5 hour movies that run on AMC, IF THEY HAVE CLOSED CAPTIONS. Almost all of these movies are broadcast in poor quality (Video and especially the Audio). Latest examples being Cleopatra, How The West was Won, and the Robe).

[Ohmster]

Well it's over now, I was a bit late out the gate with this one. 8 hours of recording, editing out the commercials, encoding to several DVDs, etc. would have been a huge job and probably not worth it. The movie was not THAT good or special. I just knew I would not likely have 8 hours free to spend watching it all at once and I didn't. I had to do other things all along, got to watch about half of it, piecemeal. Not enough attention to really get into the story to make it a good watch. My LOCAL Blockbuster did not have it although I am sure that other stores would have or could even rent it online or buy the tapes cheap.

EP VCR recording is total crap, I would not do it that way. I have spent years fixing VCRs and the picture quality of EP is horrible. I never could understand why they put a 4 hour switch on those things anyway. It was just as bad as 6 hour and you got less time. A hardware capture card would of course be the way to go but I don't have one, just a regular WinTV PCI. If I try to use the DVR part of the WinTV software, it tells me that I do not have a hardware encoder so I guess I am just lacking the equipment. I can capture video from composite in or from a cable channel but it was the compression I was worried about. Did not think Xvid or Dvix would have been stable enough and might have lagged in real time.

Will probably just rent Steven King's "It" and just enjoy that. Besides, it is easier to copy a single DVD movie than a 4 part miniseries. Thanks for all of the fine information, I will keep it in mind for upgrading. Looks like I either need software like maybe the WinDVR 3.0 that themaster1 talked about or better to get a real hardware encoder but that will have to wait. I am between jobs and have a mortgage to pay now.

All good advice for the future though. Now at least I know what I am up against a bit better. Thanks everybody.

[Tom Saurus]

I would suggest trying to find the DVD somewhere at a reasonable price. I bought a DVD of Steven King's The Stand for ten dollars in Canadian money plus tax long before our money was a par. I was very surprised I got it at such a reasonable cost. I am big fan of the Mini-Series and I also read the book. I often thought HBO should produce a more indepth and longer version of Steven King's The Stand.

My suggestion would be if you can't buy it new at a reasonable price go to a DVD rental place and try to buy a "previously viewed" copy. Alot of times the previously viewed copies come with a guarantee that you can return them if they are flawed. Earlier in the year I got a good deal at Movie Gallery where I bought a couple movies that were previously viewed and then there was a coinciding deal where I could get 2 for the price of 1 and so I left a very happy customer. Sometimes looking around in a bargain bin at some of these stores can get you the odd mini-series.

I tried at my local shop where I had been exclusively ordering DVDs for the mini-series "Larry McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk" and they couldn't get it for me from their supplier. I went to the Movie Gallery and asked do you have "Larry McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk" and they did have one. It was in the bargain bin and it was priced at $9.99 plus tax. I left really grateful to have gotten such a good bargain.

I am a big fan of mini-series. My mom bought the whole "North & South Trilogy of Mini-Series" for I think tax included 80 bucks and that as far as I am concerned was a super bargain. She got it in one big boxset and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It took her two days to watch it all but it was money well invested.

Unless it is something very rare that isn't released on DVD at a reasonable price you should scower those bargain bins or look for a previously viewed copy or buy it new. Besides with the DVD of Steven King's The Stand there is commentary by the director and others that you can listen to and there are a few behind the scenes features. I think it was a very well done mini-series. Gary Sinise was excellent as Stu. Rob Lowe did a fine job in his role as did Molly Ringwold. That blond haired tall guy from "Coach" was just super as Tom Cullen; I can't imagine anyone that could of did a better job then him in that role.

[SCDVD]

There's the hard way and there's the easy way. Here is the easy way.

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Stand/60030528?strkid=1782934085_0_0

[vhelp]

Evening everyone.

Well, I tried for the past several days to respond to this post, but had too many things
to say on it, not to mention having very little energy levels every time.. oh well.

previously, on my mind ...

--->>

Well, there are several approachs to this, but its a bit too late now. Its almost 9pm
here in NY. Anyway. I think that for something like this would have required some
initial "capture" set up time/scenarios. I mean. Things just don't work out the first
time around, and I'm almost sure that he (Ohmster) would have met up with
a few pit-falls or two.

DV would have prob been the best choice if he had access to a DV CAM or rushed
out and purchased a hardwared dv capture card.

Here are some numbers for you, case you find another opportunity like this to rush
a *special* capture project.

MPEG-2 with 384 Audio, 720 x 480 pixels
** CBR: (384k audio, 9kbits @ 1min = 72.5mb) .. (72.5mb x 60min)=(4.35g/hr x 18hrs) = 34.8g
** CBR: (384k audio, 15kbits @ 1min = 119mb) .. (119mb x 60min)=(7.14g/hr x 18hrs) = 57.12g

DV-NTSC ADVC 55/100/110, or DV CAM (borrow from friend or rent)
** 13g/hr .. (8hr x 13g) = 104 gigs

The above are approx numbers.

fwiw.. I'm running VirtualDub with my Pinnacle Studio AV/DV analog capture
card on my XP Home computer. I prefer to capture in the RAW (yuv color space) but i'm
constantly running out of HDD space (160 g HDD, part. to 3 virt drives) but every now
and then I have to battle out my cabletv 's Ground Loop problems which seem to be
most of the time. Sometimes, there's no ground loop (audio induced line noise or hum
bars) in my captures, but there seems to be no cure for it -- tried various gizmo's. My
cable is just too dirty, running through many apts and finally reaching mine. One morning,
I wake up to clean cabletv, and other times, there's hum bars scrolling up the pc monitor
capture window. Sometimes I feel like somebody's deliberately doing this. Oh well

Yeah, I almost forgot.. i'm using huffy codec. Lagarith is a hog (Triple's) cpu cyles and
drops frames on my faster pc. Go figure. Plus, its not easily acceptable in other tools
like FFMPEG and MENCODER for starters.

BTW: The Sci Fi network analog signal here is full of noise. Borderline unacceptable

Actually, it wasn't too bad. I thought it was going to be noisy too, (SCI FI is usually selectively
noisy) but it wasn't so bad.. at least on mine, it wasn't. I guess mileage varys from provider
to provider in your area, etc.

However, for post-process purposes, this program was not IVTC wirthy. It was tipicle of the
time-expansion nonsense .. either sped up or slowed down .. (haven't bothered to check
since this was not my project and I only captured short scenes) .. where the Telecine was
not clean. I think I have enough capture samples to play with and could prob figure it out,
given enough time, but after catching a few messy scene-changes I don't have the desire
to bother with it right now.

<< ---

Today ..

Ohmster,

Well it's over now, I was a bit late out the gate with this one. 8 hours of recording, editing out the commercials, encoding to several DVDs, etc. would have been a huge job and probably not worth it.

I feel for you. I know what its like to want to start such a project, but can't, in the end.
And, I also knew that you would suffer fait, this way. Its a common fait when in this
type of endeavor.
And, don't short-change your self on this.. your original drive/passion. It was a good
program, though I did not watch it through its entirety. I cought the last 3 hrs, and
I (fwiw) recorded those 3 hrs, and in EP mode (-> EP <-, Will get to that in a moment)

As I was trying to indicate a moment ago, I recorded the last 3 hrs in EP mode on my
JVC S-VHS HR-S3910U vcr, and also using it's Super ET mode for EP, for
even greater quality recordings. (Ohmster, this is what you might have been missing,
but keep reading below, for more tips)

You can't count on *dated* vcr's with EP mode recording ability. They were not yet
designed with todays (though dying) quality expectations for this medium. I think that
you are basing your bad experience on this point. But, read further below for some tips.

In addition to obtaining quality from EP mode recordings, you need to use the right TAPE
Grade and Brand. Most brands are very poor in EP recordings. Even when they say they
are the best, (on their packaging) and they are not. And, of course, the vcr also has
a very important part to bringing the quality out of the recordings, etc.

(Below, is from my many years experience)

For the best recording quality-- you must use Fuji 6Hrs PRO EP Mode tapes.
These are in a Gold box, either 3 or 4 to a set. This tape brand/model is *the best* in picture
quality under EP mode. SP is even better, but we are concirned with getting as many
hours on a tape as possible, hence EP mode.

Trust me, all other brands of foowy. Lots of artifacts such as, Rainbows and Noise Speciles
(looks like white streaks, etc) and these you want to stay away from. You'll see these
when you've finished your recordings. Sony brand, did this on my last major recording
project, which was the 2006 Winter Olympics .. which I haven't started on, yet. I was
on a very limited budget back then.

Second to this, (and I use this often, cause its a little cheaper in price) is also the
Fuji 6Hrs T-120 Mode tapes. These are in a Green box. And again, they
are 3 or 4 or 6 to a set I think. I usually find these at my near by K-Mart for $6 bucks.

Tricking your VCR into recording Super VHS mode on standard vhs tapes--
I heard you can punch holes through these standard tapes (above) to trick your vcr
into actually recording in Super VHS mode -- by drilling holes in the tape. Honestly,
I think this is a lot of cocka. I've examined both Super VHS and Stanard VHS tapes,
(so that I could drill holes -- would be totall worth it) but neither one has any odd or
missing holes. So, IMHO, its just a myth !!

My thoughts on Extended (Recordable) Marathons ...

When these events come along, I recommend recording them to VHS tapes. Later, you
can go through the process of Capturing, Editing, and Encoding them to another video
archival format -- usually, MPEG-2. I also recommend recording them in EP mode, just
as I laid out, above, using Super ET mode if your vcr features this option.
Then, when using the right tape Grade and Brand, the final product will usually come
out looking close to the original recorded-to-tape source with CBR and high bitrate.

Now those of you who have dvd recorders with HDD have the advantage of recording
these extended hours by this units. But, with Analog CabltTV source (not to mention,
the noise level it contains) I would not use this route. But this is my preference. Yours
may be different.

Its true, that these days you can get most movie/tv sources on various on-line sources.
But, after all, this a forum mostly about video processing, not on-line rentals 'n all. And,
for me, if I can capture it, then I'll consider transfering it in an archival format, free

Watching the last three hours left me believing that the whole cast did a phenominal
job. I loved how pretty Molly R. looked. I think she put on weight, today. Oh well.
She was such a cute girl in her 80's ERA.

-vhelp 4400

[Ohmster]

I would suggest trying to find the DVD somewhere at a reasonable price. I bought a DVD of Steven King's The Stand for ten dollars in Canadian money plus tax long before our money was a par. I was very surprised I got it at such a reasonable cost. I am big fan of the Mini-Series and I also read the book. I often thought HBO should produce a more indepth and longer version of Steven King's The Stand.

My suggestion would be if you can't buy it new at a reasonable price go to a DVD rental place and try to buy a "previously viewed" copy. Alot of times the previously viewed copies come with a guarantee that you can return them if they are flawed. Earlier in the year I got a good deal at Movie Gallery where I bought a couple movies that were previously viewed and then there was a coinciding deal where I could get 2 for the price of 1 and so I left a very happy customer. Sometimes looking around in a bargain bin at some of these stores can get you the odd mini-series.

I would rather have the DVD but it is thirty dollars on Amazon. Now ordinarily $30 is not much money but I got laid off last Monday so I just cannot let it go until I get a new "full time" job, I have a mortgage to pay and it is killing me now. The tapes are like three bucks and the quality of a good SP prerecorded VHS tape is actually pretty good. Now that I could copy to DVD and not deal with the commercials and it would be worth it. Thirty dollars for the DVD right now I don't have. Other than to rent it and DVD Shrink it, there is no other way for me right now. DVD Shrink is awesome though but I am not sure we are allowed to talk about that stuff here. The results are awesome for me though.

I tried at my local shop where I had been exclusively ordering DVDs for the mini-series "Larry McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk" and they couldn't get it for me from their supplier. I went to the Movie Gallery and asked do you have "Larry McMurtry's Dead Man's Walk" and they did have one. It was in the bargain bin and it was priced at $9.99 plus tax. I left really grateful to have gotten such a good bargain.

I am a big fan of mini-series. My mom bought the whole "North & South Trilogy of Mini-Series" for I think tax included 80 bucks and that as far as I am concerned was a super bargain. She got it in one big boxset and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It took her two days to watch it all but it was money well invested.

Unless it is something very rare that isn't released on DVD at a reasonable price you should scower those bargain bins or look for a previously viewed copy or buy it new. Besides with the DVD of Steven King's The Stand there is commentary by the director and others that you can listen to and there are a few behind the scenes features. I think it was a very well done mini-series. Gary Sinise was excellent as Stu. Rob Lowe did a fine job in his role as did Molly Ringwold. That blond haired tall guy from "Coach" was just super as Tom Cullen; I can't imagine anyone that could of did a better job then him in that role.

Agreed. This capturing, cleaning out commercials, and encoding is a LOT of work and is simply not worth it for ordinary movies. Buy in a bargain bin or DVD Shrink and you are done, man. I will have to start taking a closer look at the bargain bins now that you have brought it to light. Thanks for the advice, Tom!

[Ohmster]

There's the hard way and there's the easy way. Here is the easy way.

http://www.netflix.com/Movie/The_Stand/60030528?strkid=1782934085_0_0

\

Heh heh, I've never used Netflix before but your link sure takes the wind out of my "capturing this movie" sails. Your idea is easy and fun, my idea is work and no fun and not worth it. I have to organize my priorities a bit I guess.

Thanks!

[themaster1]

I would rather have the DVD but it is thirty dollars on Amazon.

Well if you can't rent or buy a dvd for 30$ (21€) i believe it's the end of the world for you.

The last option for you would be bitorrent ( if there is a torrent for "the Stand"..it seems yes) but considering you will have to let your pc On for a few days to dl these 8 hours of footages, i don't think this will be as cheap as expected.

[SCDVD]

I would rather have the DVD but it is thirty dollars on Amazon.

Well if you can't rent or buy a dvd for 30$ (21€) i believe it's the end of the world for you.

The last option for you would be bitorrent ( if there is a torrent for "the Stand"..it seems yes) but considering you will have to let your pc On for a few days to dl these 8 hours of footages, i don't think this will be as cheap as expected.

Unless you are talking about paid and legal bittorrent, this is warez and it isn't allowed on this forum.

[Ohmster]

Well if you can't rent or buy a dvd for 30$ (21€) i believe it's the end of the world for you.

Yeah no kidding!

I didn't say that I would never have $30 for a DVD movie, but like I said, I am between jobs right now and $30 for frivolous things like movies on DVD is out of the question right now. When I am working again, then I will buy the DVD or rather, the VHS tape because it is much cheaper, like $3.81 at Amazon. That I could run into the computer with A/V lines and capture it at my leisure and would save $27, which is pretty good. Blank DVD-R discs are dirt cheap, I got like 100 for what was it, like $25 or so online? So that would be a better option. I was just thinking about grabbing it originally. live, online, for free, until I realized all of the obstacles I would have to overcome, not to mention that it would end up costing a lot more in labor anyway.