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  1. Hi Everyone,

    I would like to convert my old non-commercial VHS tapes to DVD with chapter markers place at user-defined spots. I plan to hook up a VCR to a DVD recorder. I understand the process of using Toast 7 to extract the VR files to my Mac G4. The next steps are to take those files and crop them. I only need to do cuts-only editing. I don't need to move footage in a non-linear fashion.

    I would like to ask whether to use MPEGstreamclip or ffmpegX to use to edit the VR files in the following formats and usages:

    1) Convert them to MPEG 2 format, import to Toast, and a burn a DVD with Toast automatic five-minute chapter markers.

    2) Convert them to digital video format, import to Apple iMovie, add user-defined chapter markers, and export to either iDVD or Toast 7 to burn DVD. (I would probably use Toast 7 because it has a better video encoder than iDVD but please correct me if I'm wrong.)

    Please advise on whether you recommend using either MPEGstreamclip or ffmpegX for either No. 1 and No. 2. Thanks in advance for your comments.
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  2. Member terryj's Avatar
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    1. If you finalize the files from your DVD recorder,
    you can then copy the disc to your HD,
    you can then extract them via Toast directly,
    and have it burn your DVD with Chapter Marks.

    I do this all the time and it works fine.

    Heck for that matter, if you use a Magnavox DVD Recorder,
    (MWR106D), you can set Chapters WHERE YOU WANT,
    Edit the video, and then finalize it on DVD-RW.
    No need for Toast period.

    2. You are doing too much transcoding,and will take massive
    quality hits this way.

    To keep the best quality, Just use the DVD Recorder for what
    it was meant to do. It won't make the VHS any better than it is, meaning if
    your doing all of this to make VHS BETTER because it's a crappy
    old VHS tape, your gonna be surprised and S.O.L.
    GIGO rules apply strongly with VHS, so even with timecode
    fixing super vhs vcrs, if the tape is old and has been played 20x
    over, it will still look like 20x played VHS.

    If you are importing the VHS to stitch into an iMovie project,
    then get an Analog to Digital input device for best quality,
    or copy to the DVD recorder and use MpegStreamclip to
    convert to DV. But this should be only for small things.
    Transcoding is labor intensive, and eats up time and
    disc space keeping 2 to 4 variations of a file for use with this app
    and that app.

    If you goal is to simply get the VHS to DVD, skip points C-F, and just
    simplify it to an A to B solution.
    "Everyone has to learn, so that they can one day teach."
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    this is how i transfer from vhs-dvd ...

    1. record from onto standalone dvd recorder
    2. use mac the ripper to demux the files
    3. use dvd studio pro to create a menu and author a dvd without re-encoding. (i'm sure iDVD could be used instead)

    i think it is possible to use mpeg streamclip to edit the demuxed files before going to studio pro, but it's a while since i've done it.

    mark
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  4. ffmpegX is not an editor. Mpegstreamclip yes.

    Transcode for DVD with your DVD Recorder.

    Drop resulting VOB in Mpegstreamclip
    Trim ads (and others)
    export: "File"->"Convert to mpeg"

    give the mpeg(s) to Toast with option "Do not reencode"

    end (very easy and fast)
    For DVD, iPad, HD, connected TV, … iMovie & FCPX? MovieConverter-Studio 3 (01/24/2015) - Handle your camcorder's videos? even in 60p or 60i? do a slow-motion? MovieCam.
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  5. Member terryj's Avatar
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    I'm simply amazed by the responses...

    Why not use the DVD Recorder simply for
    what it was meant to do?
    Does there have to be that much ego put into a project
    where the DVD Recorder's menus aren't that good enough
    that you have to take everything directly through to Toast
    or DVDSP?

    Time is more valuable and better to put the most effort on what needs it?
    or what am I missing?
    "Everyone has to learn, so that they can one day teach."
    ------------------------------------------------------
    When I'm not here, Where can I be found?
    Urban Mac User
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  6. Hello,

    For editing and adding chapter markers, you can use SimpleMovieX as an alternative to iMovie.
    The output will be a mov file with chapter markers that iDVD will accept.

    By doing that, you save the step of converting from MPEG2 to DV format (time consuming+quality loss).

    Regards, BJ
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  7. Originally Posted by terryj
    I'm simply amazed by the responses...
    ...ah... ???
    Why not use the DVD simply for what it was meant to do?
    my DVD Player does not like DVD disc from my DVD Recorder (my mother can't read these discs too). I always prefer to have a "real" DVD-video instead of a DVD-VR.
    Cuts with my DVD Recorder do not trim the stream, it just say "jump from a timecode to another one" (and I record with 10 minutes before and 20 minutes after, it's just a waste to keep these extracts)
    Time is more valuable and better to put the most effort on what needs it?
    or what am I missing?
    I don't mind about toast (or DVDSP), but you have my answer
    bye
    For DVD, iPad, HD, connected TV, … iMovie & FCPX? MovieConverter-Studio 3 (01/24/2015) - Handle your camcorder's videos? even in 60p or 60i? do a slow-motion? MovieCam.
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  8. Member terryj's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Herve
    Originally Posted by terryj
    I'm simply amazed by the responses...
    ...ah... ???
    Why not use the DVD Recorder simply for what it was meant to do?
    my DVD Player does not like DVD disc from my DVD Recorder (my mother can't read these discs too). I always prefer to have a "real" DVD-video instead of a DVD-VR.
    First, doesn't your DVD Recorder finalize discs after recording?
    I finalize all my discs after recording to them, whether DVD-R or DVD-RW blanks,
    and they play fine in other set top recorders I have in the house
    (an RCA 5240, an Apex, even a Batman KidZone DVd Player) as well as my mac.

    Second, Please, what defines a "Real DVD"?
    You have a menu, you have chapters, you have the content in MPEG-2 format?
    Is that not a Real DVD?

    Cuts with my DVD Recorder do not trim the stream,
    it just say "jump from a timecode to another one"
    (and I record with 10 minutes before and 20 minutes after, it's just a waste to keep these extracts)
    Herve, What brand of recorder do you use?
    My Magnavox MWR10D6 DVD Recorder, when used properly with a DVD-RW blank,
    allows me to trim off excess recorded material that I do not need, and adds it back
    to the available "blank" space. So in your instance the 10 mins before and 20 mins
    after you record, I could re-capture to the blank area and reuse, or I could hide
    the first 10 minutes by setting a chapter , and then reclaiming the last 20 mins
    as blank record time.

    But if you set your timers right, you would avoid having to have extra minutes?
    "Everyone has to learn, so that they can one day teach."
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    When I'm not here, Where can I be found?
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  9. Originally Posted by terryj
    First, doesn't your DVD Recorder finalize discs after recording?
    my DVD player samsung don't read finalized discs (but read if they are not. PS:I have no explanation)
    Second, Please, what defines a "Real DVD"?
    a disc readable just with an AUDIO_TS and a VIDEO_TS folder, fomat udf 1.02(+an ISO track is better for compatibility at home)
    Herve, What brand of recorder do you use?
    YAMADA (I think it's a corean brand, a "read-everything" and record too). But my 2 others DVDPlayers are less permissive...
    My Magnavox MWR10D6 DVD Recorder [...] I could re-capture to the blank area and reuse, or I could hide
    the first 10 minutes by setting a chapter , and then reclaiming the last 20 mins
    as blank record time.
    I can add a chapter to skip introduction (I called it "jump"), and no option to reuse space left, so I use mpegstreamclip
    But if you set your timers right, you would avoid having to have extra minutes?
    I don't know in the us, but in France TV shows never begins at the announced time (and the signal for begining -I don't remember the technical word- was banished from broadcasters by advertising corporations )
    bye and good night
    For DVD, iPad, HD, connected TV, … iMovie & FCPX? MovieConverter-Studio 3 (01/24/2015) - Handle your camcorder's videos? even in 60p or 60i? do a slow-motion? MovieCam.
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  10. Member terryj's Avatar
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    Herve,
    that explains a lot then.
    If your specific situation, I can see why you chose
    the ( unconventional to me) workflow you do.

    Perhaps you can upgrade your DVD Recorder at some point?

    It seems to be the major backbone of your troubles.

    good night to you too.
    "Everyone has to learn, so that they can one day teach."
    ------------------------------------------------------
    When I'm not here, Where can I be found?
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  11. Originally Posted by terryj
    Perhaps you can upgrade your DVD Recorder at some point?
    It seems to be the major backbone of your troubles.
    good morning (here)
    In fact I have no trouble with my hardware or workflow.
    - my DSL provider gimme 300 chanels (from SD to HD 1080p or i) via rstp://. Quality of these streams is better than the one produced by the re-encoding of my DVDRecorder.
    - I have a software to make "record planifications" (I don't know how to say that in english) of these DVB (I can "only" capture 2 streams and watch a third one at the same time, "no more" ).
    - I use sometimes DVD Recorder for the only 2 french channels that I can't capture from my Provider.
    - I have a DV digitalizer on my desktop for these 2 channels if I want too.
    So I don't often use DVDrecorder . Perhaps, if my DVDRecorder was not so limited I will use it more (but I don't think, my workflow is cool for me, it takes me 5 minutes max for all settings -from cut to authoring- and the computer works alone the rest of time).
    bye
    For DVD, iPad, HD, connected TV, … iMovie & FCPX? MovieConverter-Studio 3 (01/24/2015) - Handle your camcorder's videos? even in 60p or 60i? do a slow-motion? MovieCam.
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  12. Member terryj's Avatar
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    good morning Herve! (here)
    Being able to capture the streams live
    through DSL is pretty amazing,
    if I had that ability, I wouldn't
    use a DVD Recorder either,
    and would use something
    similar to your workflow.

    Originally Posted by Herve
    So I don't often use DVDrecorder . Perhaps, if my DVDRecorder was not so limited I will use it more
    and on this we agree.
    "Everyone has to learn, so that they can one day teach."
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    When I'm not here, Where can I be found?
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  13. I don't know about your provider but I download at 2MB/second from Apple site.
    Most of SD DVB streams are 2500kb/s (with an incredible good compression, you only see artefacts with very complex and interlaced streams), but HD can reach 7000(and more)kb/s. I can't capture more than 2 HD streams without loosing frames. But it's cool

    Last advantage of my workflow: there is just a few SD streams in 16:9. Most of them are 4:3 letterboxed. I re-encode them to 16:9, cropping the edges (very easy, my DVB streams are already on my hard disk ). I don't know how are your streams, but a friend send me a DVB stream from US last week, it was a 4:3 letterboxed too (and now it's a 16:9 stream in PAL ).

    (end of the school day here: 4.00AM(PM?), I'm going to search kids from school).
    bye
    For DVD, iPad, HD, connected TV, … iMovie & FCPX? MovieConverter-Studio 3 (01/24/2015) - Handle your camcorder's videos? even in 60p or 60i? do a slow-motion? MovieCam.
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