Best Quality: Hi8 to DVD Recorder OR to Pass through to computer ?

[sooner_luvr]

Sorry if this question has been asked.

I have my old Hi8 tapes I want on DVD. I probably wont be editing, not initially, at least.

Is there a difference in quality in:
1. hooking up my Hi8 CC directly to my DVD Recorder
OR
2. Passing through my MiniDV camcorder to my computer, then burning???

Number 1 sounds MUCH easier, but I want the best quality.

Thanks.

[yoda313]

Do number 2.

Yes number 1 is quicker and easier but won't get as good quality.

[filmboss80]

Gee, yoda, I never thought I'd debate you, but...

If you set a high bitrate on the DVD recorder, you should get a nice high-quality, constant bitrate recording out of it. Sure, you can't customize navigation menus, add subtitles, etc., but come on -- picture quality should be fine if your bitrate setting is sufficient.

Okay, I'll agree that MPEG-2 encoding software will enable you to customize a VBR encode to maximize image quality for the amount of space used, but sometimes it's just better to keep things as uncomplicated as possible.

For the record, I use both options.

[jagabo]

Whichever device (if any) has a TBC will work better.

[yoda313]

@filmboss80 - no problem. I'm not saying that a dvd recorder isn't a viable option. I'm just saying for TOP QUALITY a transfer through to dv-avi will allow for the best editing ability.

If it ends up being too much of a hassle and nothing gets done than the better quality is lost since nothing is done. So its still a personal preference. I'm just going along with the prevailing notion that dv-avi is better for editing than mpeg2.

[filmboss80]

The OP said he probably won't be editing...although he said "not initially." Hmmm.... Between MPEG-2 and DV-AVI, you are absolutely correct, Yoda, and my response was in the event the OP only wants to make DVD copies of his Hi-8 tapes.

[lordsmurf]

The answer depends on other factors, such as errors present on the source tapes, or the quality of the digital acquisition devices. It's not as easy an answer as the ones that have been given.

DV can be better here, for this exact situation, but not necessarily. Missing a lot of details.

[tmw]

1. hooking up my Hi8 CC directly to my DVD Recorder
2. Passing through my MiniDV camcorder to my computer, then burning???

It is much easier to get higher quality with option 1. Using option 2, there are many opportunities to get some piss-poor quality videos, for example using software attempting real-time encoding on a computer not up to that task. As others have mentioned, option 2 done correctly can produce higher quality videos.

I have found my cheap dvd-recorder set to SP actually does quite a decent job encoding good quality material. However, I'm sure others can do better with either expensive or intensive software options. If you do select option 2, don't take the easy path, but make sure you choose a high quality encoder.

Just my thoughts.