Capture HDTV and Convert to approx. 350 MB avi file

[gapstar]

Hello all,
I tried this for quite a while and now I am hopefully in the right place to ask my questions.

I have a WandTV USB device with Blaze DTV 2.5 Software and can record HDTV with that.
It works fine now after some problems with the areal connection (I live in Perth/Australia).

Blaze DTV 2.5 can only record in mpg files (I think it is mpeg2) and one problem is that I get approx. 4 files at 1GB each for 1 hour recording time (the quality in Blaze is on High).

What I did in the past to convert these is:
1. Join all files with simple file joiner into 1 large file
2. Convert them with AutoGK into a 700 MB file (after deleting all the adds it is about 350 MB)
3. Use VirtualDub to remove adds and sync Audio with Video.

I find it quite time consuming and too many steps and wonder if there is a better way to do this.

Also another problem has occurred:
Something like ... at the start of the movie the sync is about 500 ms behind but at the end of it it is much more.
As I understand Virtualdub I can set one interleaving "time" so it works at the start but not near the end, or it works at the end but not near the start.

If there is anyone reading this who has an idea how to fix this problem or can point me to a "How to" guide
I would appreciate that.

Also I don't really want to buy any software to do this altough I would buy the never Blaze DTV Version
if that solves the problem, so if anyone has any information which Blaze version to use, thanks for sharing.

I appreciate any comments or pointers
Thanks in advance
Gapstar aka Gabi

[edDV]

~4 GB/hr is consistent with 1280x720p MPeg2 at 50fps, 1080i/25 would be ~5 GB/hr.

These HD files have already been heavily compressed before broadcast. These are good bit rates for good quality HD.

"700MB"? Why? Did you downscale to 720x400 or something? Does quality not matter?

[jagabo]

Create in index file of all your sources with DgIndex. Use notepad to create an AviSynth script to use the index:

Mpeg2Source("filename.d2v")

Open the AVS file in VirtualDub as if it was a video file. Do all your editing, filtering, and compression there.

[gapstar]

Thanks both of you !

edDV: Quality does matter but I think I can have a relative good quality with a smaller file.
I would like to record my favourite TV Series (one season can then have 20 Episodes =20x350=7GB fits on 2 DVD's)
Also I thought of recording some Australian Football games for a friend in Germany.
If they are smaller I could save some games onto a DVD and sent to him by snail mail.

Jagabo: Thanks I will have a read of the programs you mentioned but I am just a beginner of all this converting.
Not sure if I can write scripts yet but will try.

[edDV]

Speaking as a contributing engineer/manager to the HD revolution, it hurts to see the fine* HD product downconverted to yuk. Sort of like watching a new Lexus used in a demolition derby. Oh well


* There is still effort to increase quality within the existing HD codecs.