VHS source compression - 2 questions

[ivan_hoe]

I have old home movie VHS footage that has been converted to uncompressed digital. I have created DVDs off this for the relatives etc, but would like to create a digital file that I can can play straight off my computer.

The base footage is running at around 13GB for an hour and there is a ton of junk / blue screen that I need to cut out (left conversion running overnight etc). So I would like to compress at high quality (~8000 kbits/sec) as well cut out the useless material.

1. Choice of approach? I have PowerDirector 11 and have previously used VirtualDub. Planning to use H264. I would prefer to use PowerDirector but it provides virtually no options. I used VirtualDub some years ago and had it set up with 2-pass and some filters etc but would have to relearn it, set it all up again etc. So my question is, do I just trust PowerDirector to have a well-optimised set-up or should I go to the trouble of setting up VD again?

2. Deinterlace or not? My second question is whether I deinterlace on conversion or just rely on the player to deinterlace when I play it? Most players seem to have the option to deinterlace on playing the file. Any pro's or con's of either choice?

[jagabo]

I'd use a smart bob and encode at 50 fps progressive. The best smart bob is QTGMC for AviSynth. The best in VirtualDub is probably the built in deinterlacer in Yadif mode.

[ivan_hoe]

Thanks. Might bite the bullet and get VirtualDub set up again. If I am doing that, will probably run some tests to understand the difference better. PowerDirector runs very fast but it is disappointing that there are no options for 2-pass or deinterlacing etc. All the focus is on effects and titles (and ease of use). I understand its a consumer focussed system but you would think the quality of the underlying video would still be the number 1 priority.

[smrpix]

13GB/hr sounds a lot like DV. Is that the case?

[ivan_hoe]

It is mostly from VHS, captured digitally via a Canopus ADVC300 unit. It was captured direct without any compression on the way through as I wanted to control that separately, hence the 13GB/hr. Plus a few times I let it run too long so captured a few hours of blue screen at 13GB an hour as well....

It started on Mini-DV but backed up on VHS and a few of the mini-DV's got destroyed so I had to convert from the back-up VHS unfortunately - but at least I had the backup!. Did both sources via the Canopus and it came through at 13GB/hr regardless of whether it was coming from the DV or from VHS (DV better quality obviously as it was the master)

[ivan_hoe]

D'oh, just realised that Canopus unit converts from analog to DV - so you are correct, the digital file is DV format.

Its just chewing up too much of my HDD space to leave it that way...

[jagabo]

VirtualDub in Direct Stream Copy mode can cut/paste/trim DV AVI without any loss of quality.

[ivan_hoe]

Thanks, I was thinking about leaving the source untouched if I could (other than trimming off the blue screen / other junk) - but was coming to the view that given the material is relatively low res / low quality anyway I might as well compress it a bit.

Guess that is the question, how much worse will low quality stuff look if I process it again? Was thinking it wouldn't be that noticeable because it was less than perfect to begin with - or does it amplify the already low quality?

[jagabo]

Sample DV (30i), and bob deinterlaced with QTGMC() encoded with x264 at CRF=18 (60p).

[Brad]

Given that a $170 "4TB" HDD holds 3745GiB, you can store about 12 days worth of DV content on one 3.5" disk at a cost of 59 cents per hour (double that for a backup). Maybe it's because I play around with uncompressed high def videos, but converting DV for storage space reasons seems like a waste of electricity to me.

Converting it to play on a set-top media player would be a compelling reason.

[ivan_hoe]

Thanks jagabo - no better way to answer the question. Understand what you are saying vap - but looks to me like deinterlacing is a compelling enough reason to process the video - in which case I figure I might as well compress it somewhat as it makes no visible difference to me....