Most suitable format to convert to?

[sunmanking]

Hello,

My question concerns on the most suitable format for
keeping VHS videotape to digital format.

I have read about so many different formats and so
thoroughly that now I don't know which one could
be the most suitable if I take into account that to
me quality is a must, and I might be interested in
converting them to DVD in the future.

VCD, SVCD, CVCD, SCVCD, KVCD, SKVCD... even
divx...

VirtualDub's resize filter is awesome so it would be
easy for me enlarge the resolution at an very very
good quality (no loss) since my data rate is about
4700 KB/s.

I guess the best would be the one that gave the highest
bitrate possible. Am I right at this point? So SVCD
will give me higher than VCD and I should be interested
in avoiding non-standard format in order to avoid
compatibility problems.

I capture at 352*288, 44Hz 16-stereo, 25fps, yuy2
My Aver TV won't let me capture to anything over
that resolution

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter,

Luis

[fmctm1sw]

Well king, let me help you where I can....
As for the most "suitable" format, I've been told VHS quality isn't that great anyway (relatively speaking). A SVCD would probably suffice for you there. BUT, SVCD is a little less compatible that VCD. The real question is, what will your DVD player play?

Resizing... I'd be careful about resizing to something bigger than your original capture resolution. Like don't capture at 352x288 and resize to 480x480(or is it 576 for you?).

And capture limitations.... I can't remember if you posted your computer details but you probably have something better than me and I cap easily over that. If I had a nickel (or euro for you I guess) for every time I saw this I'd be rich! Try another driver before you limit yourself to that res. I use this one btwincap.sourceforge.net See if it works for you.....

[sunmanking]

Hello,

Firsst, thank you for taking the time to read my posting and reply.

Now, luckily enough my DVD player supports VCD and SVCD
(I have already tried them and it's great). So I could choose between
any of those two formats.

Yes, VHS quality isn't the best thing in the world we know... BUT
I have realized that you can even apply some virtualdub filters
such as the TV filter and you'll get the video improved! Not dramatically
but just good enough, if needed.

And, what's more, if the bitrate you get is very high (which is
even better), you can resize to any size and it will look great!
e.g. I have resized a sample of my capture at 352*288, YUY2,
and about 4700KB/s data rate to:

DVD standard! (720x576 PAL) and the video still looks great!
Bear in mind this is with a 13 GB file just captured. No compression
applied. I applied Bicubic resize filter (the best one). Anyway, if
you first resize and then compress that should be fine too. I have't
tried it (yet).

Thank you for letting me know about btwincap.sourceforge.net...


Luis

[Nelson37]

Resizing upward LOOSES quality. Capping at 352x288 limits you to VCD as final output. As stated, investigate new drivers for better cap res.

If eventual move to DVD is probable, unless you wish to re-encode, then use either VCD or CVD (352x480(576)) which are DVD-compatible resolutions.

You may also wish to test if your player will handle 720x480, most will, bitrates of 2500-4500 are possible with many players, in an (X)SVCD format. Also test mini-DVD.