Capturing from HI8MM. Do i go VCD or SVCD.

[Kluttz]

Hello

I am very new in Video Capturing.
I have a AMD 1700+ 512MB ram and LeadTek 2000XP Deluxe.

I am doing capturing from my Hi8MM camcorder, using the svideo out.
I have tried numerous different setups, and trial and error.

I wanted to save everything to SVCD because of the quality I hear about.
My problem is that the resolution for svcd is 480x480(when it comes time to encode/convert it). When I capture from my camcorder I either use uncompressed AVI or capture right to MPEG2. The program I use was the one that came with my leadTek. That seems to work OK. Its when I convert it with TMPGenc. When I select to use SVCD, the resolution is 480x480. When I watch the movies, the screen is streched out. Makes it look odd to watch. If I convert it to VCD then it looks good. Can I not use 640x480 for SVCD when converting, so when I play them back, they won't look streched out.

Another thing is, I do not see much different between VCD and SVCD. Would using SVCD for capturing from Hi8MM be pointless, or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for any help you guys can provide. It would be greatly appreicated

Andy

[LSchafroth]

I would go with SVCD or XVCD. VHS has a slightly higher resolution then VCD. A SVCD and XVCD both can have the higher resolution.

I suggest using VirtualDub or IuVCR and capture the video at 704x576/480 using a lossless Codec such as Huffy or PicVideo MPG and resize and filter it with VirtualDub.

Then use TMPGEnc to convert it to the MPG.

Lannie

[Kluttz]

Thanks for the reply Lannie.

But when i convert with TMPGenc, my only options are 480x480 reolution.

My moves will look stretched out, kinda warp looking. Or does it look normal once played on TV?

[Petco]

I use to work on VCD's because it would work on more DVD players and it didn't look stretch out.

Ever since I switched to DVD-r, and created my own menus with music (using DVD Workshop), I've been unhappy with working with VCD's and lower resolution.


With DVD's you get twice the resolution 720x480. Eventually, everybody will have hi-res television.

In short, if you want quality fork out the $250 for a DVD burner.
You won't regret it!!

[LSchafroth]

Thanks for the reply Lannie.

But when i convert with TMPGenc, my only options are 480x480 reolution.

My moves will look stretched out, kinda warp looking. Or does it look normal once played on TV?

Once you load the SVCD template you can hit LOAD again and load the UNLOCK template. You can then change the resolutions and any other settings.

The video should look fine on teh TV.

Lannie

[Kluttz]

Thanks for the reply again.

I'll try that and see how that works out.

Andy