Suggestions for Encoding TV Programs

[jowel13]

Hi,

I have some TV Show programs like Seinfeld and Friends that I want to encode and record on DVD. Can anyone suggest what settings I use with what programs? I want at least original TV quality (want to be on the safe side) when the show aired on local TV but I would like to fit as much video as possible on the DVD.

Do I need TMPEG? What settings should I use?

I don't understand any of the 2 Pass VBR stuff or CBR things described in all the guides.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

-Joe :P

[twodogs]

More of the questions you raise relate to encoding,
BUT, before encoding, these "I have some TV Shows" must be captured to the PC.

Has this already occurred?
If so, how did you do this and what format are they in now?
If not, what format are these "TV Shows" in currently? VHS? On TV at 8pm tonight?

We shall start with capturing, then figure out encoding....

[jowel13]

Sorry about the lack of information. :P

The TV Shows are already recorded on my computer at 720x480 .AVIs. I used my Canopus ADVC-100 to record them. They look as good as the original show.

Thanks for the help.

-Joe

[G-man]

I suggest encoding at 352x480 2700 vbr (2000/5000 min/max)with audio at 128k. The vbr takes a bit longer to encode, but the quality is excellent. I then author & burn using Ulead DVD Moviefactory.

I am in the process of putting the entire Seinfeld series onto DVD. I can just get 10 episodes (commercials edited out) onto a DVD using this setting (about 215 running minutes).

P.S. My collection will be complete (all 180 episodes) in about 2 weeks!

[Xtasy2002]

Capture using VirtualDub + MJPeg quality 19 @ 352x480.
Open w/VirtualDub, then use editing features to cut commercials out.
Framserve edited video minus commercials to TMPGEnc.
Encode 352x480 1/2 D1, 2000 CBR High Motion Search, Quantize 35.

A 1 hour TV show is usually 40 minutes without commercials.
With these settings you can get 240 minutes/DVD.
So you will have 6 1 hour shows or 12 30 minute shows per DVD.

I do all my TV show captures this way, can't tell the difference between DVD and first watch right from digital cable box.

I'm a huge X-Files fan and I'm trying to get as many as I can!

[ImaWeTodd]

Xtasy2002

- Wow, 2k bitrate works for you? You must have a great signal from digital cable. Do you do any filtering with vDub to clean up the picture? I've been doing old Scooby-Doo cartoons and the source just kills CCE. I can't get by without anything less than a 5k bitrate after i've reduced the noise.

- How do you do sound? I found it best to cap at 48k rate so as to not have to convert. This removed most of my sync issues. Do you convert to AC3?

[jowel13]

Xtasy:

How do you catpure with Virtual Dub with a Canopus ADVC-100 Transcoder? It says I need a special "codec" of some sort, and I don't know which one to use. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks!

-Joe

[vhelp]

hello jowel,

How do you catpure with Virtual Dub with a Canopus ADVC-100 Transcoder? It says I need a special "codec" of some sort, and I don't know which one to use. Do you have any suggestions?

..you can't !!

Xtasy2002 was refering to his Analog capture card setup. You
already have a perfectly good Capture device - a DV one at that. It's
just as good as analog as you'll get.

And, you can follow pretty much what he was doing, but w/out the
"MJPEG quality 19" step, but follow the rest..
* open vdub, and import your DV's AVI clip(s)
* and follow the rest of his steps.

-vhelp

[jowel13]

Thanks for responding.

This is the error message I get when I open up an .AVI I recorded from my Canopus....

"Couldn't locate decompressor for format "dvsd" (unknown)

VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media Player, are not suitable.
__________________________________________________ ____

Anybody know how to fix this? Or setting I need to change?

Thanks!

-Joe

[vhelp]

install a DV codec.

I'm surprised you don't have one installed already, being that you have
the ADVC-100

Go to the -> TOOLS <-
section and pic a DV codec (or too) for D/L and
then install it. MainConcept is the prefered one, but the Canopus is just
as good.

That's it.

-vhelp

[G-man]

jowel13 -

If you already have AVIs on your PC, then you don't need to mess around with any other capture software. Just encode the AVIs with TMPGEnc.

[Greg12]

The Panasonic DV codec is the only one i can use w/ V-Dub.

[filmjax]

install a DV codec.

I'm surprised you don't have one installed already, being that you have
the ADVC-100

Go to the -> TOOLS <-
section and pic a DV codec (or too) for D/L and
then install it. MainConcept is the prefered one, but the Canopus is just
as good.

I can't overcome the Virtualdub error no matter what I install. I have the Panasonic installed, can't get the Canopus to work, and the MainConcept has to be purchased.

How do I get VirtualDub to recognize the AVI?

[kenmo]

I suggest encoding at 352x480 2700 vbr (2000/5000 min/max)with audio at 128k. The vbr takes a bit longer to encode, but the quality is excellent. I then author & burn using Ulead DVD Moviefactory.

I am in the process of putting the entire Seinfeld series onto DVD. I can just get 10 episodes (commercials edited out) onto a DVD using this setting (about 215 running minutes).

P.S. My collection will be complete (all 180 episodes) in about 2 weeks!

I realize you are burning these to a dvd BUT are you encoding the shows as a CVD ?

Sounds like you will have a nice collection.

I'm doing the same for X-Files, Star Trek Voyager and Outer Limits. I think I'll start a Seinfeld and/or Newhart collection soon !

Also like to capture TLC/A&E/PBS/Discovery documentaries on space, Civil War and Ancient History.

[vhelp]

filmjax,

Sorry for getting back to you so late. I'm feeling under the weather - a
head cold or something. Really feeling drained.

I'm surprised you still can't get vdub to open your DV files. Sometimes, all it
takes is to have only one DV codec installed, and vdub will result to it.
But, other times, this wont work - as in your case, for whatever reason I can't
explain.

I think that you may have to think about a NEW or another DV capture application.
Not all DV apps speak the same language (for whatever the reason) hence the
fourCC signature (its a FOUR charator string) I don't remember what they all
are for DV (the list seems to grow)

I would try another DV capture app and see where that leaves you. Try DVIO.
I use that one. My vdub seems to open my DV, using DV Soft (a codec)
when using DVIO. Only problem w/ DVIO is that it does not have segmentation.
So, if you suffer the FAT32/4gig limit (as I do) you'll have to break your
captures to 18 minutes or less - not a big problem (with me) since my caps
are done on TV shows from my Satellite provider (DirecTV)

Please do give the above some thought though.
I hope it works out for you. Whatever app you decide to use.

-vhelp