VS10+ Capture from Sony TRV480 - std 8mm tapes

[ajs7]

I'm just getting started in video editing, and I want to get the best quality possible. I've read the recommended procedures, but still have a few questions. I'm still using the trial version of VS10+, but plan to buy boxed version soon, if I continue to be happy with it. Here are my questions:

My first project is to make DVDs from our old standard 8mm tapes using our new Sony TRV480. I understand that I want to capture to AVI to retain best quality - then save video as MPG2 later to make the DVD - makes sense. But I don't seem to have too many options when capturing - I can't seem to set Lower/Upper field first or Audio 32,000 vs 48,000 - only DV type 1 vs. 2. I can set them in project properties before my capture, but when my capture is finished, the properties on the file show audio at 32,000 where I've seen everyone recommend 48,000.

Also, I'm thinking my standard 8mm tapes are likely analog, but I'm capturing through the Sony TRV480 - which is Digital 8. So for capturing these old tapes do I want Lower/Upper field first? (Assuming I can figure out how to set those options when I capture).

Basically, I just want to get all my settings for DV-AVI correct for the best quality capture, before I start capturing all of our old tapes!

Thanks so much for helping this new user of Ulead VideoStudio. So far, I really like the software!

Alan

[Ken Berry]

I have the TRV-480E so may be able to offer some advice. First, the audio setting. It sounds as though you may have the camera set to 12 bit and not 16 bit. To change this, in the camera, open up the touch screen and touch Menu, then touch Standard Set and select the downward arrow to Audio Mode and touch OK. This will offer the choice between 12 bit and 16 bit. Select the latter and OK then go out of the menu.

Within Video Studio, you can also vary the capture properties for your DV capture by going to File > Project Properties > Edit File Format > Microsoft AVI Files, then select Edit. On the AVI page which comes up, you can change the audio (and video) settings there.

As for Field Order, once you connect the camera to your computer and open the program, it should automatically detect what Field Order it should be capturing to, and with our camera, it would be Lower Field First because in effect it is sending a digital signal, even though the original tape in the camera is analogue. However, to make sure, again go to File > Project Properties > Edit File Format > Microsoft AVI Files, then select Edit. On the AVI page, in the top Compression box, select DV Video Encoder Type 1 from the drop-down menu, make sure 16 bit 48000 is selected in audio at the bottom, then go back one tab to the Compression page and make sure Lower Field First is selected. Then press OK to set these properties.

Good luck -- and by the way, I bought my Sony solely to transfer my 8mm tapes digitally, and the results of this are truly excellent -- personally, I cannot tell the difference from the quality I get from capture from my mini DV digital video camera, though the purists would say the differences are definitely there... Apart from that, though, the Sony is also a good digital camera, even though the Digital 8 tapes seem to be more expensive than the mini DV variety. And because of the size of Digital 8 tapes, of course, the camera is rather larger than an average mini DV camera... But all in all, a good package.

[Ron P.]

Hi Alan, and welcome to the forums..

Ken answered this before I could...

Ron P.

[ajs7]

Thanks Ken & Ron!

Changing the audio setting on the TRV480 made the difference. Now when I look at the properties of the clip after caputre, it indeed says 16-bit, 48,000.

I'm glad the TRV480 is a good choice. We were looking at Mini-DV camcorders to replace our Sony standard 8mm. I was looking at units that could convert analog signal to digital, and just before we purchased, the old Sony completed died, would not even play the tape! So we had to find something that could play standard 8mm, but I knew I wanted to start transferring to DVD and have fun editing too. Thankfully, we were able to find a TRV480 and have been very happy with it so far.

Thanks again gentlemen. I've been reading this forum since I've started trying VideoStudio 10+, and your answers have been very helpful!

[sjj1805]

You might find this post of interest:
http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=8849