To Capture in AVI or MPEG2 ?

[paulwho]

When I capture a 1hr 14 min DV tape in AVI format it takes about 6 hrs to convert over to MPEG in "SHARE" video file.
BUT if I capture the same tape in MPEG2 format that same process only takes about 30 mins.
I've been told that capturing in AVI is best for editing later but I don't have probs with MPEG editing.
Can anyone shed some light on which way is best.
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CPU > AMD ATHLON 64 3400+ Socket 754 Retail Box BUNDLE
LEADTEK WinFast DV2000 Capture Card
MOTHERBOARD > ASUS K8V-MX VIA K8M800 Chipset Onboard vga Audio and lan usb 2.0 ata
KINGSTON 2 x 512meg DDR400 (PC3200) with heat sink plates

Cheers Paul

[sjj1805]

Please view the Tutorial (under construction)
From Camcorder to DVD

[Ken Berry]

You might also want to look at some general comments I made a dozen or so threads below this one, at http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic. ... 9551#69551

As I said there, the jury is still out on this one, but if it works for you, go with it -- but be prepared for possible problems.

As for your rendering/transcoding times in converting your DV/AVI file to mpeg-2, I would have to say that the time you cite sounds far too long with a computer like yours -- particularly if you are indeed using Share > Create Video File, and not jumping direct from your DV project to the burning phase (Share > Create Disc) which we would generally discourage. As you will see if you push on my 'System' button below, I have a not dissimilar set-up to yours in terms of processing power, yet mine would most definitely take no more than around 1 hour 30 minutes to transcode your 1 hour 14 minutes of DV to mpeg-2. But we would have to know more about your detailed work flow before we could comment on what might be going wrong for you in this.

[paulwho]

I'm using a fire wire from my DV to my DV2000 winfast capture card. Using UVS9 I go into Capture & my Sony Mini DV Camcorder is reconized & the I go with the capture settings AVI (DV) . Then I press "START". After the 1hr 14min capture, there was no editing, I went straight to "SHARE" & "Create Video File" I changed the settings in "OPtions" to MPEG files. Then entered a file name & press "SAVE" ... Then I waited & waited. from 7pm to 1am = 6 hrs BUT when I imported this rendered MPEG file into the BURN stage it only took about 1/2 hr to complete.

What am I doing wrong ?

PS..thanks to all that game me the reading links.. I thought they were great.. Especially the "Creating a Video Editing Profile"

Paul....

[Ron P.]

Paul,

What it looks like, if you are going to go straight to the Burn module without editing, then you should capture to MPEG-2, DVD-compatible format. What is happening is in the burn module it is having to create the MPEG-2 file before it can continue.

Irregardless of following the traditional Capture/Edit/Create Video File/Burn workflow or Capture/Burn, the MPEG-2 is still created. The DVD needs that format.

Ron P.

[paulwho]

Thanks Ron > Yes I didn't edit but this AVI file is taking along time to convert to MPEG but I'm doing this first in Creat Video File & then I go into Creat DVD for the final burn as a MPEG file which only takes about 30 mins.. Regards ...Paul

[Ron P.]

Misread that part, I thought that you were capturing then straight to burn..

However if you are not doing any editing, then with VS10 it is possible to as you have found out to burn immediately.

Yes if you capture to a DVD-Compatible MPEG-2 format, without any editing your burn time is going to be reduced greatly. There is nothing to convert.

Ron P.

[sjj1805]

Paul
But of course it takes a long time to convert it to MPEG2.
If you took the time to read the link I posted earlier you would understand that a video film is a bit like the old flick books we all created at school.

Just as a cartoon works where several similar pictures are drawn and we flick the pages of the book to create movement - that is how a video works.

In the PAL system 50 pictures flash before your eyes every second.
In the NTSC system 60 pictures flash before your eyes every second.

The terms 25 fps (PAL) and 29.7 fps (NTSC) relate to whole pictures but in fact they are made up of two half pictures termed upper frame and lower frame.

When you look at an AVI video it is rather like a bitmap (bmp) image - large in file size and high in quality. This format is ideal for editing purposes because it does not lose perceptible quality when edited.
However DVD VOB files are made from MPEG2 files.

MPEG2 files can be thought of in laymans terms as a JPG image - smaller in file size because it has been compressed and bits have been discarded.
They are unreliable for editing pruposes due to the compression and the bits that have already been discarded. Edit them and they get even more compressed and even more bits are discarded.

Now then lets take 1 minutes worth of PAL video.
Thats 25 whole frames per second made up from 2 fields.
25 x 2 = 100. Now multiply that by 60 seconds = 600 pictures per minute.
A hour is 600 x 60 = 36000 pictures.

Now just how fast do you think a computer can downgrade all of those BMP's to JPG's ?

Now imagine trying to do that "on the fly" in other words straight out of the Camcorder or off the TV card.

Yes it will take quite a long time.

[Ken Berry]

But the fact remains that (1) he has captured to DV; (2) he is attempting to do the right thing by converting first to mpeg-2 before burning; and (3) there is no obvious reason why his particular computer, which certainly seems well-resourced, is taking nearly six times real time to convert the DV to mpeg-2. It is not happening 'on the fly' but following the recommended procedure. And as I say, with my computer, which is roughly equivalent to his, converting 1 hour 14 minutes of video from DV to a DVD-compliant mpeg-2 would take no more than 1 hr 30 minutes and certainly not the more than 6 hours which his computer is taking.

Paul -- the only possibility I can think of is that in fact you are not converting to an mpeg-2 format which is fully compliant with a DVD, and for some reason, VS does not like it. When you go to Share > Create Video File, you should then choose DVD and NOT/NOT mpeg-2. Usually, that mpeg-2 format is frame based and can be used for other purposes than DVDs. So, as I say, choose DVD. Look at the properties of that in the dialogue box which appears. And if they don't suit what you want, go to Custom at the bottom of the menu, choose mpeg as the format, then options, and in the third tab (compression) you can select the bitrate you want and the audio format you prefer. Also, make sure it is Lower Field First as you have captured DV video. Give all this a name, and a new template with that name should now appear towards the bottom of the Share > Create Video File > DVD drop-down menu.

[paulwho]

I think you maybe onto something there Ken. I'll do another conversion using that same capture & this time Convert it to DVD format.. I'll let you know how it goes.. Paul