Confusion: capturing DVD format, but file saves as mpeg.

[ghoofie]

So I'm capturing analog video from a VHS player, using DVD format. I notice that the files that go to my pc folder are mpegs. So what is the difference of capturing DVD format vs. mpeg format, if the file is being saved as an mpeg anyway ?

[BrianCee]

DVD files ARE mpeg - - - what did you expect them to capture as if you choose DVD ???

DVD *should* capture you a DVD compliant mpeg, - if you capture using the mpeg setting then according to what options are set in the mpeg template your files may not be DVD compliant and will have to be rendered again in VideoStudio with the attendant possible loss in quality.

[DVDDoug]

Same thing.

DVDs use MPEG-2 compression, but the DVD spec places restrictions on bitrate, resolution, etc. For example, 620x480 is standard VGA resolution, and it is valid for MPEG, but it's not valid on a DVD.

Capturing to a DVD compatible format does NOT create the DVD file structure with AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders, etc.

NOTE- MPEGs can be trouble, especially if you are editing them. You may not have any problems, but if anything "unexpected" happens, the first thing to try is re-capturing to AVI/DV.

[ghoofie]

Same thing.

DVDs use MPEG-2 compression, but the DVD spec places restrictions on bitrate, resolution, etc. For example, 620x480 is standard VGA resolution, and it is valid for MPEG, but it's not valid on a DVD.

Capturing to a DVD compatible format does NOT create the DVD file structure with AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders, etc.

NOTE- MPEGs can be trouble, especially if you are editing them. You may not have any problems, but if anything "unexpected" happens, the first thing to try is re-capturing to AVI/DV.

Thanks all. That was my confusion I guess. Because there is a DVD capture option AND an mpeg capture option. And I have been reading
here about possible problems when capturing mpeg, so I wondered
what DVD capture meant. I started to realize that I am capturing
DVD format but my files are still mpeg. So far it isn't a problem because
I'm just capturing raw home video footage and burning them. Adding things like titles and chapters but not much more than that......yet.

[tommytucker]

so in VS I should set the capture setting for AVI? or MPEG?

[pedromenba]

when you choose mpeg 2 capture option, and then you burn it just as mpeg 2 file, is there any possibility that a dvd player can read it?
I have heard that some dvd players can read files mpeg, but I am not sure. Someone can help me with that.

[maddrummer3301]

.

[Ken Berry]

tommytucker -- Depends what you are capturing! We recommend that, *if at all possible* you capture digital video (or analogue for that matter) in DV/AVI format, edit in that format, and only then produce a DVD-compatible mpeg-2. So if you can, then do it.

But there will be situations where people don't have much choice e.g. they have a capture device which does not allow capture in the DV format. (They may allow capture in raw AVI, but these are huge files -- more than 60 GB per hour -- and are not a viable alternative for people who have computers with limited hard disc space). Or they may not have a digital video camera which has pass-through capability. So in those cases, they have to capture in mpeg-2 format. In such cases, it is advisable to make sure the mpeg-2 format you are capturing in is DVD compatible, you capture in a high quality mode, and don't do too much by way of editing, particularly anything too fancy... Sometimes it will work, but sometimes not.

Pedro -- it depends what you mean by burning 'just as mpeg-2'. If you are simply copying an mpeg-2 file to a DVD, it will then only be a data DVD and as far as I am aware, there are no stand-alone DVD players which will play a data disc automatically. They may, however, show the structure of the files on the disc, and I suppose you could then scroll down and play a video (or indeed audio) file.

However, if you mean you are transferring the mpeg-2 file with the intention of making a video DVD, then you have no choice in the matter. The program will convert the original file, regardless of its format, to DVD-compatible mpeg-2. Unless it is DVD-compatible, you cannot produce a video DVD. ¿É lógico, no lo es?

Or are you thinking of mpeg-4 format films using codecs like DivX or XVid? Yes, you can burn these to a disc (normally a CD, though) and a DVD player will 'see' and play them. But in fact, though mpeg-4 in format, they use the carrier extension .avi.