To split or not to split; that is the question

[AGiLiT]

My wife is the videographer in the family; I'm the computer guy. She had a Panasonic 3CCD GS-250 that went bad a couple of years ago; she switched (based on my research) to a Canon HV-30. I liked the MiniDV format for it's quality, archiving, and editing capabilities, so now she's got an archive of tapes in DV and HDV format.

Having been a PaintShop Photo Pro user, I decided to keep it in the family and got VideoStudio Pro X3. I started with the DV tapes from the Panasonic and after much trial and error, I could never quite develop a trusting relationship with VS for capture (and yes; I like the option of creating my own file names) so I developed a workflow using WinDV for capture, splitting the source into .avi files for digital archiving and VS for editing to create the final product (typically on DVD).

Now, turning to the HDV tapes, I've tried both HDVSplit and VS for capture. I have figured out the split to scene capabilities in VS, and realize it creates 'virtual' scenes, not individual files.

Coming from a workflow that assumes individual files, I'm confused.

So: What is the advantage one way or the other of keeping the source as one file for digital archive purposes (and as an .mpeg) and editing the virtual scenes to create the final product or splitting into individual files with HDVSplit (and getting .m2t files) and editing with them?

[Black Lab]

I don't know that there is any advantage to either way. It's really just a matter of personal choice, and may depend on the type of project you are doing. For instance, I do a lot of sports highlight videos, so I like to work with the individual scenes (plays). But if I was working on a wedding video or some other longer piece I would rather work with the file as a whole, or at least have it in longer segments.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

Standard Definition….
First of all using Video Studio to capture DV-Avi as Split By Scene does create individual files, individual Avi’s.
If you Split by Scene after capture then yes virtual clips are created, just as though you used the scissors.

I generally use Split By Scene during capture, I find editing easier, I can move my clips without the need to cut. Generally they are small clips, cutting would take so much time.
If I wished I can delete unwanted clips from my hard drive, without affecting others.

However I no longer use Video Studio for capture but prefer Win DV.
I find VS leaves a spare frame on the adjacent clip (that’s another story), Win DV allows me to name my captured files which I find very useful.

HD..

I have yet to progress to this format, but think I would still use individual small files rather than one single file.

When I do upgrade I have to decide whether I am keeping the tape option, I just don't know………..

[Ken Berry]

I use a Canon HV20 HDV camcorder these days, and use HDVSplit for all my captures from it. I too prefer lots of small, real files with more readily identifiable names, rather than the virtual files created by VS. These I have found have been prone to the occasional glitch or anomaly...

I also much prefer the HDV format over AVCHD. The end quality is the same, as far as my eyes can tell -- though some professional videographers say HDV is better. But HDV is 10 times easier to edit than AVCHD, and can be successfully done on much older, less powerful computers. The only downside is that capture is done, as with DV, in real time. And I have found that it is increasingly difficult to find the mini DV tapes required by the HV20, at least here in New Zealand where I now live...

[Clevo]

My personal preference is not to split...and for archiving reasons I would too like to keep the cronology of what's on the tape.

[AGiLiT]

Interesting...

So the consensus so far seems to be for regular DV, splitting with WinDV is the way to go. That's the way I've been doing it, so feel good about that choice.

For HDV, it seems to be a 'split' decision so far... (OK; I'm sorry. Couldn't help myself.)