Suggestion needed to start dvd projects

mak103 · Post by **mak103** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:14 am

Hi experts,

I have panasonic mini dv camera for last 4 years, since then I had recorded almost 20 sixty mins dvs. Now I am planning to make dvds from all my dvs. I may have to use videos from multiple dvs. I am thinking to capture all dvs in mpeg format first with following properties as suggested in new user's guide on this forum.

Mpeg Capture Properties:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First {if analog use "Upper Field First"}
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Can I capture all dvs firts this way and start project for burning on dvds later? What are the pros and cons?

I would appreciate your valuable suggestion.

Thanks.
Mike

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 1:52 am

All I can think to ask is: Do you have 20 x 5GB = 100GB space for storage of the .MPEG2 files? An hour of video in .MPEG2 will be less than 5GB, and about 13GB in .AVI format.

jchunter_2 · Post by **jchunter_2** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:35 am

Mike,
I would strongly recommend that you take one (or two) dvs all the way to DVD first and work out ALL the kinks before you tackle all twenty.

mak103 · Post by **mak103** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 4:05 pm

Thanks jchunter_2 and kebrinton,

Yes I have about 200 GB free space on total 250 GB hard drive and p-4 3.0 HT, 1 GB computer. Reason I want to do this way to make one dvd from small small clips from all dvs.

Another question is capturing in mpeg format will take more time? If this is the case is there any other software wich capture into mpeg format quickly? I tried power director and it captures almost in real time.

Please give me your suggestions.

jchunter_2 · Post by **jchunter_2** » Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:35 pm

The fastest process is to capture, edit, create video file, and burn in mpeg2 because you will never have to convert videos. Make sure that your computer has more than 2.5 GHz, hyperthreading and dma enabled, no intrusive apps running, etc.

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Sat Jan 08, 2005 1:23 am

I strongly agree with jchunter2 - do one or two DVDs first, and make sure your method works.
Capturing - in whatever format - happens in real time. mpeg is no faster or slower.
This is my personal preference only: Capture to DV format. This retains all the information, editing is more reliable, and then render to a DV video file. Once you are satisfied that this works, load the file into the burning module, and it will be transformed to mpeg and burned to DVD.
This takes a bit longer (like a couple of hours) and other folk capture to mpeg quite satisfactorily. I have just had no trouble or sync problems at all this way.