New User - Upgrade from 6SE or not?

[GeorgeC]

Hi, I am a new user and have received a bundled SE version of VS6. My project is I have had some Super8 sound films transferred to MiniDV and now I want to edit these for transfer onto DVD with additional music (as well as the existing audio).

My question is - should I capture the video using VS6SE and "play around" with that or should I upgrade to v9 rather than waste my time? I notice VS6SE only has MPEG1 is MPEG the best quality for DVD production?

Also I have been using DVDMF 4 for still slideshows etc so will DVDMF 4 complement VS6SE or does VS do everything I need?

Thank you in anticipation of your help.

George

[rguthrie]

GeorgeC,

Having been a VS user since 4SE, I'd recommend upgrading to VS9 wholeheartedly. VS9 has some really nice features that you'll miss in VS6SE.

I have DVDMF3 and I don't use it much, VS9 again has some pretty nice features. I can customize DVD menus which is great.

Hope this helps,
Ron

[Ken Berry]

Mpeg-1 is relatively low quality compared to mpeg-2, which is the general DVD standard. So VS 6 SE is probably not a good choice if for that reason alone. I also endorse Ron's comments about the value of an upgrade to VS 9.

But it depends on how much video editing you intend to do more generally, apart from this specific project. I have both VS 9 and MF 4/Disc Creator, and use them both (as I did their predecessors). Basically, I use them to complement each other. VS 9 is much better on the editing side, more tools, more flexibility. But MF 4 does a better job on the production side, I believe, particularly on menus and on fitting slideshows to the exact time of the background music you want to use etc. (In fact, MF4 is worth the purchase alone for its ease of handling of slideshows compared to VS 8 or 9.)

By the sounds of it, for the moment, MF4 will be more than enough for your current project. It can do basic editing, add transitions, background audio/music etc. And as you already have your Super8 in miniDV format, then you are home and hosed as I don't think you will be doing much editing beyond adding the background music anyway. You add your music, convert (Share) the DV to DVD-compatible mpeg-2, add your menus, and burn it to DVD.

[GeorgeC]

Thank you Ron and Ken.

Ken, Whilst I have transferred the films to MiniDV they are not in the sequence I want and there are some quality issues I want to try and address. I glean from your response that if editing is an issue (and it is) then VS is the better option. I would then use DVDMF to do the post editing work, adding background music etc?

I intend to do some other editing later but only on a small scale (pardon the pun ) for our model aircraft flying club.

George

[2Dogs]

Hi George,

don't forget you can download the trial versions of all of the Ulead programs discussed - then you probably won't be able to resist buying VS9.

It might even inspire you to start flying proper models, like helicopters, rather than those plank things!

[Ken Berry]

GeorgeC -- It really depends on exactly how much editing you intend to do and how sophisticated it is. Simply cutting out bits here and there or re-arranging the order are simple editing moves and are quite within the capacity of MF4.

And adding audio/music backgrounds is very much a part of the editing process, and not post-editing. And again is very much within the abilities of MF4.

[imjay]

I've been using a VS 6SE with a free effects batch (free download) and patch from ULead Tech Support for three years and it's controlled all my analog and DV importing and lets me render as DV or MPEG2 and create VCD and SVCD and DVDs (though I prefer another vendor's DVD creation software).

Transfering video to your PC capabilities will be determined more by capability of you capture device or card than the VS software.

I've been simply blown away by the flexibility and functionality of VS 6 SE and if you can master doing manual sync of multiple camera clips together to a sound track you can create very professional looking DVDs so your application easily handled if your VS 6SE is the same as mine.

I'm in the middle of editing 6 cameras/19 hrs of DV video from a concert of a reunited band I performed with 35 years ago and I have to sync it all together and with the pro recorded mixed sound track. It renders slowly but well.

I'm new to this forum and just started a topic to see if VS9 will allow me the same manual overlay capability as the older. I'd love a better version but have had such success with version 6 SE I want to be sure I won't be giving anything up with the upgrade.

Until I learn more on this forum my personal experience is to advise that you can do amazing things with vs6 SE.

Great topic and I'm hoping to read more posts.
Jim

[GeorgeC]

2dogs - As I already have DVDMF and VS6, I wanted to understand the principle differences and then decide on the appropriateness of the upgrade. So I don't really need the demo versions. I'm happy with my flying planks, inverted lawnmowers don't do much for me .

Ken - If I understand correctly, I can use DVDMF to capture segments of video when I have set the Trim Start and End. I repeat that for all the tape. Then I can manipulate in the order I wish? Whereas in VS I can capture the whole DV tape and then cut out individual frames if I wish? Also due to audio sync issues, some of the editing needs to be quite precise i.e. audio on the video might cease at a particular frame and then new audio starts on the next scene/frame. Is this where VS would be better? Am I on the right track?

Imjay - I did download the effects batch but not any patches. I didn't see the option for MPEG2 in VS6SE? I am impressed by the concept of project you are working on but at this point I don't understand the technology of "manual sync of multiple camera clips......". I won't mind learning in due course but I'll obviously get the basic principles right first and then work from there.

Thanks to all for their comments. I look forward to your thoughts.

George

[Ken Berry]

GeorgeC -- I have to blush and admit I have never captured anything with MF, so can't comment on that aspect of your question. You can certainly do as you suggest with VS9 (or use split-by-scene on capture which will break it into bits which you can then re-order or delete as you please.)

Re the version of VS6 SE you might have, I think it has to say something like 'VS 6 SE DVD' for it to have the capacity to burn DVDs, though I am not sure whether 'lesser' versions cannot even produce DVD-compatible mpeg-2s for burning on a third-party program.

[GeorgeC]

Ken- You have to be the fastest respondent I have met on any forum! I guess being in the same country helps .

I have VS6.02.0213 SE Basic. I have the option of DV, VCD, MPEG1 and web movie options. I also notice a message when starting a new project -

"For fast and efficient rendering, you
should choose your template based on
your source videos' format."

Does this mean when capturing from MiniDV I should use the DV capture?

The money is not the issue for me but duplicating the capability by buying 2 similarly capable applications is something I don't want to do. It'll just confuse me more.

I have captured a clip using DVDMF but just missed out on the last piece of audio when I set the trim end. So now I have to try again. I imagine with VS I can capture once and trim the video off frame by frame if I wish? So in that regard VS will give me more flexibility.

Thanks again I value the input. ULead should have you guys on the payroll!!

George

[imjay]

Since the SE version was a free bundled software application we both have and since the patch was free from ULead I'll look through my email archives and if I kept the Tech Support email with patch attached then I'll ask for your email address and just forward it to you. They sent a self-extracting and auto-running file.

I am surprised you can't render in MPEG2 cause I thought with my initial vs6 se I could select "Finish" then "Create Video File" and render as MPEG2 or DV (avi) without having the patch. They sent me the patch for an obscure video/audio synch problem though it may have done other things. I called and whined at tech support a few times before they decided to sent it.

The first DVD I made with VS6 was of my band's first reunion concert with 4 DV cameras/12 hrs "raw" video to mix together and sync to separately mixed soundtrack - toss in creating titles and simple effects/transitions and people thought the DVD was professionally edited and created.

I rattled all that off to, again, share what a surprisingly powerful yet simple to master VS6 is.

If I find the patch file I'll let you know.
Jim

[GeorgeC]

Thanks Jim. I checked again. There are no MPEG2 options. Look forward to hearing from you.

[imjay]

That was quick - I found the backup data disc I made that has my original version of vs6se and the patch and transition/effect package and take my word that with all three you get full complement of render file options and it could be this patch cures the redundant duplicate frame problem that other posts mention as a common cause of loss of sync between audio and video with rendered MPEG2 files.

I talked with Tech Support several times and explained the complexity of project I was attempting and they sent the patch. Don't know if it was regularly available online or not.

If you care to PM me with your email address I can forward the patch.

Only problem now and then is I will try to make multiple overlay trims from avi file and the audio and video are suddenly out of sync. All I have to do is delete the clip thumbnail and then re-open the file again and all is back in sync and stays in sync after the completed trim and overlay.

I have had zero audio/video sync problems after endering since installing the patch. Last render was this afternoon - took over 2 hours - composed of mix of six hours of DV avi files rendered as MPEG2 file with a zillion overlays and it looks fantastic and all in sync.
Jim

[Ken Berry]

GeorgeC -- no, your version of VS 6 SE, being BASIC, means just that, I am afraid. Nothing much at all and you can only prepare mpeg-1s for burning to VCD.

And yes, for best quality capture and editing, capture in DV format (particularly so when your copy of VS 6 will only allow you to capture mpeg-1 as an alternative, and that is at best equivalent to VHS tape.)

VS9 will, as you surmise, allow editing frame by frame...

[GeorgeC]

Jim - I'll try the patch. I've sent my email by PM

Ken - If the patch doesn't give me MPEG2 then I should get VS9 as I want the highest quality for DVD production. It will also give me more flexibility in capture.

George