Where To Begin?

[Cardinal76]

I am a newbie so any help is much appreciated. I have a Hitachi VME520A camcorder using using Sony 8mm video cassettes. I hooked everything up, captured video, used enhancements, everything is quite grainy. The tapes are from 2006. The video that was captured goes into a file under the program listed as Captured video. I exported video to computer, which then saved into a file under the program COMPUtER. The files in the computer file are much larger in size. I used these files listed in the computer file in another program called Proshow Gold and the video seems even more grainy in that program. I feel like just giving up on this project. My computer is running Windows 8.1.

 

I hope I have explained everything. I know that the video will not be great but it seems like it could be better. Is this not the right software?

 

Thank you again for any help, suggestions.

 

 

Julie

[Cardinal76]

Thank you for responding! You refer to Computer settings being maintained, this refers to resolution of screen?

 

Currently at 1920x1080 and does not go as low as 720 x 480. I am not sure if this is what you mean, sorry.

 

Also, if I understand correctly the size of the file will not effect the quality of the file.

 

Thank you again for any help you can give me. Just feeling a little sad that my memories might be gone, but willing to keep trying.

 

Julie

[Jim_Hardin]

Thank you for responding! You refer to Computer settings being maintained, this refers to resolution of screen?

 

Currently at 1920x1080 and does not go as low as 720 x 480. I am not sure if this is what you mean, sorry.

 

Also, if I understand correctly the size of the file will not effect the quality of the file.

 

No, your computer screen has no effect on any of this

 

You have a Source which is at a certain quality.

- This is the tape you already captured

 

You capture with EVD3 at HQ (no options)

- It will capture everything at HQ

 

You output BUT there are options...

You can mess up the quality by the choices you make

If you exceed 1 hour of video and output to a DVD and choose

Fit to Disc

, the quality will degrade noticeably.

 

In that case a DVD holds 1 hour at HQ. Span Discs and use as many as you need (they really are cheap)

 

I did one project that was 2:05 long. It used 3 DVD's but that really gave me some flexibility in choosing my split points too

 

The trick is to jump in with some small experiments and keep notes on what you are doing. And of course you can come here as we extract every last drop out of the software

[Cardinal76]

Thanks again. The first project I did fit on 1 DVD. The video I captured was less than one hour. I am about to attempt another tape and see if the quality of the original video is still very grainy. I think this tape is also less than one hour. Fingers crossed for a better result.

[Jim_Hardin]

It doesn't matter what the Tape Length is...

 

You will be able to see, within your Project how long it runs (note the time at the upper right):

 

 

That and always make sure you don't have the AutoFit checked.

 

[Cardinal76]

I am back again. The files save to a capture file within the program. Instead of burning to a DVD I saved to computer. The files all have the .mpg extension. What is the difference between these two folders? Thank you.

[bimicher]

I am back again. The files save to a capture file within the program. Instead of burning to a DVD I saved to computer. The files all have the .mpg extension. What is the difference between these two folders? Thank you.

 

What two folders?

[Jim_Hardin]

Video works this way...

 

You have a Source which is at a certain quality.

You capture with EVD3 at HQ (no options)

You output BUT there are options...

 

You cannot make it better than your source but you can make it worse

 

IF you used SP (best) for your camcorder you have something about 333 X 480.

 

It will be captured at 720 X 480 @ 8 mbps.

 

If you check the settings under Computer you need to maintail those values.

 

File Size is meaningless in all this

[Cardinal76]

If you open Videos folder there is an Easy VHS to DVD folder. It contains a captured video and COMPUTER folder. Is it better to use the video in the computer file in ProShow Gold vs. the captured video? Thank you.

[Jim_Hardin]

If you open Videos folder there is an Easy VHS to DVD folder. It contains a captured video and COMPUTER folder. Is it better to use the video in the computer file in ProShow Gold vs. the captured video? Thank you.

 

How would anyone here know the answer to that?

 

The 'Captured Videos' FOLDER is the default Folder where EVERYTHING you Capture lands. Each Folder there is created for a specific Preset choice from the Export part of the EVD3 software (see the picture above).

 

The rest of the FOLDERs, including one called COMPUTER are used to hold the Output you choose.

[Cardinal76]

I am sorry for the question, I probably did not word that correctly. What I am trying to say is once I have captured the video and saved the output in the computer file, do I need to save the video in the captured file? Thank you. :-)

[Jim_Hardin]

Aha, a philosophical question...

 

I save mine multiple places... I leave them on the camcorder (space permitting).

 

I have them stored on multiple computers.

 

And I keep both copies and backup images on external drives.

 

Just recently got an M-Disc burner and a 6 pack of Blu-rays to go with it, so they are going to be burned to yet another place.

 

The only thing I don't do properly is store some of these Off Site

 

You record Memories... How safe can you be with that?