Question Regarding Video Quality

[HRPufnstuf65]

I recently attempted to use EMC9 to convert The Gator-Arkansas SEC Championship Game from VHS to DVD, complete with custom made menus and chapters. First off- I'm using the Dazzle Platinum Video Creator to capture and digitize the analog source. I then open up the Video_TS.vob file in EMC's MyDVD to customize menus and chapters. Now, I split the game up into two halves so I have two different .vob files to work with.

 

When all was said and done, I ended up with really crappy DVD quality (I use Verbatim Digital Movie DVD-R). It looked very jumpy and had the quality of a 4th generation VHS recording. This is straight from a first generation VHS that was recorded right from my Tivo (the Tivos in my living room, while my desktop is far away in my bedroom, which is why I have to record to VHS first). I'm also using composite RCA cables (yes, the red, white and yellow one)

 

My question basically is: How can I get the best quality? Should I make it four disks, maybe one for each quarter of the game? Should I buy a better VCR, one with S-Video outs? Should I ditch my Dazzle and look for a better source for capturing video? I'm really a newbie at this so any help will be appreciated! I intend to start a little side business transferring old VHS to DVD, but if I sent this back to a customer, I'd be sued- and rightfully so!!!

 

Lastly, can a DVD Recorder/ VCR combo be a possible solution? I was thinking of getting one, but once a DVD is made on those, is there an option NOT to close the session, so one can further edit the program using EMC9?

 

Thanks again for any guidance you can offer.......

[grandpabruce]

I recently attempted to use EMC9 to convert The Gator-Arkansas SEC Championship Game from VHS to DVD, complete with custom made menus and chapters. First off- I'm using the Dazzle Platinum Video Creator to capture and digitize the analog source. I then open up the Video_TS.vob file in EMC's MyDVD to customize menus and chapters. Now, I split the game up into two halves so I have two different .vob files to work with.

 

When all was said and done, I ended up with really crappy DVD quality (I use Verbatim Digital Movie DVD-R). It looked very jumpy and had the quality of a 4th generation VHS recording. This is straight from a first generation VHS that was recorded right from my Tivo (the Tivos in my living room, while my desktop is far away in my bedroom, which is why I have to record to VHS first). I'm also using composite RCA cables (yes, the red, white and yellow one)

 

My question basically is: How can I get the best quality? Should I make it four disks, maybe one for each quarter of the game? Should I buy a better VCR, one with S-Video outs? Should I ditch my Dazzle and look for a better source for capturing video? I'm really a newbie at this so any help will be appreciated! I intend to start a little side business transferring old VHS to DVD, but if I sent this back to a customer, I'd be sued- and rightfully so!!!

 

Lastly, can a DVD Recorder/ VCR combo be a possible solution? I was thinking of getting one, but once a DVD is made on those, is there an option NOT to close the session, so one can further edit the program using EMC9?

 

Thanks again for any guidance you can offer.......

 

If you recorded that game and sold it to a customer, you would get sued, but it wouldn't be by the customer.

 

I have no idea how you got that on one DVD, but if you go much over 1 hour, time-wise, on a standard DVD, you will notice the degradation in quality. With what you did, I am surprised that it is even viewable.

[ggrussell]

I recently attempted to use EMC9 to convert The Gator-Arkansas SEC Championship Game from VHS to DVD, complete with custom made menus and chapters. First off- I'm using the Dazzle Platinum Video Creator to capture and digitize the analog source. I then open up the Video_TS.vob file..

Why is the Dazzle creating a .VOB file? Are you capturing to disc? YOu would be mych better off capturing each quarter to a MPEG 2 file. Then use those files in MyDVD.

 

RULE OF THUMB: Only 1 hour on a single layer, 4.7 blank disc at best quality. 1 hr 58min for dual layer.

 

Depending on personal taste, but I've gotten up to two hr on a 4.7 disc and the quality was 'acceptable'. Kinda like 4hr VHS mode. If you pay close attention to the Dazzle recording BITRATE, MyDVD may not re-render the file at all. To get two hours on a 4.7 disc, the bitrate should be around 4.6MB (4650Kbps).

[HRPufnstuf65]

If you recorded that game and sold it to a customer, you would get sued, but it wouldn't be by the customer.

 

I have no idea how you got that on one DVD, but if you go much over 1 hour, time-wise, on a standard DVD, you will notice the degradation in quality. With what you did, I am surprised that it is even viewable.

 

 

LOL- you are correct, and I can see how it might look like that. No, I'm not selling the game- I was referring to a customer for the new side business. Weddings, parties, Bar-Mitzvahs- that sort of NON COPYRIGHTED material

 

 

PS- Thanks for your answers all- but still no one addressed anything about the DVD Recorder/ VHS Combo- any thoughts?

[ggrussell]

DVD recorders are nice and handy, but not adviseable for editing. "Some" DVD recorders support the DVD VR format which will let you edit after recording. MyDVD does support the DVD VR format. However, you are only editing the menu. Not the actual video footage.

 

If you want to edit footage, you would have to transfer the file(s) to the hard drive. Edit in Videowave and then take those files into MyDVD.

 

I have a LiteOn DVD recorder. Doing something as simple as cutting out commercials can be a very lenghty process in Videowave. Mostly because editing MPEG files is just slow.

[HRPufnstuf65]

DVD recorders are nice and handy, but not adviseable for editing. "Some" DVD recorders support the DVD VR format which will let you edit after recording. MyDVD does support the DVD VR format. However, you are only editing the menu. Not the actual video footage.

 

If you want to edit footage, you would have to transfer the file(s) to the hard drive. Edit in Videowave and then take those files into MyDVD.

 

I have a LiteOn DVD recorder. Doing something as simple as cutting out commercials can be a very lenghty process in Videowave. Mostly because editing MPEG files is just slow.

 

 

Thank you again for the quick reply. Yes, I found out the hard way that editing commercials is best done when copying to a vhs tape from Tivo.

 

So, let me understand this- if i get one of the "some" DVD recorders, I'll still be able to add my own custom-made Menus, complete with custom background music- I just won't be able to edit the video content? If i can make a menu, can I still add chapters where I want them?

 

And one last question on the subject- is the difference between RCA composite and S-VHS a dramatic one, or just slight? I know it depends on some variables, mainly VHS player quality itself, but generally speaking?

 

Thank you thank you thank you!

[ggrussell]

So, let me understand this- if i get one of the "some" DVD recorders, I'll still be able to add my own custom-made Menus, complete with custom background music- I just won't be able to edit the video content? If i can make a menu, can I still add chapters where I want them?

That's the way I understand it. Hardly anyone uses that format. I've only used it for testing purposes and seems to work fine under controlled instances.

 

S-Video is 'supposed' to be better than composite. You still have to use the audio (red/white) RCA connects. S-video only cares video.

[HRPufnstuf65]

If you recorded that game and sold it to a customer, you would get sued, but it wouldn't be by the customer.

 

I have no idea how you got that on one DVD, but if you go much over 1 hour, time-wise, on a standard DVD, you will notice the degradation in quality. With what you did, I am surprised that it is even viewable.

 

 

I also just recently noticed that if i open up EMC9 and go to the "capture video" option, I have my Dazzle in the drop down box, but when I go to it, I see no tv image in the box- it's just black. However, through the actual DVD Recorder software that came with the Dazzle, I of course get the image.

[grandpabruce]

I also just recently noticed that if i open up EMC9 and go to the "capture video" option, I have my Dazzle in the drop down box, but when I go to it, I see no tv image in the box- it's just black. However, through the actual DVD Recorder software that came with the Dazzle, I of course get the image.

 

Some folks have had luck using the Dazzle with EMC 9. I have the Dazzle 90 device and have not tried it with EMC 9, yet. It did not work for me with EMC 7.5 or EMC 8. I saw the same thing you do now.