Better way to capture video?

[bigboxes]

A couple nights ago I decided I wanted to try to convert a VHS tape to DVD using my pc. I was successful, but the results were less than desirable. Remember, this is my first time so I expect to get better results with further attempts. This is why I would like your input.

Here is the hardware and software involved:

* Sony VHS VCR
* Hauppauge WinTV Go tuner/capture pci card
* Ulead VideoStudio 9
* NEC ND-3500AG 16x +/- R/RW DVD burner


So, I connected the video using an RCA (composite) cable from the VCR to the tuner/capture card. The tuner/capture card had an input for sound using a 1/8 plug. The VCR used RCA outs for the sound so I had to use a patchcord to connect the two differing standards.

Opening up VideoStudio 9 I chose the VideoStudio Editor from the three choices. I then clicked on the Capture tab. Under capture I chose Hauppauge WinTV Capture for the source to be captured. For format I chose DVD because that was the output that I wanted. Under the Options button I chose Video and Audio Capture Settings. For the source tab I changed the Video Input source to video composite. For the capture tab I left it at DVD setting. There was a slider bar to choose between speed and quality. It was set at 80% (quality) by default. The detail of this setting is as follows:

MPEG Files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3

Under the "advanced" button there were three selections for audio: LPCM, MPEG, and Dolby Digital. I left it at LPCM (default).

So, after I am finished messing with the settings I start the video tape and click on the "capture video" button (on the software) when appropriate. When the tape finishes I simply stop the recording process and then burn this file to disc (at the slowest speed available; 4x) using the same VideoStudio software. I was noticing that the video is noticeably choppy at times.

So, I am looking for suggestions on how to achieve a higher quality in this process. Is there a better capture card that will deliver hi-qualilty and high fps. Also, is 720 x 480 the default resolution for DVDs and/or VHS and can I get better with another capture card and/or software?

 

[bigboxes]

:bump: for the morning

 

[Peter]

NTSC video signals are 480 lines, nothing is going to change that. 720 pixels horizontal is the default production quality for DVD; if you're sourcing from VCR, you can even LOWER that to 360 without noticing a difference - simply because the bandwidth of VCR tape doesn't source more than that.

When you experience choppiness, that'll be because your machine is too slow to handle the video data stream. Lowering the resolution will help that problem.

 

[bigboxes]

Thanks for your input Peter. When you say my machine is too slow, what exactly is too slow? You can see my build in my system rig sig. I have a A64 3200+ Winchester. Would a better capture card be able to handle the higher quality capture without stuttering? I will give it a try of lowering the horizontal rez and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Continuity28]

I'm not sure how VideoStudio works, but does this mean you are capturing and converting the material in the same process, or does it save the captured material and work on it in another pass?

If its doing all this in one pass, I suggest you change that so the video "output" is either uncompressed or compressed using codecs like YV12, YUY2, HUFFYUV to encode the material. Then you can convert to DVD compliant material yourself or do it in Ulead.

If its saving the captured material and doing the reencoding in separate passes, it might be because some of your settings are a bit off - as your PC should handle this.

You say your video is stuttering, can you be more specific? It may be possible you told it to make a 23.976 fps video dvd (FILM) and have the player do a 2:3 pulldown if in the case of NTSC, so you get 29.970 fps... In the case of VHS and DV, they are always interlaced and always 29.970 fps if NTSC, so you should be telling Ulead to make the output interlaced as well.

Also, I believe VHS is top field first (odd, then even), and DV is bottom field first (even, then odd).

EDIT: Hope I'm not being confusing, DV is refering to DV/miniDV "Digital Video" for cameras and such.

 

[Peter]

The CPU is doing the compression - but the PCI bus and mass storage must be able to keep up as well. As I said, you can cut the amount of input data in half without losing anything. For better or worse _output_ quality, dial the MPEG lossiness up or down as you please.