VHS Quality Capture Solution??

[leaglebob2]

I want to record tv to my harddrive at Mpeg-1 1150kbs quality. Both my Liteon Freestanding units do this acceptably for me. I just returned a Winfast 2000 Expert PVR Card to NewEgg ((excellent return service as well)) because its recording at this setting was noticeably inferior to the Liteons ((it was much "blockier" and stairstepped the lettering)). I since have tried Nero, Ulead, and Sonic and gotten the same picture as with the Winfast.

Is there any hardware/software combination that will give a "good vhs" quality picture at these low resolution settings?? I mostly record talk and history shows so better quality is not needed until I go for Blu-Ray (smile).

Bonus Help:
1. Where can I buy Imation DVD+RW 2.4X Disks in the USA? The UK seems to have a better selection but I assume mailing is prohibitive. This and Riocoh are the only DVD+RW's recommended for both of the Liteons.

2. Any software out there that can open and play a DVD +/- R disc that has not been finalized==ie, play a disc just like it was a freestanding unit?

Thanks for any info. /// bobbo.😕

 

[Matthias99]

I want to record tv to my harddrive at Mpeg-1 1150kbs quality.

Is there any hardware/software combination that will give a "good vhs" quality picture at these low resolution settings?? I mostly record talk and history shows so better quality is not needed until I go for Blu-Ray (smile).

I don't know what those LiteOn units are doing exactly, but they're probably blurring the hell out of the image until it doesn't look "blocky" anymore. If you record something like 320x200, it will be "blocky" but at least fairly smooth; 640x480 would be less "blocky" but you'd probably have horrible motion artifacting.

My recommendation would be to use the card you have, record at a more sane setting (say, 5-6Mbps MPEG2 at 640x480 or 720x480), and then compress them using something like MPEG4 or WMV9, which is WAY more efficient than MPEG1. This will give FAR better results. Or get yourself a hardware encoder card (like a Hauppauge PVR150) -- although these only record in MPEG2 (I don't know if you're using MPEG1 for a particular reason; that's a rather outmoded standard these days).

1. Where can I buy Imation DVD+RW 2.4X Disks in the USA? The UK seems to have a better selection but I assume mailing is prohibitive. This and Riocoh are the only DVD+RW's recommended for both of the Liteons.

Have you tried other media? I'm sure most companies "recommend" that you only use media sold by them (either directly or indirectly).

2. Any software out there that can open and play a DVD +/- R disc that has not been finalized==ie, play a disc just like it was a freestanding unit?

Most media player software (including newer versions of Windows Media Player, AFAIK) will play discs like this if you have appropriate codecs.

 

[leaglebob2]

:thumbsup:Matthias==thanks. And you addressed every issue==very rare.

Yes==the Liteon's have been described in various reviews as giving a "soft focus." If thats blurring or soft or "whatever"==it works for me and I would like to find the same effect in a computer based card. I sit 15 feet away from a 52 inch standard display rear projection tv and 18 inches from my monitor set at 800x600.

BTW==while the focus is soft ((which I prefer I must conclude)) there is no pixelation or blur during chase scenes==in other words, these liteons at the lowest settings give a picture that is totally comparable to original broadcast. If this breaks down as one increases the resoltion, so far that is irrelevant as a standard tv is all I have. I also note 50% of people complain about Liteons for various reasons. I say, keep returning the untits until you get one that works==because the other 50% of users (like me) are very happy with their units.===Quality control is now at the consumer level.

On both set ups, the Liteon's look "acceptable" ((same as the tv broadcast as far as I can see in real time viewing)) but the Card produces an inferior blocky and stairstepped picture that interferes with watching recorded material===I am trying to ignore the blcokiness but it overpowers.

With the amount of recording I do, I want to find a solution that does not take up my whole life--ie, direct real time encoding to the final saved dvd. I will look at hardware mpeg-4 encoders next I think like the Plextor Unit although I just saw a K-World unit with a non-Divx mpeg-4 encoder == but can't find anywhere in the USA to buy it.

I said Mpeg-1 encoding because in the 7-10 programs I have tested so far, Mpeg-2 encoders do not have settings for those low bit rates thereby allowing for 6 hours of storage on a single dvd==all the menus switch to VCD ((which then will only record on a CD in many burner programs like Nero and Sonic)) or to mpeg-1. I too have read mpeg-2 is better but I haven't seen programs that present this possibility. I will recheck this though given your comment.

I've gone thru 8 different brands of quality dvd's looking for a reliable burn on the two different liteon's I have==Sony, Fuji and TDK are all having about a 10% fail rate which is ok for movies but not for recording the Soprano's and losing half a season when the disk won't finalize. Imation and Ricoh just happen to be recommended for both units so I thought I might actually follow dirctions once in my life and try it. Imation works perfectily in my cd burner so I would like to find them for dvds.

I have tried Windows media player and several others and no joy on showing non finalized discs. The disks are read just as shortcuts to a music file (.cda) and just don't open up. Wierd because IsoBuster won't read the disks either.

I've got 28 codecs on my machine but maybe not the right one or the right one is not associated with the right player. I will check into this some more per your encouragement.

Again, thanks Matthias==you've encouraged me to press on. Any additional thoughts you or anyone else might have are invited. ///bobbo.