If you are editing DV, its not obvious. The set top boxes will do a real time conversion for DV to MPEG that is very desirable. However, you want to be doing your editing on the computer, not the recorder. At least one person has gotten a DV format to write to a Phillips or Pioneer. I have not.
DVD burner vs recorder...
What are the main Pros and Cons between using either a DVD burner or set-top recorder? I understand a burner must be connected to a computer to use, but with the final video quality be about the same?
I wouldn't be using this unit to copy TV shows, etc. I'd be using it to burn DVD's of edited DV that I've shot, and putting together corporate videos with graphics, etc. Which would be the best way to go?
I've noticed some of the recorders support progressive and 16:9 material. Do the burners support this as well?
Also, I've noticed that some of the newer DVD recorders now have firewire inputs. Does this mean you could also hook one of these units to a computer and copy files to it? Or, can you only do this with a burner?
Lastly, which player or burner is the best bang for the buck?
Thanks,
Skip Hunt
I wouldn't be using this unit to copy TV shows, etc. I'd be using it to burn DVD's of edited DV that I've shot, and putting together corporate videos with graphics, etc. Which would be the best way to go?
I've noticed some of the recorders support progressive and 16:9 material. Do the burners support this as well?
Also, I've noticed that some of the newer DVD recorders now have firewire inputs. Does this mean you could also hook one of these units to a computer and copy files to it? Or, can you only do this with a burner?
Lastly, which player or burner is the best bang for the buck?
Thanks,
Skip Hunt
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In my opinion it would be more cost effective if you purchased an editing hardware/ software solution (such as Pinnacle's DV500Plus), and a DVD burner. This setup will allow you to create professional quality productions from various sources, which can later be dumped to DVD, Tape, VCD...etc.
Quote:
How would this solution be better than just using my Mac with FinalCutPro3, DVDpro, and an external DVD burner? Any extra benefit to the Pinnacle solution?
skip
| Originally posted by videonut In my opinion it would be more cost effective if you purchased an editing hardware/ software solution (such as Pinnacle's DV500Plus), and a DVD burner. This setup will allow you to create professional quality productions from various sources, which can later be dumped to DVD, Tape, VCD...etc. |
skip
Editing video and sound properly requires multiples sources and the ability to switch, fade, cut,etc. I'm not sure how much your Mac will allow you to copy to a Hard Drive and then bring in as separate sources.
Remember, also, that you'll need at least a DVD-RW or a DVD-RAM in their someplace, unless you're recording everything to your hard drive first. Because it's rare that an edit is perfect on the first take.
Taking commercials out, or just putting tracks together is one thing. But editing a finished product. . .that's another matter altogether.
Remember, also, that you'll need at least a DVD-RW or a DVD-RAM in their someplace, unless you're recording everything to your hard drive first. Because it's rare that an edit is perfect on the first take.
Taking commercials out, or just putting tracks together is one thing. But editing a finished product. . .that's another matter altogether.
Actually, you can cut entire feature length films with just a mac and FinalCutPro and I'd say most interactive CDROMs are most likely produced with Macs. Also, I did list having a DVD burner in the mix. So, my question isn't really whether or not you can do a professional job using Mac hard/software... I know you can. I've cut TV spots and produced interactive CDROMs myself. My question is, do I gain any benefit going with something like the Pinnacle hardware solution over a Mac?
skip
skip
Skip, you totally blindsided me with your first post; you came off as a novice to editing with a computer.
Judging from your last couple of posts, you are quite happy with your editing setup and simply need some info on which burner to get for your computer.
The answer is quite simple if your looking to share your work with others: make sure you get a burner that burns DVD-R discs. I share my work with many different people, and only once did I have an incompatibility issue.
I would say you'd do well with either the Panasonic or Pioneer burners. Many on this forum own one of the two and as of yet I haven't read anything negative regarding these machines. I personally own both and think they're great machines, but I do lean a little more toward the DVD-RAM discs for archiving my important video, especially now that I can easily convert VRO files to VBO.
Happy Recording!
Peter M
Judging from your last couple of posts, you are quite happy with your editing setup and simply need some info on which burner to get for your computer.
The answer is quite simple if your looking to share your work with others: make sure you get a burner that burns DVD-R discs. I share my work with many different people, and only once did I have an incompatibility issue.
I would say you'd do well with either the Panasonic or Pioneer burners. Many on this forum own one of the two and as of yet I haven't read anything negative regarding these machines. I personally own both and think they're great machines, but I do lean a little more toward the DVD-RAM discs for archiving my important video, especially now that I can easily convert VRO files to VBO.
Happy Recording!
Peter M
The time consuming step is the conversion from the DV-codec to MPEG for a usable DVD. Hopefully, a recorder can do this in a single step.
The PC/MAC is clearly more flexible.
The PC/MAC is clearly more flexible.
Quote:
Not sure what in my posts implied I was a novice to video editing. I was just asking about the differences between the set-top DVD recorders as opposed to the burners. Although I'm not a novice when it comes to editing video and interactive media, I'm not only a novice, I'm a complete beginner when it comes to DVD authoring. I'm guessing the set-top recorders do the conversion to mpeg2 on-the-fly in realtime which would be nice. And, I'm guessing the DVD burners like the Pioneer A03? (the superdrive that Apple ships in desktop machines) would need the DV converted to mpeg first via software and would probably be slower. However, I'm also assuming since the burner route would be dependent on a computer, that improvements in codecs and software would be more easily taken advantage of. As opposed to the set-top DVD recorders (like the Panasonic E30, etc.) where the conversion methods would be hard-coded. Is this correct? I'm using a G4/450 Mac now, but I'm thinking of upgrading to a Dual 1Ghz machine. Just not sure which is better between DVD burners and DVD Set-top recorders and wondering which will yeild the best results. Anyone tried both? Which will give me fewer compatibility problems? Which will produce a better image? Which is faster? Which is more flexible?
thanx,
Skip
| Originally posted by videonut Skip, you totally blindsided me with your first post; you came off as a novice to editing with a computer. Judging from your last couple of posts, you are quite happy with your editing setup and simply need some info on which burner to get for your computer. The answer is quite simple if your looking to share your work with others: make sure you get a burner that burns DVD-R discs. I share my work with many different people, and only once did I have an incompatibility issue. I would say you'd do well with either the Panasonic or Pioneer burners. Many on this forum own one of the two and as of yet I haven't read anything negative regarding these machines. I personally own both and think they're great machines, but I do lean a little more toward the DVD-RAM discs for archiving my important video, especially now that I can easily convert VRO files to VBO. Happy Recording! Peter M |
thanx,
Skip
If you want to do it the best way look for a realtime DV-MPEG conversion card adn use a computer. I think Canopus makes one. But they are expensive.
I checked the canopus website. They make a product call DVCoder that looks interesting.
Quote:
I believe that's a daughter card for the Canopus DV Storm card. You'd have to have both. And, Canopus only makes products for PCs. I use Macs. A friend of mine has a Canopus DVREX at his house (he was a reseller at one point) and it's a fine rig, but I just wanted to know if there are any advantages/disadvantages between the DVD burners and set-top players. If I actually get some paying DVD authoring gigs, I'll look into something more robust, but for now, I'm just looking into a basic authoring package and either a burner or player. Thanx for the info though.
skip
| Originally posted by kelliot I checked the canopus website. They make a product call DVCoder that looks interesting. |
skip
Procoder Requirements:
ProCoder Minimum System Requirements
> Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP
> Home, or Windows XP Professional
> CPU with MMX support
> 128 MB RAM > 40 MB free hard disk space
> USB Port
MSRP is $699.
No mention of DVStorm
Real men use PCs not MACs
ProCoder Minimum System Requirements
> Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP
> Home, or Windows XP Professional
> CPU with MMX support
> 128 MB RAM > 40 MB free hard disk space
> USB Port
MSRP is $699.
No mention of DVStorm
Real men use PCs not MACs
Quote:
Uh-huh.... knew that one was coming. Thanx for at least attempting to answer my question. I'll sort it out eventually. Best of luck.
skip
| Originally posted by kelliot Procoder Requirements: ProCoder Minimum System Requirements > Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP > Home, or Windows XP Professional > CPU with MMX support > 128 MB RAM > 40 MB free hard disk space > USB Port MSRP is $699. No mention of DVStorm Real men use PCs not MACs |
skip
Skip,
Since the editing capabilities of a stand-alone recorder are primitive compared to what you can accomplish in Final Cut, and since having good editing capability seems more important to you than the advantages of a stand-alone recorder (your primary goal is not recording broadcast material), it seems to me that you've answered your own question.
I believe Digital Voodoo has some (expensive) card-based editing solutions for Macs ( http://www.digitalvoodoo.net/ )
Cheers,
Philip Brandes
Since the editing capabilities of a stand-alone recorder are primitive compared to what you can accomplish in Final Cut, and since having good editing capability seems more important to you than the advantages of a stand-alone recorder (your primary goal is not recording broadcast material), it seems to me that you've answered your own question.
I believe Digital Voodoo has some (expensive) card-based editing solutions for Macs ( http://www.digitalvoodoo.net/ )
Cheers,
Philip Brandes
Quote:
Yeah, I'm looking into Voodoo cards as well.
Ok, I'm not looking for an editing solution because I already use computer-based editing software. I'm looking for the best output to DVD. This is why I'm curious about the DVD set-top recorders vs computer-based burners... I will use either device one of two ways. 1. I'll cut a corporate video and burn to DVD as a master without navigation or menus. If I use a pc-based burner, I'll have to convert my final DV cut to mpeg before burning as I understand it. 2. I'll be diving into creating interactive and animated menus for DVDs. I want to know if there's a quality difference between the final DV image when comparing between DVDs burned vs. recorded. Another question is if the set-top recorders yeild as good if not better results than the burners, can you hook up a set-top recorder to a computer (Mac) via firewire and burn/author/control via software from DVDpro and FinalcutPro? I know you can with a burner, but your source must be converted to mpeg first. Unless I have this part wrong and the burners convert DV to mpeg on the fly as well. Thoughts?
skip
| Originally posted by Philip Brandes Skip, Since the editing capabilities of a stand-alone recorder are primitive compared to what you can accomplish in Final Cut, and since having good editing capability seems more important to you than the advantages of a stand-alone recorder (your primary goal is not recording broadcast material), it seems to me that you've answered your own question. I believe Digital Voodoo has some (expensive) card-based editing solutions for Macs ( http://www.digitalvoodoo.net/ ) Cheers, Philip Brandes |
Ok, I'm not looking for an editing solution because I already use computer-based editing software. I'm looking for the best output to DVD. This is why I'm curious about the DVD set-top recorders vs computer-based burners... I will use either device one of two ways. 1. I'll cut a corporate video and burn to DVD as a master without navigation or menus. If I use a pc-based burner, I'll have to convert my final DV cut to mpeg before burning as I understand it. 2. I'll be diving into creating interactive and animated menus for DVDs. I want to know if there's a quality difference between the final DV image when comparing between DVDs burned vs. recorded. Another question is if the set-top recorders yeild as good if not better results than the burners, can you hook up a set-top recorder to a computer (Mac) via firewire and burn/author/control via software from DVDpro and FinalcutPro? I know you can with a burner, but your source must be converted to mpeg first. Unless I have this part wrong and the burners convert DV to mpeg on the fly as well. Thoughts?
skip
MPEG is digital. Once the conversion to MPEG has been made, the quality shouldn't depend on the burner.
Get the best affordable DV to MPEG converter, software or hardware for your MAC.
Get the best affordable DV to MPEG converter, software or hardware for your MAC.
http://www.wiredinc.com/product.html
they make realtime mpeg encoders for the mac. all different ranges, from firewire based only to sdi, to s-video, componet, so depending on what most of your source footage is you have a good range to choose from. they said a new encoder will be out a july mac world, not sure of the specs yet. but if you look over at www.2-pop.com then go to the dvd authoring message board, you can find a lot of info for mac related dvd stuff. they have pc info too, but it's mainly mac.
i have dvd studio pro, which i like a lot, but it's also the only authoring program i've ever used, supposedly adobe is going to have one out any time but who knows when that could be. i think the weakest part of dvd studio pro (dsp) is the mpeg encoder. i'm just not satisfied with the results. it's constant bit rate, not variable bit rate. it seems more oriented to being a faster encoder, not one based on better quality. i'm looking at the digital media press card from the above company, from what i've heard on 2-pop it's a great encoder. it's dv/firewire based, so don't know if that's good or bad for you, it's about $499 i think too.
but dsp just got upgraded to os x, so not sure if the encoder was improved upon too or not, i'm still on os 9.2.2.
pants
they make realtime mpeg encoders for the mac. all different ranges, from firewire based only to sdi, to s-video, componet, so depending on what most of your source footage is you have a good range to choose from. they said a new encoder will be out a july mac world, not sure of the specs yet. but if you look over at www.2-pop.com then go to the dvd authoring message board, you can find a lot of info for mac related dvd stuff. they have pc info too, but it's mainly mac.
i have dvd studio pro, which i like a lot, but it's also the only authoring program i've ever used, supposedly adobe is going to have one out any time but who knows when that could be. i think the weakest part of dvd studio pro (dsp) is the mpeg encoder. i'm just not satisfied with the results. it's constant bit rate, not variable bit rate. it seems more oriented to being a faster encoder, not one based on better quality. i'm looking at the digital media press card from the above company, from what i've heard on 2-pop it's a great encoder. it's dv/firewire based, so don't know if that's good or bad for you, it's about $499 i think too.
but dsp just got upgraded to os x, so not sure if the encoder was improved upon too or not, i'm still on os 9.2.2.
pants
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