[upsidedn]

I want to finally convert some of my older VCR tapes to DVD. Instead of buying dedicated A->D hardware for my PC, I was thinking of recording the tapes on the ReplayTV and then using DVArchive to move to my PC and burn.


Any comments on whether this is a lower or higher quality conversion method then if I went straight from the VCR to the PC?


Given that the Replay is basically a dedicated A->D video converter it may make more sense to use the Replay.

 

[gduprey]

You'll see slightly better results using a 5xxx series instead of a 4xxx series. Also, if you record in Medium quality, you're MPEGs you download will have a much better chance of being read by any video editing/burning programs you may want to use on them.

 

[BaysideBas]

You'll get better results if you use an 8mm Digital camcorder to do the conversion. These camcorders have built-in TBC (Time Base Corrector) which is an absolute must for good looking transfers from helical scan video tape. Also, the output is DV via Firewire, which will work with practically any NLE (non-linear editing ) software. Most of this type of software has problems with editing Mpeg files, either thay will not work at all, or you get PQ degradation. If the final quality is important you will want to avoid using mpeg files as your source.

 

[hilbert1862]

I have a Canon Optura Xi camcorder which, according to its manual does analog to video conversion. Canon says the output is DV format. Would this avoid the PQ dcegrsdation associated with MPEG?

 

[Grebbler]

Correct. At the expense of mucho disk space. DV format uses a LOT. The practice of capturing and editing a non compressed format like DV eliminates compressing / uncompressing / recompressing the stream which adds noise, glitches and artifacts to the final file. After you get it the way you like THEN you can compress it ONCE to your final format be it MPEG, DiVX, etc.


I use Womble which doesn't re-encode MPEG so that with Replay as an input device works fine with my rusting VHS tapes for my purposes.


Greb

 

[Wrecks]

If any of your tapes have MacroVision copy protection ReplayTV to PC is the only (inexpensive) way I know of to make a DVD backup of them.

 

[Norbert]

Won't ReplayTV honor the Macrovision protection and not copy it?

 

[Wrecks]

ReplayTV will honor Macrovision by not allowing you to send the show to any other unit via IVS. But it will allow you to stream the show to other units in the home network, including a DVArchive unit. I'll leave the rest unsaid...

 

[Jeff D]

Is it me or do we have this discussion like every week?


I know there's lots of stuff here as to why you wouldn't want to use the replay for this.



I think the idea about the camcorder is about the best for doing it (if you have a digital camcorder). I've found the camcorder option works better than the replay, but still not as good as the PC and AVISynth for filtering and a good MPEG compressor.

 

[Paul Bruneau]

Quote:

Originally posted by Grebbler Correct. At the expense of mucho disk space. DV format uses a LOT. The practice of capturing and editing a non compressed format like DV eliminates compressing / uncompressing / recompressing the stream which adds noise, glitches and artifacts to the final file. After you get it the way you like THEN you can compress it ONCE to your final format be it MPEG, DiVX, etc.

Pretty close, but actually, DV is compressed, about 5 to 1 I believe. It is lossy, but it is much harder to experience artifacts than with MP2.


Using a Canon camcorder is a great way to inexpensively convert analog to DV. You don't have to record onto tape first--it has a passthrough mode where you plug your analog stuff into the camera and the camera spits digital out the Firewire (thanks Apple) port.