Capturing digital camcorder video via Firewire

[Oja]

I am a complete newbie to video capture. I need to capture digital camcorder video to PC via Firewire. My priority is to capture the highest video quality, rather than smaller file size. Initially I just need to capture the video straight, no editing. Should I capture in DV format, or use the Lagarith codec? Is Premiere Pro CS3 OK for this?

I may do some very basic editing later, when burning parts of the captured video to DVD. For that, would xVid give better DVD video quality than H.264 for the same file size?

[Southstorm]

Is your camcorder using DV tapes?

If so then Premiere will be fine as long as you capture using DV format.

If your camcorder uses a mem card or hard drive for storage, then you'll need to go a different route.

[Oja]

Yes it uses MiniDV tapes (Panasonic NV-DA1EN). So while I can capture those videos as DV, is there another method that would let me capture with better quality, eg. using the lossless Lagarith codec?

If I use Premiere and capture DV, are there any special settings I should use for best quality?

[JohnnyMalaria]

You can't improve the quality. Capturing via DV gives an exact copy of the tape.

[Oja]

Thank you very much for that. Can I also ask about capturing some Video8 and VHS tapes...

I have a Sony Digital8 Handycam, DCR-TRV355E, that can play the Video8 tapes and can also connect to a VHS player. It has Firewire out and analogue-to-digital on-the-fly conversion.

Would that output also be DV, so I'd capture it the same way, or is there a way to initially capture better quality, eg. with less compression? I wouldn't mind having to buy extra equipment, eg. a special capture card, and using the Lagarith lossless codec if that gives a better capture quality.

[Southstorm]

It's certainly the simplest method to go thru your camera and use DV. For improved quality from the VHS, a dedicated capture card in a lossless codec, like Huffyuv or Lagarith would be better.

[Oja]

I've read that analogue video should be captured with Time Base Correction and Noise Reduction, both of which my Sony Handycam provides with its on-the-fly conversion to DV.

However I like the option of capturing my older VHS tapes with higher quality. Is there a single piece of equipment that captures with TBC and NR or would I need separate items? Could you suggest a mid-range brand/model?

If I go this way would I still use Premiere Pro CS3, or would I be better off with some other capture software?

[JohnnyMalaria]

There's an advantage to NOT going the DV route for capturing analog recordings such as VHS.

DV uses 4:1:1 (NTSC) or 4:2:0 (PAL) sampling which throws out a lot of color detail.

Many analog capture cards can use 4:2:2 plus a true lossless compression format.

[Oja]

Thanks for the Enosoft DV Processor link, which I'll try for DV captures of my MiniDV videos.

For my VHS videos.. Any suggestions for a mid-range 4:2:2 analogue capture device with TBC and NR, and maybe some sharpening (for capturing with Lagarith)?

Although if the main issue with analogue DV capture is colour-detail loss, would Enosoft compensate a bit (brightness, contrast, hue/phase), giving a more convenient but "nearly as good" result?

[JohnnyMalaria]

Thanks for the Enosoft DV Processor link, which I'll try for DV captures of my MiniDV videos.

For my VHS videos.. Any suggestions for a mid-range 4:2:2 analogue capture device with TBC and NR, and maybe some sharpening (for capturing with Lagarith)?

Although if the main issue with analogue DV capture is colour-detail loss, would Enosoft compensate a bit (brightness, contrast, hue/phase), giving a more convenient but "nearly as good" result?

Yes, it can. If you convert to DV and use the software for capturing, you can adjust all those things in real-time during capture.

[Oja]

Thanks very much for the help, it's much appreciated. 2 last questions if I may..

Could you suggest how I could add a little sharpening to the VHS> DV> Enosoft capture?

Later when I burn selected clips to DVD, would x264 or xVid give better TV-playback quality for the same file size? I'm thinking 2 hrs per double-sided DVD, and I'd stick to newer DVD players that support that codec.