UltimateDBZ
26th August 2002, 04:24
This topic was originally slated in the Capturing Video forum, as at the time it applied more there, but as you'll see when you read on, it more closely applies here now, along with lingering questions.
First, this was my original post, and still holds true, though my method is now different and I don't need these questions answered. It does, however, give you required background information:
My goal in the end is to convert a vhs tape into SVCD(s), with minimal loss of quality (if any), but keeping the discs used to only 2 or 3.
I'm using a Dazzle DVC-II hooked up to a standard VCR through A/V inputs. I'm using the bundled MovieStar 4.24 to capture the video directly to MP2 format with the included MP2 PCI encoder/decoder. However, the software does not have a built-in cropping feature, so I must use bbMPEG to crop the MP2 video once it has been captured.
So now what I have is an MP2 file, cropped down to size, and nearly uncompressed, coming in at around 4-7gb depending on video length. Now what I need to do is get from this 1 large file into several files, and apply proper chaptering.
I figured I could use the same process as DVD2SVCD does once it has encoded the video, and split it up and add chaptering, etc., manually just like DVD2SVCD would normally do automatically.
So my question is twofold, first, what command lines would I need to run in order to split this file up (bbmpeg I believe), and apply chapters and CD title, and create cd images with vcdxbuild. Assume that I'll be using 800mb CDs. Will I need to do other bitrate calculations or any other compressing, or is the SVCD bitrate setting in MovieStar good enough so I don't use too many CDs?
Finally, is this the best way to go about this process? I figure that my only alternate would be to use VirtualDub do capture the video into an AVI and crop it right then and there, and then use AVI2SVCD to run through it's entire process and convert to MP2 and make chapters, etc., automatically. Although this way would be much simpler, I don't think it would be better, because converting directly to MP2 is probably better than going AVI>MP2, right? Would using VirtualDub be faster, though? Considering I wouldn't have to crop with bbMPEG separately, but instead, directly with VirtualDub? I'm led to think it wouldn't be faster, but your thoughts are appreciated.
I'd be very thankful if someone would help me out on this rather complicated question, especially with the command lines and settings I would need to make proper SVCD images.
TIA for any help and insight!After a few days, I was given this tip compliments of SVCD4Me:
DVD2SVCD can accept Dazzle recordings. On the Misc tab, check DVB(pva) as input, then select your recording and continue as usual. Personally, I record using the Dazzle @ 480x480 10Mb/s to get best quality and run through DVD2SVCD 3 pass VBR to get smaller size. Looks great. I have noticed that 480x480 is the best size to capture in, for some reason 640x480 or 720x480 the video is choppy. I haven't tried cropping yet, but I will soon, as there is almost always distortion along the top edge of the video.This changed my plan, as I had forgotten DVD2SVCD can accept MP2 files for reencoding at desired bitrates in order to achieve x # of CDs.
Then my final questions and concerns, which now more affect DVD2SVCD, hence this post:
For about the past few hours or so DVD2SVCD has been on 'analyzing DVD2AVI Project File', I really doubt it takes that long. Poking around, I noticed that the last line of PVA_log.txt reads as "ALERT> Unable to open video output", I doubt that's supposed to happen. This happened to anyone before? Any ideas?Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, especially thoughts on my current conversion process, and why it is lingering so. Also, that alert is certainly threatening.. TIA for assistance!
First, this was my original post, and still holds true, though my method is now different and I don't need these questions answered. It does, however, give you required background information:
My goal in the end is to convert a vhs tape into SVCD(s), with minimal loss of quality (if any), but keeping the discs used to only 2 or 3.
I'm using a Dazzle DVC-II hooked up to a standard VCR through A/V inputs. I'm using the bundled MovieStar 4.24 to capture the video directly to MP2 format with the included MP2 PCI encoder/decoder. However, the software does not have a built-in cropping feature, so I must use bbMPEG to crop the MP2 video once it has been captured.
So now what I have is an MP2 file, cropped down to size, and nearly uncompressed, coming in at around 4-7gb depending on video length. Now what I need to do is get from this 1 large file into several files, and apply proper chaptering.
I figured I could use the same process as DVD2SVCD does once it has encoded the video, and split it up and add chaptering, etc., manually just like DVD2SVCD would normally do automatically.
So my question is twofold, first, what command lines would I need to run in order to split this file up (bbmpeg I believe), and apply chapters and CD title, and create cd images with vcdxbuild. Assume that I'll be using 800mb CDs. Will I need to do other bitrate calculations or any other compressing, or is the SVCD bitrate setting in MovieStar good enough so I don't use too many CDs?
Finally, is this the best way to go about this process? I figure that my only alternate would be to use VirtualDub do capture the video into an AVI and crop it right then and there, and then use AVI2SVCD to run through it's entire process and convert to MP2 and make chapters, etc., automatically. Although this way would be much simpler, I don't think it would be better, because converting directly to MP2 is probably better than going AVI>MP2, right? Would using VirtualDub be faster, though? Considering I wouldn't have to crop with bbMPEG separately, but instead, directly with VirtualDub? I'm led to think it wouldn't be faster, but your thoughts are appreciated.
I'd be very thankful if someone would help me out on this rather complicated question, especially with the command lines and settings I would need to make proper SVCD images.
TIA for any help and insight!After a few days, I was given this tip compliments of SVCD4Me:
DVD2SVCD can accept Dazzle recordings. On the Misc tab, check DVB(pva) as input, then select your recording and continue as usual. Personally, I record using the Dazzle @ 480x480 10Mb/s to get best quality and run through DVD2SVCD 3 pass VBR to get smaller size. Looks great. I have noticed that 480x480 is the best size to capture in, for some reason 640x480 or 720x480 the video is choppy. I haven't tried cropping yet, but I will soon, as there is almost always distortion along the top edge of the video.This changed my plan, as I had forgotten DVD2SVCD can accept MP2 files for reencoding at desired bitrates in order to achieve x # of CDs.
Then my final questions and concerns, which now more affect DVD2SVCD, hence this post:
For about the past few hours or so DVD2SVCD has been on 'analyzing DVD2AVI Project File', I really doubt it takes that long. Poking around, I noticed that the last line of PVA_log.txt reads as "ALERT> Unable to open video output", I doubt that's supposed to happen. This happened to anyone before? Any ideas?Any and all help would be greatly appreciated, especially thoughts on my current conversion process, and why it is lingering so. Also, that alert is certainly threatening.. TIA for assistance!