What should I use?

[TommyR1]

I'm new at this and I need some help. I have a Sony DCR-PC100 DV camera and I want to transfer the video to the best possible format that will fit on a 700MB CD. I would like to put about one hour of video on one CD. Here's the software that I already have:

MGI VideoWave 4.0
Ulead VideoStudio SE 4.0
WinProducer 3 (came with my video card)

So with the stuff mentioned above what would be the best setup. Space on the hard drive does not play a role. I have two Western Digital "Special Edition" 120GB HDD (RAID 0).

Thanks in advance!!!
Tom

[bb]

I'd add VirtualDub to the list.

What format do you prefer? SVCD? MPEG-4 (DivX5, XviD)? I'm asking, because the answer depends much on this.

Did you read the sticky threads?

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[TommyR1]

I would like the format to be MPEG-4. Yes, I did read through the stickies but I'm still a little confused. Which of the programs below would give me the best quality AVI capture and then what would you use to do the encoding? I did download VirtualDub but I'm a little intimidated by all those setting.

Any chance of an idiot proof guide :(

[bb]

Sorry that I don't have the time to provide you with an "idiot-proof" guide, but here are some hints:
MGI VideoWave was the software I used when I began working on DV footage. If I remember it correctly, you can save DV type-1 AVI files only, not type-2. So you have to deal with the audio separately. There's a "Save WAV" button somewhere...
Cut your video first, then create your type-1 DV file, then extract the audio, all within VideoWave. Open the video in VirtualDub, and ignore the audio warning. Open the .WAV file from VirtualDub's Audio menu. Choose your video and audio encoding settings, then encode via File/Save AVI. VideoWave installs an Adaptec DV codec, I believe, so there's no need for an extra codec installation (except for your preferred MPEG-4 codec, and your preferred audio codec).

A friend of mine had severe problems with Ulead Video Studio regarding the cutting accuracy. I use Ulead Media Studio, which does not have these issues. I don't think I would recommend Video Studio.

I don't know WinProducer, sorry.

Hope that helps a little.

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[ulfschack]

I remember the type-1 limitation from using VideoWave, but no worries ... go ahead and save the entire thing as type-1. There are a number of ways to convert to type-2 when you're done with your project. Personally I used GraphEdit to convert ... a bit complicated, but there are others like EditStudio you could try as well. Do a serch on "convert type-1 type-2 avi" in google.

The best solution is of course to capture to Type-2 directly. There's a free prog to do this from Sonic Foundry (Vegas video). It's very simple and reliable, I still use it BTW. I'm not however entirely sure that VideoWave accepts type-2 tho.

VirtualDub is reeeeal easy to use. Even so there's a whole forum dedicated to it on this site. But that's because it can be used for so much, not cause of its complexity. Basically you only need to bother with "compression" under the video and audio menues. And then hit f7. f4 if your doing 2-pass (divX5) with deferred processing. Anyways ... you HAVE to learn VD, it's essential for any video freak :)

cheers

[bb]

There is a sticky thread called "Links"... :rolleyes:

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[TommyR1]

So basically capture with VideoWave and use VirtualDub to do the convert to MPEG4? Any settings I should be aware of to get the best quality one hour video on a 700mb CD?

[bb]

Make sure you deinterlace (I assume your Sony camcorder provides interlaced video), and use two-pass encoding for best quality. You might want to resize your video, too. See the guide.

bb