The right way to convert to film DVD??

[mpiper]

I've been reading these posts and this site for about a year, but this is my first post. I would like the opinion of the experts here if I am doing this right, as well as your opinions on the process.

My goal: Convert a library of numerous VHS tapes to a much more space efficient DVD library.

Many of these tapes are old, worn and not available on DVD. As such, I am trying to restore them as much as possible, regain the original framerate, and fit 2 videos per DVD. Since many of these have lost some detail, I do not mind using 352X480 in these cases.

Step 1: Capture the video and Audio via PICVideo 3 Mjpeg set at 19+ with YUV colorspace. Framerate 29.97, audio 48K

Step 2: Open video in VirtualDub, Scan for errors, then save new AVI using MSU denoising at normal, with MJPEG at 20, cropping out unnecessary beginning and ending stuff (Best Grip, 3rd director for 2nd unit, etc.)

Step 3: Open new video. Save WAVE file of audio for AC3 conversion via BeSweet. Save a third version of video using Unfold, levels, smart Smoother HQ, Sharpen (3-10 depending on film), Fold

Step 4: Open AC3 Machine gui for BeSweet and convert DolbyPrologic WAVE to 2 Channel AC3 (which re-creates the surround prologic info in the decoder/player)

Step 5: Open 3rd version of video in CCE and using a custom Q Matrix (edited from Mpg4 matrix "Jawar's 1 CD" to match CCE requirement of 127 Max) I use Inverse puldown and set as progressive 2 Pass VBR 3,000 avg.

Step 6: Use DVD Authoring app (Currently TMPEG DVDAuthor) to set up 2 Title DVD.

What I end up with is a DVD that holds 3-4 hours of Video that looks better than the original VHS source and has NO flicker when paused, just like Pro DVDs. I only use this process for Fullscreen tapes, since VHS Widescreen has too little data to chop down to 352X480(350?) with those black bars.

Since I am using 352X480 for these, at 3,000 bitrate, the quality is similar to 720X480 at 6,000.

So, any thoughts of improvements I could make?

Mike

[HappyCamper]

Hello mpiper,

I have done a lot of analog to digital conversion and your process sounds good to me. My methods are similar minus the 352X480 resize.

You say that you use MSU denoising at normal. Are you using both spatial and temporal denoising? What temporal threshold and spatial intensity are you using? I have been experimenting with different values because the default values of 30 and 4.00 don't seem to work well for all source video that I have done. Especially the spatial value, at 4.00 things seem a bit blurry sometimes.

[mpiper]

More often than not, since I am re-filtering it, I turn off the spatial filtering. If I do use it, it is either 2 or 4. The sharpen at the end of the process helps counteract the slight blur.

Just a note, I am not resizing to 352X480, but capturing at that resolution. (I think it yields better color accuracy than resizing would, IMHO.)

Here is a little side question: I use VirtualVCR to capture. I set the Frame Rate to 29.97, but it never fails to capture at about 29.9776 and drop about 1 frame per minute. (I think it is actually a cumulative frame-rate error, since no errors show up) I also capture Audio at 48,011 to 48,024 and use dynamic resample to fix it. I overclock my PC, but I have used every setting from stock up to my max and the numbers always stay the same. Any ideas how to keep the framerate closer to 29.97000??

Mike

[NaN]

Do not use ac3enc from BeSweet. The output is usually unpredictable, sometimes ok, sometimes you just get silence. You're better off using toolame to convert your audio to mp2.

Cheers, NaN

PS: don't forget ac3enc is considered experimental.

PPS: a proper ac3-encoding is much more work than just a conversion. I just say dialog normalization...

[mpiper]

NaN,
Isn't mp2 non-compliant and therefore not guaranteed to work on all standalone players? That's why I am using ac3.

Encore does ac3 conversion, but BeSweet is faster, and the file is easily available to external programs. I thought (could easily be wrong) that the latest version of the encoder was more stable & standards-compliant. If BeSweet really is not dependable, I may have to see about Encore's ability to save and export AC3 files. Previously, I have only used it to encode DVDs internally, but 352X480 resolution will not be accepted by Encore. (You'd think for the money they charge that they would have all possible standards incorporated, not just the primary one.)

Thanks!
Mike

[hendrix]

Originally posted by mpiper
NaN,
Isn't mp2 non-compliant and therefore not guaranteed to work on all standalone players? That's why I am using ac3.
actually mp2 is a requirement for PAL (except Australia) DVD settop players and dolby digital is optional - although most, if not all new PAL players will play ac3. mp2 is optional for NTSC and Australia DVD players and ac3 is a requirement.

beware that there are some NTSC players that will NOT playback mp2 audio.

becareful when using BeSweet...it isn't a Dolby Licenced program and your .ac3 files may NOT work on all players

[mpiper]

I am is the US, so NTSC standards follow. As such, I have the choice of AC3 or PCM. PCM is too big, so that leaves me with AC3.

So far every file I have tried (4 so far) have played in the three DVD players I have at home. I'll continue using this method until a better one comes out.

Thanks everyone.

Mike