Best method to create DVD from miniDV Camcorder

[guyone]

Hello All,

I have JVC miniDV camcorder. I have used following method to create DVD:
1. Capture video as AVI with Ulead VS6 using DV Type 1 codec
and Firewire card.
2. Convert AVI to MPEG2 with CCE.
CCE Settings: NO Filter, VBR 3 pass,
9000(0-9500) ; ONLY 60min to be put on DVD
Quantizer characteristic=8
3. Author DVD using TMPGEnc DVD Author

My questions:
1. Is there a better way / better Software to do this task ?
2. Which software can I use to determine type of source (interlace or progressive) ?
(For my case I had assumed interlaced AVI)

3. What are best settings for CCE for outdoor (sunny/cloudy trees, beaches etc) footage ? What about indoor ?

3. Should I store audio as 2-channel AC3 on DVD or is there a better option ?
What is the best tool for Audio editing and converting to AC3 ?

Thanks!

[neuron2]

Please observe forum rule 12: Do not ask what's best. Thank you.

[guyone]

Sorry !
I'm a beginner in this area and would really appreciate comments/suggestions.

[kolak]

I don't know better way, but you should change CCE to Cannopus ProCoder 2. If your source is from miniDV cam that is the best encoder (better then CCE for this type of source).

Source (as I know) from miniDV is always interlaced.

AC3 stereo (192 or 224 Kbit) is the best choice.

Best encoder is Minnetonka AC3 SurCode (only encoder from .wav or .aif source) and for editing end converting is Sony Vegas 5.0 (with excelent AC3 certified encoder) or Premiere 1.5 with Minnetonka AC3 encoder plugin. Other software (high-end) ProTools (MAC) with Digigram plugin or Steinberg Nuendo 2.0
Free software: AC3Machine

[guyone]

Thank you kolak for your valuable input.
I'll definitely try out Cannopus ProCoder 2 and AC3 SurCode. Do you know where I can get a trial which encodes ?
How do you rate Sony Vegas 5.0 video editing capabilities?

By the wat, while watching finished DVD I observed and learned important lesson regarding DV and DVD Black Levels (http://www.signvideo.com/dv-black-level-dvd-7.5-ire-0-ntsc-part-2.htm) which explained slightly "washed out" colors.

All welcome to comment on this and previous posts.

[guyone]

Questions on DV and DVD Black Levels:
1. What is the type of AVI captured using Ulead VS6 (DV Type 1 codec) ? RGB or YUY2 ?
If RGB, is in 16-235 or 0-255 Luminance Level ?
What tool can I use to find out these AVI properties ?

2. If AVI is 16-235 RGB, then in CCE should I:
-DESELECT Try decoding AVI in YUY2 format
-SELECT Try decoding AVI in 32-bit RGB format
-Set Luminance Level to 0-255 ?
Please let me know if this is correct ?