Canopus ADVC300 capture "device"

[DarkT]

Hi,

I want to do VHS--->DVD with optimised time and quality.

Basically, I'd rather avoid doing any filtering through the computer if possible.

Now, the canopus ADVC300(http://www.canopus.com/products/ADVC300/index.php) is a device I took interest in as it offers some basic filtering and what not.

BUT - I see that the output is "DV" - so the question is, wouldn't it be better for DVD creation, to have, instead of such a device, a capture "card" which outputs MPEG2? Since as far as I know, DV which I would get from the Canopus device would have to be converted to MPEG2 prior to DVD creation, no?

Thanks.

[FlimsyFeet]

Yes you need MPEG2 for making a DVD. Having a card that enodes to MPEG2 in realtime would make the process of putting the video onto DVD easier. You could always avoid using your computer completely and just get a DVD recorder.

But with any realtime solution you lose options for improving the quality of your captures, you have no option to do any filtering like noise reduction, and also a realtime encode is a single-pass, where a multi-pass MPEG2 encode makes more efficient use of the available space on a DVD.

[2Bdecided]

If you don't want to do filtering in software, and you want to do the job quickly, a decent VCR with TBC and DNR, and a stand-alone DVD recorder, is a far better solution.

You can do better denoising, and better MPEG-2 encoding, in a PC, but both take time.

The ADVC300 is a good converter, but using its filters aggressively introduces horrible ghosting artefacts - some VCRs have better DNR, and a function like mc_spuds is in a different league entirely.

Cheers,
David.

[DarkT]

So - basically, getting a capture card which outputs mpeg 2, and then running it through avisynth is advisable?

But, what filtering can I do without de-interlacing? I mean, the sole purpose is to do VHS ---> DVD conversions, now, for filtering I need to deinterlace the material, no? And then, after filtering I would need to re-interlace it, because setting a soft "pulldown" switch isn't read by all dvd-players(as far as I know) and I would need my DVDs to be as broadley compatible as possible...

Thanks.

[2Bdecided]

So now you're asking how to restore in software using AVIsynth?

You don't want to start with MPEG-2 because that must be decoded to go through AVIsynth and then re-encoded afterwards.

You should start with lossless or DV, process in AVIsynth, then encode to MPEG-2 in software.

A typical workflow for interlaced content (e.g. home movies) is deinterlace, denoise etc, re-interlace.

Soft pulldown is usually for progressive content in "NTSC" countries, and is universally compatible. In "PAL" countries it's usually irrelevant.

Cheers,
David.

[DarkT]

Hehe, sorry for being all over the place - my information of the proccess is incomplete ;).

I ask about avisynth since you have said that "a function like mc_spuds is in a different league entirely." - while I'd hate wasting time, superior quality would be very favourable for it would spread more praise amongst my clients.

You have mentioned that in PAL countries it(soft pulldown?) is irrelevant, what do you mean by that? I am in Europe and I belive 95% of my work would constitute PAL VHS tapes...

Sorry for the questions bombardament... I encode anime from DVD ---> h264 for some time now, but this whole VHS to DVD thing is new to me.

Edit:

I have read the guide and now understand a bit more about the proccess.

I think I won't be buying the ADVC device after all... I though it'd be helpfull since it has filtering and stuff, but it looks like I'll be doing manual avisynth filtering, so there's no more reason to buy said device.

Now I'll go checkout capture cards... DV output/Loseless Output you said, yes? Will pay attention to that...

Edit2:

Now that I no longer need filtering on the capturing device, I will settle for AVDC55(http://www.holdan.eu/en/gv/products.php?prodID=89), which is very recommended, and costs ~170euro, unless anyone has any better suggestions?

Now I need a VCR... Which will probably be harder to find then the Capture device...