Quick question, which is the best software for good video capture of MiniDV which will probably require some basic editing and then burnt on to VCD/SCVD and ultimatley DVD (when I buy a drive)

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Keith

[Jules]

Well, I use Pinnacle Studio 8 simply because it does everything and is fairly easy to use.
I tried Adobe Premier but gave up after a while.... too damn complicated.

Thanks Jules, just had a look around and yes this looks like it could do my basic requirements very well.

Thanks again

[geeWcee]

I like to use Ulead DVD Workshop. It also does SVCD and VCDs so the title can be a bit misleading.

And my vote for a good basic system goes to Ulead Video Studio 7.

.

Thanks eveyone, busy using the trial version of Pinnacle Studio 8 looks okay? Does anyone who uses this know if you loose any quality if you encode on the fly. Probably just takes longer but I only have a limited amount of disk space on my laptop

Thanks.

[mulder]

I have Pinnacle studio 8 and the encoding in my opinion is not very good. I just downloaded the trial version of tmpeg and it is far more superior quality of encoding than anything else i have tried. To be honest i have given up on Pinnacle studio 8 apart from capturing direct from camcorder. I'll probably buy Tmpeg encoder plus and tmpeg DVD author from their website.

[Jules]

but how do you then add backing music, titles, transitions, effects etc..
I know studio 8 isn't perfect, but I don't know how else you can encode your finished project to DVD.
TMPG will encode the basic capture file but not your edited project.

I try to make a decent looking and sounding film with my camcorder footage, not just playback exactly what was recorded.
If you want to do that, then I think Pinnacle Studio 8 is the simplest complete solution.

Well here are my findings, captured approx 15 mins of film (MPEG on the fly) and then wrote this to a VCD (as the trial version does not allow MPEG 2 - SVCD/DVD decoding). The picture quality seemed poor to be honest based on connecting the camcorder to the TV and playing it in comparison.

I understand that it is it was MPEG 1 but am I going to get significanlty better results if using MPEG 2? Also I take it I could capture as DV/AVI and then edit and then use TMPEG on the final AVI? Will this give the best results?

So really the question is is MPEG 2 better quality than 1?

Thanks.

[Jules]

yes.. much!

Thanks Jules, if you encode in MPEG2 can you still create VCD's? I am taking it is it is just a better quality version which takes up more space? Or will VCD players just play MPEG 1?

Does anyone know where the cheapest place I can purchase Pinnacle Studio 8 from, Iam in the UK?

Thanks.

[vonhosen]

VCDs use MPEG-1
SVCDs use MPEG-2

SVCDs play on less DVD players than VCDs.
cDVD (or MiniDVD) which are DVD format on CDs play on even less DVD players than SVCD.

Looks like I need to get a DVD writer as soon as possible to get the best results. Thank you all for the helpfull information.

Keith

[mulder]

Originally posted by Jules
but how do you then add backing music, titles, transitions, effects etc..
I know studio 8 isn't perfect, but I don't know how else you can encode your finished project to DVD.
TMPG will encode the basic capture file but not your edited project.

Jules, tmpgenc author you can Edit add titles and music etc then burn to disk within the program but what's the point in making the presentation of your home video look good if the encoding quality is poor? I have to admit that the actual editing facilities of studio 8 are pretty reasonable compared to other programs but personnally I am looking for the encoding to be as good as the footage i actually recorded onto my camcorder, But that's just me, each to their own really whatever works best for one person might not be any good for another.

[Jules]

Jules, tmpgenc author you can Edit add titles and music etc then burn to disk within the program

I thought I may have missed a huge feature of the programme and went to have a look for these facilities in TMPG.
Maybe you have a different version, but I'm sure they're not in mine. At least not the kind of facilities I'm thinking of,

Pinnacle gives me real direct mixing control of 2 seperate audio tracks, video, titles, transitions etc. I can precisely fade audio in and out over video sections and a produce some quite profesional looking and sounding films.
As far as I can see you definately cannot do this in TMPG.

I'd agree the encoding in TMPG is better, but so long as you don't go over and hour per disc, Pinnacle does a very acceptable job.
1 hours worth of home video is more than enough in one viewing session anyway.

[hanxslf]

i have just bought pinnicle studio 8 & nero 6,not used them yet
i got them from www.svp.co.uk both discs were under £5 each,(limited stock)+p&p,these are genuine discs but the only catch is they are supplied without instructions as these discs are intended for supply with new computers, this is a good company with prompt delivery,lots of cheap stuff here you won't be disapointed

[mulder]

Jules, I grant you that tmpg autoring program is fairly basic but it's encoding is the best i have used. Tmpg's authoring suits me fine and you are happy with pinnacle because of the proffesional presentation it offers maybe at the cost of the quality of encoding then that's fine I'm not totally knocking pinnacle i just didn't get on with the encoding, the editing is good like you say, it's just not for me pesonnally anyway it looks as if hanxslf has made his decision.

[dts borg]

Not sure if you are running microsoft Windows XP, But if you are try Movie Maker 2 which is a free full microsoft program.
I have used most programs on the market and always come back to Movie Maker 2 for all my mini DV movies.

Easy to use 8 - 10

Cost = Free 10 - 10


Good luck