best analog capture / edit / publish process

filbert wrote on 12/12/2002, 12:27 PM

hi all,

I'm new to the video editting world, so please be patient with me. I am trying to figure out the ideal workflow for capturing, editing, and publishing video. I am capturing from a couple different analog sourced (VHS, HI-8, TV) using a VisionTek Extacy Everything (NVidia Personal Cinema). I want to do the editing in VF, then publish back out to VHS and also to SVCD. I have tried many diffferent capture software tools and found that since the card only does YUV and not RGB, I can only capture as uncompressed AVI (several tools), HuffYUV compressed AVI (Virtualdub), or MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 (WinDVR).

From what I understand, it is best to not capture in MPEG-1 or 2 if the captured footage will be edited in an NLE. In the interest of disk space conservation, I am planning to capture using HuffYUV AVI in Virtualdub (is there any way to get Virtualdub to compress using any different codecs if the source cannot be switched to RGB?). My big question is, should I then deinterlace the video in Virtualdub before bringing it into VF? Would it be better to capture as uncompressed, then deinterlace and compress in one pass? With VF, is it not necessary to go through the deinterlace step at all?

Once I am done editing the video, what format should I output to for transfering to VHS (my card can output to s-video)?

thanks!

phil

Comments

laz1 wrote on 12/13/2002, 4:37 AM

Hi and welcome. My main pc crashed so I can't give you dv/analogue links at the moment. There is loads of info in threads though. Canopus seems to be the best analogue converter to dv. VF works in avi (uncompressed) and then you can render in whatever format avi, mpeg1/2 (but you'll need to get mpeg2 plugins). To pass back to tape you can use the converter linked to vcr, or thro dv camcord linked firewire to vcr. I'm not an analogue expert so others may have other suggestions.

Good luck.

ralphied wrote on 12/13/2002, 12:07 PM

Using the "all-in-one" graphic cards is going to cause you nothing but grief. Trust me -- I spent about 6 months agonizing over how to work with an ATI All-in-Wonder card asking everyone nearly the same questions you are asking. I have since purchased the Canopus AVDC-50 card, which converts incoming analog signals into native DV format -- the same format used by all digital camcorders and the format best suited for VF and all low-end NLE software packages. My life has become considerably more enjoyable. Now, most of my time is spent actually CREATING videos instead of understanding the mechanics of the process.

Save yourself a lot of time and frustration and spend $200 on the Canopus product (it will produce a superior end product as well.)

Finished edited videos should be permanently stored on DV tape via a digital camcorder. A VHS tape copy can be made at anytime simply by connecting your VHS unit to the digital camcorder analog output port, pressing the record button on the VHS unit and pressing the play button on the camcorder. Couldn't be simpler.

If you don't have a digital camcorder and you're not planning to get one, you're really going to struggle in the digital video world. If you don't have one now, but plan to get one in the near future, get one that has a built-in analog-IN to DV-out converter. This will serve the same function as the Canopus card. Usually digital camcorders with the AV-IN/DV-OUT feature built-in are about a $100 premium, which is half the cost of the Canopus product.

Good luck in your video editing journey.

pfeiferp wrote on 12/22/2002, 9:30 AM

Since I have a digital camcorder, I was having trouble appreciating the requests to go from VF to VHS. (It seemed obvious to me that you'd want to print your movie to digital tape first...and then use your digital camcorder to make VHS copies if needed) I hadn't considered what I would do if I didn't have a digital cam corder.

Same with the Canapus card....my digital camcorder automaticaly records VHS input.

Let me second the idea that a digital camcorder makes things SO much easier. First I connect my old VHS camcorder to my digital cam corder and record a digital copy of some old tape. Then I connect the diital camcorder to VF using the firewire and capture some clips. Then I use VF to edit. I then print the movie back thru the firewire to the digital camcorder. And finally, if I need a vhs tape, I connect the digital cam corder to my vhs camcorder and record a copy. this last step does not involve VF