OT Realtime mpeg-2 hardware encoder

farss wrote on 9/4/2004, 5:09 AM
Anyone able to recommend one? I have a large number of event videos to turn into DVDs, basically already edited by client.
My current workflow is to capture in Vegas, add a few markers and use multirender to let it run overnight.
But even so when it gets to 30 or more DVDs to author this is becoming very tedious. I wondering how it'd work out with a hardware encoder, take mpeg-2 and ac3 straight into DVDA and let it rip. Would save a lot of time and there's hardly any money in it anyway.
Material is in DVCAM so firewire in would be the way I'd want to go.

Any and all advice appreciated.

Bob.

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 9/4/2004, 7:40 AM
Believe it or not, the ADS box is outstanding.
http://www.adstech.com/products/USBAV_703/intro/usb703intro.asp?pid=USBAV703

I've taken Print to Tape from Vegas timeline, Firewire into this box, back out the firewire line to DVD Workshop capturing MPEG in real time. Excellent encode.
farss wrote on 9/4/2004, 3:47 PM
I'm guessing this box has the audio muxed with the vision. I might then face an issue getting DVDA2 to handle that. I could go to DVD Workshop I guess but hey I've just started to fully come to grips with DVDA2 and button masks and all the nice goodies it has to offer.
Other issue is next big job involves capturing 4:2:2, so my options there are to either upgrade my rig to ingest SDI or use a hardware encoder that'll take an SDI feed. That's going to be my most difficult choice (read expensive), well there's also HDV not far off and thinking about how to handle that with the new Sony cammy.

Bob.
farss wrote on 9/4/2004, 5:59 PM
This one looks pretty good for what I'm after:

http://vitec-v2.edrogene.com/doc/vitec_products/Twinpegpro.pdf

But the price is a bit of a killer!
Still quality is never cheap.

Bob.
MozartMan wrote on 9/4/2004, 7:54 PM
I use stand alone DVD recorder JVC DR-M10S as realtime MPEG-2 hardware encoder.
It has LSI Logic encoder chip, produces very good video quality and DD audio.

Here is my workflow:

1. Record directly from Vegas timeline to JVC ($300 at eCost.com) via FireWire using "Print to tape" function. MPEG-2 encoding done in realtime.
2. Rip recorded DVD disk back to PC with DVD Decrypter (free) using IFO mode, no file splitting. I get one big VOB file.
3. Demux that VOB file with Womble MPEG Video Wizard ($120) into M2V and AC3 files.
4. Load them into DVD Architect. No problem.

Workflow works perfectly.
farss wrote on 9/4/2004, 8:07 PM
I was wondering if anyone had tried that approach!
Only problem I could strike is these videos run for 90 mins plus so it'd be split over several VOBs I suspect. Ah no I see from what you're saying DVD Decryptor bring it back as one VOB, excellent.

SPOTs suggestion looks very interesting, I'm just a bit gun shy of ADS after bad experience in the past, partly my fault, took a risk and imported the gear directly. Next time I'll buy locally so if there is an issue I've got someones door to pound on.

Bob.
MozartMan wrote on 9/4/2004, 8:10 PM
DVD Workshop is software encoder. And it is not a realtime. I tried it. Quality not so good.
apit34356 wrote on 9/4/2004, 8:41 PM
if recording from vegas timeline, you need only to use DVD Decrypter for the VOB, use tempgn for just m2v, since vegas has the audio, directly produce ac3 from vegas. Using external encoderdvd burner as described above.