Software to transfer a Mini DV to DVD

[Naregatsi]

Hello,
I use PC (not Mac)
I would like to know the best software to transfer a Mini DV to DVD
and without any loss of quality

I'm using Windows Movie Maker
it's transfering the Mini DV to AVI file
is it Ok ? will I loos some quality if I use windows movie maker ?
And what to use as software to convert the AVI file into MPEG2 file which would be opened in TMPGEnc DVD author (to do the authoring)

and One more question
in case I have reorded on the 2nd tape (Mini DV) for a 5 min
how can I make that 5 min join the first tape ? what software do I need ?

Thank you very much

[Naregatsi]

plz if anybody has a method to do the Mini DV transfer let me know

all I'm intrested is to find a way which will let me transfer the Mini DV into my hard drive and then reauthor it with TNPGEnc DVD Author
And of course without loosing any quality

Thanks in advance

[chad473]

it's been awhile, but I always used dvapp to capture. google it, it's free and quite straightforward.

[saltman]

sony vegas video to capture the tape and render to mpeg2. sony dvd architect to make the menus and author the dvd.

I like those. avi can be many things. avi can be "uncompressed" transfers. That is the preferable path. MiniDV > avi > mpeg2 > DVD.

[pawel]

all I'm intrested is to find a way which will let me transfer the Mini DV into my hard drive and then reauthor it with TNPGEnc DVD Author
help file -> DV/HDV capture requires a IEEE1394 port. Please verify your computer provides such port. If your camcorder does not have any IEEE1394 port, use the standard port and the software provided with your camera to import its content in your computer.

[Naregatsi]

Thank you very much for your replies

Pawel, I do have a firewire port and I'm trying to do it trough that Firewire cable
but the CD that comes with it is not openiing it has some errors
I think there's Ulead Video in the CD

I even tried the dvdSanta, which transfered (Directly) the tape to mpeg2 file
but I'm having another problem : the mpeg2 file when I open it to check it, it is running sometimes very fast and sometimes like normal

Windows movie Maker is it Ok ? but then which software I can use to transfer the avi file to mpeg2 (without having those speed problems) ?

I'll try those softwares you mentionned

Thanks

[pawel]

but then which software I can use to transfer the avi file to mpeg2 (without having those speed problems) ?
You should read the manual/help... TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 has built in encoder, one of the best on the market. So, if it doesn't work with your video then something wrong is with the source file.

You may check dedicated AVI editors and encoders at http://www.videohelp.com but if TDA cannot handle the file then don't expect miracles from other programs.

[Naregatsi]

Thanks Pawel
for that videohelp.com link
well what I'm using is these softwares:
WinDV-1.2.3 to capture the DV into AVI
Cinema Craft Encoder SP to encode the AVI into mpv and mpa

I tried TMPGEnc DVD Author 3
it showing NTSC while the video is PAL

Anyway Thanks

[pawel]

Cinema Craft Encoder SP to encode the AVI into mpv and mpa
excellent

I tried TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 it showing NTSC while the video is PAL
oh man, the (output) format is always determined by the setting at Start tab, regardless of the source.

[Naregatsi]

Oh i didn't notice that, but now that you told me I figured it out
Thanks I'll try that option and then try to create the DVD

Thanks for the help Pawel

[Naregatsi]

Pawel,
yesterday I was doing some other video conversion from AVI to mpv and mpa
with the Cinema Craft Encoder SP software
when it reached the 6% I got this error :
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4507/clipboard01yn2.jpg
plz do you know what does it mean and how to work it out ?

I even recaptured the video from the tape I got the same error at the 6 %

Thanks

[pawel]

Naregatsi, I can't proivide you with exact help because I have never got such error, and I used CCE looong time ago - I work with .TS (mpg2/h264) and .MTS (avchd) file types only.

Looks like it's (critical) bad frame structure that cannot be handled by the encoder. You would need first to import the material to an editor which allows to cut bad frames. If it imports partly then rather no chance to make it working such visual way. If you know where is the beginning of the error then you may try to cut/split the file on the binary level - for example to a few parts: 1. 'until error'; 2. error-perhaps it end'; 3. 'next good part'. Check http://www.softpedia.com/downloadTag/file+cutter or this: http://avisplit-classic.bobyte-software.qarchive.org

Maybe this may work: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Digital_Video_Repair

[Naregatsi]

seems a bit hard to understand since I'm not pro in this domain
anyway I'll try that "TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX Authoring" software, you mentionned before.

Thanks a lot Pawel