Posted by Gene on 02/01/07 17:41

Good day, all.

What is the current state-of-the-art to:
Take a 1.5hr LP mode MiniDV tape that was recorded on a Sony
camcorder and copy/convert it to a DVD+R or DVD-R having the maximum
quality?

I have found that getting from a "1" hour MiniDV (SP) mode is quite
easy - zero problems using a PC or set-top DVR to create DVD-R and DVD+R.
Most software & set-top DVR boxes do this without a problem.

My problem is the 1.5 hour LP MiniDV mode - which is the only mode that
I want to shoot in. (Most folks are unaware that the QUALITY of a SP (1 hr)
and a LP (1.5 hr) is 100% the "same" - the bits are identical. In the
old analog world, the LP mode was of less quality because the tape moved
more slowly.
In the digital world, tape speed does not matter. Slow digital tape speed
could cause more drop-outs,
and be more difficult to read - but the dots and dashes are the same, so the
quality is the same.)

Assuming that my Sony MiniDV camcorders all record and play back the 1.5 hr
LP
mode the same as if I were filming in the SP 1hr mode - naturally I want to
shoot
for 1.5hrs before having to change to a new tape. Incidentally, all of my
D8 Sony
camcorders will shoot and replay at the LP 1.5hr mode as well as the later
MiniDV
camcorders, you just get a slightly less quality product.


So here is the QUESTION:-)

What specific hardware and/or software do I need to copy a 1.5hr LP mode
MiniDV or
1.5hr LP mode Digital-8 tape "DIRECTLY" onto inexpensive DVD-R or DVD+R
media for replay
on most DVD player boxes connected to a TV? Another way to ask the question
is: Given the current technology, how do you copy a 1.5hr MiniDV tape onto
a DVD-+R
in REAL TIME and get the MAXIMUM quality possible? What specific hardware
and/or software
make & models do I need to purchase to do the above?

THANKS,
Gene

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