Posted by Gene on 02/18/07 16:33

I'm nearing my search for a solution for dubbing 1.5hr
MiniDV and 1.5hr LP Digital-8 tapes to a maxed-out
video DVD-R.

I'm 100% sure I do not want (or need) to transcode, as I am
doing zero editing, or need enhancement whatsoever. I have
experimented with Sony 7, Roxio 9, Nero everything, and
lastly the trial version of TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 with DivX.
(Which is the best of them all, IMHO - at least it works.)

We tested 2-pass best of everything settings for transcode,
and none of the laborious works of art were better than simply
doing a quick dub on a new Sony RDR-GX330, or the old
Panasonic ES20. Even the old hacked LiteOn 5005 produced
good results. Our method of testing was to play the A/V on
a 1080i TV, as well as on older conventional TVs. We played
tapes to TVs as well as DVD-Rs to TVs. IMHO and that of
others, the DSPs & hardware code won best
"real world" A/V award. That is, "it looked better".

"CPUs are best for data, DSPs are best for A/V. "

If I can find a set-top-box that has a hard drive, automatically
generates ~5 minute chapter skips, and produces a DVD-R
that is burned & finalized to > 95% full for maximum quality,
and has the ability to easily burn a 2nd copy - then that sounds
like the solution that I want to purchase next. Unfortunately,
I have not found that DVD Recorder / Player yet. The problem
is compounded by the fact that all 3 of our Sony digital
camcorders seem to have a problem completing a dub
to any set-top box, that is, they tend to randomly freeze during
the dub. So I need to find a DVD Recorder Player that is compatible
with the Sony camcorders. Guess I will just have to keep trying
out boxes until I find one that works as well as the Belkin PCI
TI chip card on the PC. I have "never" had a freeze when dubbing
from the Sonys to hard drive with the Belkin / TI chip.

"If anyone knows of a DVD box that will do the above, PLEASE post
the Make & Model number :-) "

I have a nagging feeling that my only real solution will end up being the
one that I least wanted to use. That may be a dedicated PC with a
capture card containing the required DSPs & code to capture the
camcorder AVI directly to VOBs on the hard drive, then use a keyboard /
mouse macro recorder to automate the task from start to finish.
That is, I place a 1.5hr MiniDV tape in a camcorder attached to the
dedicated PC via firewire and two blank DVD-Rs in the two PC DVD
burners (IDE master and USB2) and come back in ~ two hours to a
burned and finalized master & a copy. This is a no-brainier to do,
just need to find a REALLY good PCI card or USB2 device to do the
AVI to VOB real-time conversion. I have not started looking for this
solution yet, but am aware that there are a number of such devices
out there, some with TV tuners which I do not want implemented
in the device. I only want the DSPs & some really good code
to get from AVI to VOB at real-time tape speed.

"If anyone can suggest a good make & model PCI card
or USB2 device, I'm all ears :-)"


THANKS,
Gene

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