Posted by Ken Maltby on 02/18/07 17:43

"Gene" <genes@wildblue.net> wrote in message
news:cd%Bh.5$cX2.165946@news.sisna.com...
> 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

For some economical choices check out:
www.snazzishop.com

Luck;
Ken

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