Free technical library

MPEG-2 capture to GoTView PCI DVD and burning to DVD discs

Directory / video art

 Comments on the article

The digitization of old video recordings from videocassettes is probably a concern for many, given that VCRs are about to disappear as a species. In addition, another very significant reason is that the recordings on video cassettes lose more and more of their quality over time. So I decided not to wait until the film of the remaining video cassettes in my archive crumbles from old age, and the other day I rewrote all the most valuable recordings on DVD-Video discs.

When digitizing, a GoTView PCI DVD tuner with a hardware MPEG2 codec was used, it is worth noting that only thanks to this tuner it was possible to do all this dreary work in the shortest possible time. However, at first, not everything worked out for me, and therefore I had to experiment with recording formats for some time, so that the video could be edited and burned to discs without problems, and that these same discs would later be played back on a household DVD player without problems. In general, in this article I would like to share my experience.

By the way, this guide will be useful not only for transferring video cassettes, but also for the simplest recording of a television video image, followed by recording to DVD. It was only with the GoTView PCI DVD that I really appreciated the convenience of the MPEG2 format. Burning TV to DVD-Video discs has never been so fast and easy.

Video Digitization

The GoTView PCI DVD tuner is installed in the computer with the latest driver and software installed. Currently, one of the latest versions of the program is 4.0.0.461 Beta. As you can see, it has a "beta" status, but this did not interfere with the work, on the contrary, I did not notice a single error at all during the entire digitization, and in fact I simply do not understand why the developers have not released a release yet.

After starting the GoTView Pro program, depending on what will act as a video source, we tune in to the required TV channel, or select a composite, maybe S-Video input. On my VCR there is only a composite video output, it was he who was connected to the same input on the TV tuner, and accordingly selected in the program.

Start playback on your VCR (Camcorder) and set to the best picture quality. First of all, adjust the brightness and contrast. Then I recommend paying attention to saturation. On my VHS recordings, objects and things in red looked especially sad, so I had to lower the saturation to hide the obvious and especially noticeable color noise. However, everything is in moderation, of course, it is not necessary to unscrew the saturation to the end.

Now we call the capture panel. In the interface screenshot above, this is the leftmost button with the film strip. The following dialog appears:

What you should pay attention to:

The profile. A very handy feature that allows you to record various capture settings in separate profiles. For example, I have one profile for capturing from a video cassette, the second profile for capturing from a TV channel. It is convenient to create several profiles for a TV channel, which, for example, will differ in capture resolution and bitrate, and then, depending on the broadcast quality, switch between them.

First, select the profile that exists by default after installing the program - MPEG2_DVD.set. And based on it, already create your own. Use the button to the right of the drop-down list of profiles, with the image of sheets of paper, to copy an existing profile, and the button with the image of a floppy disk to save changes.

Recording format. Well, here, first of all, the owners of the GoTView PCI DVD card, I think, will be interested in the MPEG format, since we could record in AVI and other formats with cheaper cards, and that's not the point. It is the hardware MPEG codec that is implemented on the GoTView PCI DVD tuner.

Noise suppression. This feature, along with the hardware MPEG codec, makes the GoTView PCI DVD TV tuner stand out from the crowd. I recommend turning on noise reduction. Firstly, it will have a positive effect on the image itself, whether it be a TV image or a video input. Noise is present on any image from an analog source, this filter will try to partially hide it. Secondly, noise reduction is very useful for MPEG encoding itself, since it is known that less noisy video is compressed better, and with less noisy video, there is less chance of art effects and blurring.

I don’t know why, but when I turn on noise reduction, the load on the processor slightly increases, although it is known for sure that it is implemented at the hardware level. However, it's a fact. My computer is outdated by today's standards, and when capturing full-screen video with noise reduction, my iP3-1000MHz processor is not enough, the load from time to time goes beyond the acceptable limits. Therefore, with such a capture, I turn off video viewing, the option is "Disable viewing". This significantly reduces the load on the processor when capturing. You can navigate with such a capture by sound. Or by the image on a nearby TV, if the recording is from TV broadcast, and there is a nearby TV.

Audio bitrate. An important parameter. The higher the bitrate, the more bandwidth is allocated to the sound during capture, and, therefore, the sound is better. The GoTView PCI DVD tuner allows you to record at various bit rates, the lowest of which is 192Kbps. I think that for a television signal, as well as for recordings from video cassettes, the smallest bitrate is enough! Especially if the sound is recorded in "Mono" mode.

Another point to consider is the features of your home DVD player. My Samsung, for some reason, refused to play a video in which the sound is digitized with a bit rate greater than 192Kbps. More precisely, he didn’t refuse, but the sound at the same time was not like itself - rather, some kind of squeak and muttering. At the same time, a disc with sound with a bit rate of more than 192Kbps played normally on a computer. Maybe it's a feature of my player? However, I'm not worried, as I said, in most cases 192Kbps is enough. But if you really need it, then you can conduct an experiment, digitize a small piece of video with sound in the format you need, burn a disc to RW and try to play it on your home player.

Sample rate for audio. If you plan to burn video to DVD discs, then digitize only at a frequency of 48000 Hz. This frequency is standard.

At first I tried to digitize with a frequency of 44100 Hz, which seems to be also acceptable for DVD-Video discs, but there were problems at the stage of preparing the image for burning a DVD disc. the program that I use, which will be discussed below, tried to convert sound from 44100 to 48000 format. However, you yourself understand that we don’t need an extra sound transfer, especially since it takes extra time and slightly lowers the quality. In general, without thinking for a long time, I simply began to digitize video with an audio sampling rate of 48000 Hz, which I advise you to do, with no problems during recording and playback.

Channels. I mean channels for sound. Most often, the "Mono" mode should be selected here, for obvious reasons. However, if your source produces stereo sound, then, of course, select "Stereo".

Video bitrate. The most important, in my opinion, parameter. The higher the value, the better quality video you will get. However, at the same time, the video file will take up more disk space. I advise you to choose in the range from 2,5 Mbps to 9,0 Mbps.

From my own experience, I can say that the lower value of this range of 2,5 Mbps allows you to record about 4,7 hours of video on a DVD disc with a standard 3,5GB capacity. At the same time, the quality is quite acceptable, especially if the video is digitized at a low resolution. I prefer to record a TV image with a bitrate of 2,5 Mbps in the smallest resolution of 352x576. Especially for cartoons.

The maximum bitrate is 9,0 Mbps, which allows you to record only 4,7 hour of video on a standard 1GB DVD disc in maximum quality. It is advisable to use the upper bitrate values ​​for capturing full-screen video 720x576. Sometimes situations may arise when you don’t need to record a video lasting more than an hour on a disk, then don’t be sorry, set the maximum to 9,0 Mbps. GoTView Pro also allows you to set more than 9,0 Mbps, but keep in mind that videos with a high bitrate will not be played on consumer DVD players. Since the standard disk rotation speed in such players will no longer be enough to read a wider data stream.

I recommend two methods for selecting the bitrate for your recordings. The first one is experimental, i.e. just record video with a certain bitrate, then view it, evaluate the quality, and if necessary increase / decrease the bitrate, then record and watch again, and so on, until you are satisfied with the quality. The second method is calculation. In this case, you proceed from the length of the video you need to burn to disk. For example, having a video cassette lasting 3 hours, I digitized video with a bitrate of 4,0 Mbps, while 2,5 hours actually fit on the disk. However, this turned out to be enough. Since something was cut out at the time of editing, and the cassette was a little not completely recorded.

MPEG1 or MPEG2 stream. Obviously, MPEG2 is a more interesting option, and for subsequent recording to DVD-Video discs, it is the only acceptable one.

PAL or NTSC system. Choose PAL, standard DVD discs that you can find on sale in our store are recorded in this format. To play NTSC, your DVD player and TV must support it.

VBR option, allows you to record MPEG2 video with variable bitrate. I always have this option enabled. When encoding to MPEG, the video is constantly analyzed, and at those moments when the video is not particularly dynamic, the bitrate is automatically reduced, since at such moments it is possible to provide the same quality at a lower bitrate. Thus, with the VBR option enabled, the bitrate is constantly changing during recording. And if your video is not particularly dynamic and not very noisy with interference, then you can save space quite well. And that is why I cannot unequivocally say what bitrate should be set in order to fit a video of a certain duration on a DVD disc. Because with the VBR option enabled, it depends on the video itself.

Recorded video resolution. I usually use 352x576 or 720x576. In most cases, 352x576 is sufficient for recordings from analog videocassettes. For a television terrestrial signal, in some cases this resolution is also sufficient, but if you have high-quality TV reception, then you can use a higher resolution. In general, look here and decide for yourself.

I didn't use an intermediate resolution, because it is not standard for DVD-Video discs, but if you have a desire, you can try.

Do not forget to check the "Hardware compression" option here, if it is not already checked.

Disk and directory, where the video will be recorded when capturing. It is convenient that this setting, like others, is individual for different presets, so even if you have only one disk, you can make recordings from TV air into one directory, and recordings from video cassettes into another.

Capture sound level. Determined experimentally. In my case, when recording both from TV broadcast and from video cassettes, the maximum level was quite normal.

Directly video capture control buttons. Here everything is clear and without comments.

While capturing, keep an eye on the CPU load, as well as the number of dropped frames. We must not allow the processor load to go off scale, while the lines are painted red. Frame drops are highly undesirable. But if you do not have a high CPU load, then they will not appear.

It is very convenient that among the statistics you can see the free space on the disk where the capture is being made, as well as the estimated time, how much more it is possible to write to this disk, based on the free space.

Editing recorded MPEG2 video

Let's get straight to the concepts. In this case, editing is understood only as cutting out unnecessary fragments. Usually this is a piece at the beginning of the video recording, a piece at the end, and sometimes it is necessary to cut out unnecessary fragments or advertisements in the middle of the recording. At the same time, an important point is that this editing should take place without re-clamping, otherwise the whole point of hardware MPEG encoding is lost.

I would recommend using the MPEG Video Wizard program, which can be downloaded from this site. Among the programs I have tried for editing MPEG2 video without subsequent compression, I liked this program the most. It has a clear and simple interface that is easy to work with.

How to work with MPEG Video Wizard:

1. Add the necessary file to the Project window, for this, use the button with the image of the folder.

2. Available project files are visible just below. To start working with the necessary video file, we take it with the mouse cursor and drag it into the TimeLine window.

3. The open video is displayed as a bar. You can use the mouse to move the triangle located directly above the strip, or move the slider in the viewport, while you will quickly move through your video file.

Find the place where you would like to cut the video. With frame accuracy, you can find the location of the incision using the arrow keys on the keyboard. After the place is found, press the button with the image of scissors on the panel "4". Now any piece to the left or right of the cut can be selected by clicking on it with the mouse cursor and deleted with the DEL key on the keyboard.

If you need to cut a fragment in the middle of a video recording, then you need to make cuts at the beginning and at the end of this fragment, and then select and delete it with the DEL key. After the fragment is removed, so that the place in the middle is not empty, it is necessary to drag the right piece close to the left one. In general, the pieces should be placed close to each other on the ruler.

4. As you can see, the panel is full of different tools. Among others, I think the option to rollback the last changes you made will be useful. The "+" and "-" buttons allow you to scale the video on the ruler, it is especially useful to zoom in when you have to literally shred frame by frame.

5. After you have cut everything you wanted, and only the necessary fragments remained on the timeline, which you need to glue together, press the export button, it is located on the main panel and has an image in the form of a cassette.

We need the video to be saved as it is without compression, so you should not change the video format in the window that appears, we leave everything as it is. Well, except that you can change the location of the new video file.

Saving is very fast, because almost no video processing is performed, with the exception of cuts and joints. A half-hour-long video is saved in seconds.

When the file is ready, try to view it with any player, paying attention to the places of cuts and joints, I sometimes noticed, especially when compressing at a low bitrate, that in these places the video was joined, not very good, pixels appeared or neighboring frames were captured, which seemed to be cut off . If you notice such defects, then simply cut off another 1-3-5 frames at the cut point (at your discretion), from the piece to which, in your opinion, frames with garbage belong. After that, do not forget to remove the gaps between the video fragments by dragging the pieces of the video located to the right. Well, save the edited video again.

Such defects at the joints after installation do not always appear, so do not be afraid of the previous paragraph, especially since there is a solution, you can remove defects in the proposed way, even if they appear.

Preparing and Burning a DVD-Video Disc

And so, you have mounted a number of video files, the total size of which is about 4,5 GB, and now you want to burn them to a DVD disc in a standard format for further viewing on a home DVD player. To do this, as before, I will recommend using the Ulead DVD MovieFactory program. This program can be found both as a standalone installer and as a Ulead MediaStudio Pro package, which includes DVD MovieFactory among other programs. In my opinion, this program is easier to buy on disk than to download from the Internet.

I will not describe the interface in detail, it is simple and intuitive, I think you will figure it out without any problems. This is the big plus of Ulead DVD MovieFactory. All work with the program goes in the form of a wizard. The general idea is that you open a new project, put your video files into it, create menus using ready-made templates if necessary, and burn the result to a DVD.

the program itself analyzes the video files that you have prepared for it, and if they meet the standards, it simply creates an image and burns it to a DVD. If she did not like the video files, then she will try to re-encode them on her own. However, you understand that this is undesirable in our case. However, if you did everything according to this guide, then this will not happen, and creating an image for burning a DVD disc will be fairly quick.

In general, the time it takes to prepare an image for recording depends on what menu you have made and on the speed of your computer, but keep in mind that if a complete conversion has taken place, the time spent will be calculated in tens of minutes and even hours. While the usual preparation of an image without clamping is unlikely to take more than 5-10 minutes.

Finally, I would advise you to buy a DVD±RW disc, if you haven't done so yet, at first it will be very useful. Experiment with recording first on it, and then, if everything works out, you will record immediately on DVD±R.

Even now, when I am quite confident in my abilities, and with a high degree of probability I can create a DVD disc from the first time, which will be played on a DVD player without problems, nevertheless, sometimes I prefer to save the project first on an RW disc, and then, after checking the disc on the player, copy it to a regular DVD±R disc. Good luck!

Author: Dmitry Kornev; Publication: pctuner.ru

 We recommend interesting articles Section video art:

▪ Aperture adjustment

▪ Editing in Canopus Edius Pro. Secrets known to all

▪ Elementary rules for filming

See other articles Section video art.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Artificial leather for touch emulation 15.04.2024

In a modern technology world where distance is becoming increasingly commonplace, maintaining connection and a sense of closeness is important. Recent developments in artificial skin by German scientists from Saarland University represent a new era in virtual interactions. German researchers from Saarland University have developed ultra-thin films that can transmit the sensation of touch over a distance. This cutting-edge technology provides new opportunities for virtual communication, especially for those who find themselves far from their loved ones. The ultra-thin films developed by the researchers, just 50 micrometers thick, can be integrated into textiles and worn like a second skin. These films act as sensors that recognize tactile signals from mom or dad, and as actuators that transmit these movements to the baby. Parents' touch to the fabric activates sensors that react to pressure and deform the ultra-thin film. This ... >>

Petgugu Global cat litter 15.04.2024

Taking care of pets can often be a challenge, especially when it comes to keeping your home clean. A new interesting solution from the Petgugu Global startup has been presented, which will make life easier for cat owners and help them keep their home perfectly clean and tidy. Startup Petgugu Global has unveiled a unique cat toilet that can automatically flush feces, keeping your home clean and fresh. This innovative device is equipped with various smart sensors that monitor your pet's toilet activity and activate to automatically clean after use. The device connects to the sewer system and ensures efficient waste removal without the need for intervention from the owner. Additionally, the toilet has a large flushable storage capacity, making it ideal for multi-cat households. The Petgugu cat litter bowl is designed for use with water-soluble litters and offers a range of additional ... >>

The attractiveness of caring men 14.04.2024

The stereotype that women prefer "bad boys" has long been widespread. However, recent research conducted by British scientists from Monash University offers a new perspective on this issue. They looked at how women responded to men's emotional responsibility and willingness to help others. The study's findings could change our understanding of what makes men attractive to women. A study conducted by scientists from Monash University leads to new findings about men's attractiveness to women. In the experiment, women were shown photographs of men with brief stories about their behavior in various situations, including their reaction to an encounter with a homeless person. Some of the men ignored the homeless man, while others helped him, such as buying him food. A study found that men who showed empathy and kindness were more attractive to women compared to men who showed empathy and kindness. ... >>

Random news from the Archive Space incubator 15.09.2023 The Dutch company SpaceBorn United presented a miniature incubator designed for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo development in space. This incubator is ready for use as part of a space mission aimed at studying the possibility of human reproduction in zero gravity. SpaceBorn United CEO, Egbert Edelbruck, explained: "We plan to carry out conception and early embryo development in space. If we want to create human settlements, for example on Mars, and want to make them truly self-sufficient, it is important to solve the problem of reproduction. We do not We know whether the level of gravity on Mars, which is significantly lower than Earth's, will be sufficient for healthy embryo development. So we are focusing first on studying the effects of partial gravity. But we also realize that we have the opportunity to improve IVF procedures on Earth by performing them in space at different gravity levels. This will provide important data that can improve the success of this procedure." SpaceBorn United is currently in dialogue with the European Space Agency (ESA) regarding the possibility of conducting simulation tests on Earth using special equipment to simulate microgravity and partial gravity. “The next logical step in the field of IVF is biotechnology in space. We are interested in the development of artificial maternal organs, as they can help solve problems of reproduction in space conditions,” Edelbroek added. The researchers' long-term goal is to achieve successful births in space. However, they acknowledge that the task is ambitious and the focus in the coming years will be on preparing for this important step and training staff to carry it out.

Other interesting news:

▪ Hydrogen accumulates in the Earth's atmosphere

▪ PHILIPS OM6777 Stereo Wireless Headset

▪ New refrigeration method for refrigerators

▪ FedEx Postman Robot

▪ Silk preserves blood cells at high temperatures

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ site section Power regulators, thermometers, heat stabilizers. Article selection

▪ article There are only girls in jazz. Popular expression

▪ article What is plant grafting? Detailed answer

▪ article Chernushka sowing. Legends, cultivation, methods of application

▪ article Pulse metal detector. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article Field effect transistors 3P351 - KP364. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages ​​of this page

Arabic	Hebrew	Polish
Bengali	Hindi	Portuguese
Chinese	Italian	Spanish
English	Japanese	Turkish
French	Korean	Ukrainian
German	Malay	Vietnamese

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews

www.diagram.com.ua
2000-2024