Tape transfer questions

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  • grimcabana
    Junior Member
    Junior Member
    • Jan 2004
    • 5

    Tape transfer questions

    I'm kind of a newbie, so some of the questions may be stupid, please bear with me

    I've got source material on 3/4" and BetaSP tape. They're finished commercials (I'm in advertising) and I'd like to convert them to a digital format so 1) I have a digital archive of my spots, and 2) I can burn self-authored DVD-R show reels on demand. The show reels would have a simple menu, and consist of a selection of spots from my digital archive.

    I've found a local vendor that will transfer the tapes for me, but the (not very helpful and kind of arrogant) tech said that I need to figure out what codec I want the digital files in. He didn't offer much assistance helping me figure that out, saying only that it depends on the authoring program I use.

    The questions:

    1) I'm looking at Adobe Encore as the authoring app (I've got an XP system, and despite it's first-version problems Encore seems to be the best choice). With quality/fidelity to the original important, what format should I have the reels transferred into? MPEG-2? AVI? Something else?

    2) Or, is it easier but just as good to have the vendor burn everything straight to a DVD, and copy the clips off that archive DVD for authoring?

    Please, oh please, somebody help.
  • RNCSerge
    Member
    Member
    • Jul 2003
    • 71

    #2
    Since they're finished, ask the guy to do MPEG 2 (highest possible quality 9.8 mbps?), 2 pass, the whole shebang. Then you'll just author them and put it on DVD. If you'r planning to do editing on it, it's better to get the uncompressed AVI.

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    • setarip
      Retired
      • Dec 2001
      • 24955

      #3
      " Or, is it easier but just as good to have the vendor burn everything straight to a DVD, and copy the clips off that archive DVD for authoring?"

      By all means, do so!

      Comment

      • grimcabana
        Junior Member
        Junior Member
        • Jan 2004
        • 5

        #4
        RNCSerge: Thanks--that's one of the answers I've been looking for.

        setarip: Because I've got a thick head, I gotta ask to make sure--what are the tradeoffs between the two methods? Thanks for your patience

        Comment

        • Crashed
          Junior Member
          Junior Member
          • Jan 2004
          • 35

          #5
          Bit off topic but, would it cheaper to buy some capture hardware
          and do it yourself? A friend of mine had some Archive transfers
          done that cost a packet. I can understand if you don't have the
          player that supports the format.

          Comment

          • grimcabana
            Junior Member
            Junior Member
            • Jan 2004
            • 5

            #6
            Funny, that's the first thing I thought about--but 3/4" U-Matic machines start at a few grand, used. Kinda nipped that idea in the bud.

            Comment

            • sfheath
              Lord of Digital Video
              Lord of Digital Video
              • Sep 2003
              • 2399

              #7
              RNCSerge puts a good point about the avi's if you want to edit them/reorder etc. This will result in Data DVD's for you to import into your Adobe.
              Having them burned to MPEGs will reduce the data size and hence amount of media.
              Did you want them compliant with standalone DVD players?
              This isn't a learning curve ... this is b****y mountaineering!

              Comment

              • grimcabana
                Junior Member
                Junior Member
                • Jan 2004
                • 5

                #8
                Ideally, I'd like them to be able to run on anything (DVD-9?) but from what I understand, the only way I can do that is to have them professionally pressed, is that right?

                Also, am I correct in understanding that DVD-R is the most compatible format I can burn myself?

                And if the data size of MPEG is smaller than straight DVD, does that make a difference in quality?

                Comment

                • ormonde
                  Digital Video Explorer
                  • Dec 2003
                  • 3735

                  #9
                  "but 3/4" U-Matic machines start at a few grand, used."

                  Did you look into renting a machine?

                  Comment

                  • Crashed
                    Junior Member
                    Junior Member
                    • Jan 2004
                    • 35

                    #10
                    I've never heard of this type of player...
                    bring back the betamax/video2000

                    Comment

                    • sfheath
                      Lord of Digital Video
                      Lord of Digital Video
                      • Sep 2003
                      • 2399

                      #11
                      "And if the data size of MPEG is smaller than straight DVD, does that make a difference in quality?"

                      You can get a remarkable reduction in data size before a noticeable reduction in quality. Standalone players demand MPEG2.

                      The ±R debacle is increasingly academic as more burners these days are dual standard but if you have specific standalone players in mind a useful reference for compatibility is http://www.dvdrhelp.com./dvdplayers
                      This isn't a learning curve ... this is b****y mountaineering!

                      Comment

                      • grimcabana
                        Junior Member
                        Junior Member
                        • Jan 2004
                        • 5

                        #12
                        ormonde: That's a good idea I hadn't thought of.

                        sfheath: Thanks for the info and link.

                        I'm sure I'll be back to bother y'all with more questions soon...

                        Comment

                        • setarip
                          Retired
                          • Dec 2001
                          • 24955

                          #13
                          "setarip: Because I've got a thick head, I gotta ask to make sure--what are the tradeoffs between the two methods? Thanks for your patience"

                          By starting with a DVD created by your vendor, your own efforts will be limited to editing/re-authoring (with a program such as "TMPGEnc DVD Author" [different than "TMPGEnc"]), without having to do multiple format conversions - which may result in lesser quality and/or video/audio synchronization problems.

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