DVD from DV tape not quite the quality

Bob, it was with USB. I'll try the firewire and report back the results. Thanks.

Al

Well, I transfered using the firewire (back port of computer), using the same ULead MF 3. The settings were a "fixed duration" using the DV-type 2 option. I then took this to the burning of the DVD. It took a long time to burn the 48 minutes of video/audio, but probably nothing unusual, with my burner.

The audio quality was excellent. The video output seemed to have better color, but there was noise in the video that resembled horizontal lines which were ever-so-slightly off from each other, in what looked like a subtle herring-bone pattern. For example, a person's face would be distorted and jagged on the outline of the face.

MF-3's manual says that with DV-type 2, there is "more compatability with other applications." Don't know what that means.

Would capturing it in DV-type 1 be better?

Al

I recaptured the video from the camcorder, and used the DV-type 1 setting. This worked.

Just for my own edification, what happens between choosing these two settings that would make one look better than the other?

Thanks.

Al

That is the main reason for USB transfers to always result in posts about video quality. It's a shame they supply the USB cable...

Bob

Most likly NO compression with DV-type 1.
Capturing DV at full bandwidth quality results in very BIG flies. So DV-type2 must not capture at full bandwidth. John

Heather,

I believe that a DVD will never be equal to the original DV tape for quality, because after all, it's video that's gone through compression. But, it's all relative. Making a DVD from a DV tape is, I believe, the best quality that you will achieve, and it's darn good if nothing else in the processing steps affects the video quality. The quality of the source video is what counts the most for final DVD quality. DV tape will result in a better DVD than if you started with a DVD camcorder or most consumer hard-drive camcorders. And, the equally important step is to transfer video to your computer via the Firewire connection. Firewire can handle the full bandwidth of DV video whereas standard USB can't. If you buy a DV camcorder and transfer video via Firewire, that is the best quality for the consumer that is currently available.

What about USB 2.0. Faster than firewire, correct? Should be no issue then.

The USB 2.0 is still at some 1/2 to 1/4 the resolution you get with firewire.

It's amazing how many use the USB connection.

Bob

in my opinion usb 2.0 has faster transfere rate , almost same or even
better than fire 400.
you need faster computer and faster graphic card and faster reliable
hard drive.
anyway dv camere whether consumer or pro level camcorder there is always copression ratio 5.1 this more technical issue
dv use 411 compression
if you need no compression at all use more expensive camera that produces 422 or no compression .

I have an old TRV900 and using fireware and Windows MovieMaker, I can pull the video off in Mini-DV or High Quality/Large mode and see no loss. I think those are the lossless settings for Moviemaker.

The files are large, but I can move my video off the miniDV tape to PC and back to different miniDV tape to archive and it looks the same.

You are talking about USB 2 "high speed".
It has a maximum transfer rate of 480mbps.
Firewire has a max of 400mbps.
In theory, yes it is faster.
The problem is that most camcorders do not support high speed usb 2.0 transfer.
If a camcorder does support it, you could use high speed usb 2.0.
There is no benefit to using high speed usb 2.0 as the video is transferred at about 30mbps. So, bottom line, stick with firewire. It is the standard in digital video and audio for a reason.

That explains why our Canon DV camcorder transfers only the SD card images via USB and the video must go by firewire.

I need to make sure my XPS 410 PC by Dell has a firewire card in it. They don't in default configurations.

You can add one pretty easily with an open PCI slot.
A firewire card costs as little as $20.

newegg.com
geeks.com

Very easy to install in desktops too.

Bob