Is my file being 'compressed' twice when I capture to DVcam first?

AVERAGEJOE wrote on 7/28/2003, 9:30 PM
My setup to capture includes a Laser Disc player with Svideo out, a MiniDV camera, a Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge.

I have seen people say that is better to capture the Laser Disc to the Dazzle to the DVin of the DVcamera. Then after it is done rewind the DVtape and capture via the FireWire into the PC so you also capture a time code.

Now, I must admit that I hardly ever drop a frame in this method, however, because I am going A/V via the Dazzle into the DVcam, and then DVcam to PC, am I compressing the source twice, or since the Dazzle does AV to DV, is that the only time I am effecting the source? Or should I just go from Dazzle right into the PC and not capture to DVcam thus taking half the time to capture? Is there any difference in quality by choosing Dazzle direct into the PC?

Next, how do you all rate the new DVcams coming out with Analog inputs...which makes/models feature Svideo-in on the breakout cord, and are these camera's A/D converters equivalent to a standalone like the Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge?

Thanks

Comments

jbrawn wrote on 7/28/2003, 9:53 PM
My understanding is that the DV tape to PC (vidcap) is essentially a file copy and no compression happens at that stage.

So your DV Camera doesn't have an S-video input?

John.
jbrawn wrote on 7/28/2003, 10:00 PM
Oops, I hit "Post" before I read your last paragraph. Sorry.

I've got mid range home video Sony (DCR-PC101). It has a regular 4-pin DIN S-Video input along with the 1/8" TR1R2S stereo audio and video connector.

I also own a Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge.

I find that the Sony does a much better job of A/D conversion for both the Video and Audio. The camcorder's video has better contrast and seems to have more consistent color saturation. Also the camcorder's left and right audio volume levels are more similar. My Hollywood DV Bridge always puts about 4 dB more gain on the left channel.

The current version of my camera, the DCR-PC105 has a new, odd ball connector that provides stereo audio, base video and S-Video on a single breakout cable. I haven't used it, but I'm worried that it may not be such a good idea. I've used the S-Video connector many times when I wasn't planning to. I wouldn't have been able to nearly so often if a special cable was required.

Good Luck,

John.