When sw encoding is out, what's the best (affordable) hw MPG2 encoder?

[Apulo]

I need to backup a number of laserdiscs at high speed. By that I mean I do not have the time to record in lossless format, nicely filter, and tweak a good software MPEG2 encoder to do the job at max quality.

Which hardware MPEG2 encoder would you advise? If at all possible, with option to record in elementary streams, as this would allow quick transcode of audio to AC3 & proper mux. Hardware AC3 I expect to be too expensive. Price range should be below $600 if possible.

I've read reviews of the cheap Hauppauge PVR 150 cards that sounded great, and then I read user reports saying quality was exceptionally poor... In short, I'd rather hear user reports than read reviews

Long time ago I had a very unstable card from Dazzle, the DVCII. It was a POS to handle, recording would stop for no reason, some files were corrupt etc. But when it did work, quality was very nice. When I compare that to current software realtime encoders I do hope the hardware ones are better...

Apulo

[Fluff]

http://www.canopus-uk.com/UK/products/MPEGPRO_MVR/pm_MPEGPRO_MVR.asp

Is probably worth a shot.

[Brian Ellis]

When I compare that to current software realtime encoders I do hope the hardware ones are better...

Don't bet on it. Software ones can take advantage of Much more CPU power and memory than the processors in $600 hardware ever could, even with more dedicated RISC technologies. Also, software ones offer much more flexibility.

Have you thought about initially converting to a DV stream with, say, a Canopus ADVC-110 and capturing it as an AVI with subsequent conversion to MPEG or a realtime software conversion to MPEG-2, to save time? The latter would not give quite such good quality, especially if the computer were lacking horsepower, but it is a totally hassle-free process, the former giving as good a DVD quality as you could ever expect from non-fully-professional equipment.

AFAIK, direct transcoding to MPEG-2 will not accept simultaneous transcoding to AC-3. The DV>AVI>MPEG-2 course will, if you have the right software.

[Fluff]

Getting the AC3 stream seems quite a complicated process. RF Demodulators to convert to SPDIF et all.

[Apulo]

Thanks for your replies. I checked the Canopus forums, there seem to be some bugs with the card that have still no been addressed.

@Brian: I'm talking about realtime software encoders like WinDVD Creator and ATI. My old DVCII gave far superior quality, so I do think/hope newer gens single pass encoder chips will do better. After all, nowadays standalone DVD recoders do manage decent quality with noisy antenna signals... But such a solution is a bit too expensive (good recorders like the Panasonic ones cost in excess of Euro 1000,- here)

Anyone know this one:

http://www2.alternate.de/html/shop/productDetails.html?artno=JK%23W03&

Can't find any reviews/news on it. Not even what chip is in it.

The Hauppauge 250 (not the 150) had a good reputation but it's been discontinued in favour of the much cheaper 150.

Still looking for user reviews of the Plextor USB moduels as well.

Any info most appreciated!

Apulo

[Apulo]

Getting the AC3 stream seems quite a complicated process. RF Demodulators to convert to SPDIF et all.

No, the laserdiscs I have are PCM stereo only, but I would like to use the AC3 2.0 codec to store this on DVD rather than mp2 audio. It's not a big issue if this turns out to be too difficult.

Apulo

[wkulecz]

I picked up a GoVideo DVD Recorder for $150 at Fry's. Using the SVHS inputs I recorded an HD movie recorded by Time-Warner DVR box direct to DVD.

Comparing the DVD+RW GoVideo Playback with the Original, viewed on our 65" Toshiba rear projection set left me very impressed!

The GoVideo recorder had Firewire input, I could record from my camcorder, but not from my PC -- no DV device found

I'm very happy with SVHS outputs of my ADVC-100 recorded direct to the DVD Recorder. Going above 2hr/disk recording is tolerable but clearly degraded. I suspect it could be better if I could record the PC DV over 1394, but haven't figured out how.

--wally.

[Apulo]

BTW, does the 4:1:1 to 4:2:0 conversion for NTSC DV to MPEG2 cause much loss?

Most DV codecs already have poor color handling for NTSC, adding this to the equation might rule out any DV step inbetween if you want to keep color reolution.

Direct to MPEG2 would still be much preferred. Local cheap DVR decks have been tested and shown to be subpar (to say it nicely), leaving little choice if you want to go this way.

Does anyone know what chips are used for encoding in the top decks like Sony, Panasonic, Pioneer... ?

Apulo

[arciervo]

...
@Brian: I'm talking about realtime software encoders like WinDVD Creator and ATI. My old DVCII gave far superior quality, so I do think/hope newer gens single pass encoder chips will do better. After all, nowadays standalone DVD recoders do manage decent quality with noisy antenna signals... But such a solution is a bit too expensive (good recorders like the Panasonic ones cost in excess of Euro 1000,- here)

That seems awfully expensive for a standalone DVD recorder. Even in Canada, it's possible to get a Panasonic (without hard drive) for under 400 CAD or 250 EUR. (Hard-drive models are more like 900 CAD or 560 EUR.)

The Hauppauge 250 (not the 150) had a good reputation but it's been discontinued in favour of the much cheaper 150.

I've got a PVR-250 and like it a lot. It was my impression that the PVR-150 has a slight quality edge (due to a better ADC) and that its only real disadvantage is that some software does not (yet) support it. Of course, I am speaking in terms of NTSC; I've no idea whether there are problems with PAL models. (You might want to check out the forums at www.shspvr.com.) Although the PVR-250 is discontinued, is there any chance of getting one from an online store?

Tony

[Apulo]

That seems awfully expensive for a standalone DVD recorder. Even in Canada, it's possible to get a Panasonic (without hard drive) for under 400 CAD or 250 EUR. (Hard-drive models are more like 900 CAD or 560 EUR.)

Welcome to Europe

I've got a PVR-250 and like it a lot. It was my impression that the PVR-150 has a slight quality edge (due to a better ADC) and that its only real disadvantage is that some software does not (yet) support it. Of course, I am speaking in terms of NTSC; I've no idea whether there are problems with PAL models. (You might want to check out the forums at www.shspvr.com.) Although the PVR-250 is discontinued, is there any chance of getting one from an online store?
Tony

I've looked at many stores, none can still deliver and I'm wary of used hardware. The PVR150 gort a few bad reviews here in PAL land (fuzzy picture, tinny sound, poor Q on Svideo input). The 350 may be an alternative but it still has the older chip...

Apulo