Video transfer chain or software limitation??

kjseager

New Member
Hey there...

I have a debate happening here... I have been trying to archive DV tapes onto my computer for DVD authoring. Although my method of transfer is digital, via USB interface, my final DVD product is a clear generation loss, as compared to the original. The debate is... where is the signal being degraded?

The two working theories are:

1. my transfer chain is suffering. If so, how can I improve??
2. The DVD authoring software is the problem.

I'm betting on the transfer chain. If it is this, how can I improve the transfer? Would a higher-end video capture card likely be any better?

I would have thought that a digital transfer should be a digital transfer, i.e., no generation loss. What happens?

Thanks in advance, ok?

Best,

K
 
my guess is its either the software you're using to transfer it, or the codec its converting it into. the only way to not lose any quality is to transfer the files without alteration or conversion to a different filetype.

i.e. you have a dvd... 8.5gb dual layer (as many are) and you wish to store it on your hard drive. you convert it into divx codec. it converts into a 1gb file. while the divx file might get more quality per megabyte, its still a much smaller file and therefore has less quality to it.
 
Last edited:
Thank you, Fade (which is what I don't want my files to do...!) for your input.

That makes sense... Any suggestions as to what kind of converter, and what kind of file would be best for an exact copy of my DV tapes?
 
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