[ale] OT converting old videos, cataloging dvds, storing forever

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

Thanks for the info.  I have more questions inline.

JD <jdp at algoloma.com> wrote:

>On 10/16/2012 12:29 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
>> Let me know what you think, and whether I've left out anything major.
>This
>> took two hours to type and I didn't proofread it, so sorry for any
>errors.
>
>
>Don't store the videos in MPEG2 format. Transcode them to either
>h.264/mkv or
>xvid/avi and the average size per hour drops to less than 1/3rd your 3G
>estimate. A 90 minute movie will be between 700MB and 1.4G, depending
>on the
>level of action. The math will say that some level of quality is lost
>when
>changing from MPEG2 into MPEG4, but the savings in file size really do
>make up
>for any tiny amount of quality lost.
>

I like what you're saying.  A 4X reduction in space used would certainly be welcome.  However, that brings up another question.  Can I produce a h.264/mkv based disc that will be readable on a standard DVD video player attached to the tv?  Or, will I have to play this disc on the computer.  I really need something that just works in an ordinary stand alone device.

>Initially, it will take more time to setup your process, but you will
>automate
>much of it quickly.
>
>Software list:
>* $0 - bash
>* $0 - perl / strawberry perl
>* $0 - Task Spooler - get your batch on and under control
>* $0 - Video Recording software - most tuner devices include something
>that is
>good enough; The only requirement is that MPEG2 files are output.
>* $0 - comskip
>* $50 - Video Redo TV Suite (Windows only)

Is Video Redo for killing commercials?

>* $0 - ccextractor (probably doens't work with VHS tapes)

What does that do?

>* $0 - handbrakeCLI

Assuming this is for transcoding.

>* $0 - mkvtoolnix to create beautiful MKV files
>* $0 - gaffitter to optimally fit

Tell me more about this.

>
>
>For editing video, mpeg2 is the easiest. I own a straight to mpeg4/divx
>recorder, but never use it because mpeg4 editing was not as easy.
>
>4 or 5 movie length recordings will fit on a 4.7G DVD. I think you are
>over
>thinking the disk quality question. I've been buying the cheapest DVDs
>possible

I know what you're saying, but I think, based on the forum posts I've read, I want to go with top tier name brands in each genera of discs, depending on what genera I use.  However, I may relent and not use archival discs.

conventional - TY / JVC
archive -  MAM-A

>for years. Only 2 have failed since 2002 and those only partially
>failed.
>Combined with par2 data, I was able to recover every bit and reburn the
>data to
>newer, 8G DVD media. Cheap "Optimus" media has worked fine.
>

Can you elaborate on par2.  Do you scan, scrub your discs every 5 years or so to make sure they're still good and determine if they need to be reburned?

>DVD labels - a Sharpie pen that can write "0123", "0124", "0125" ... on
>the
>disks is pretty cheap. No cases. Buy some protective 330 disk
>portfolios instead.

Interesting idea.  The portfolios I saw at Frys weren't too impressive though.

>
>Generally, the quality of VHS recordings ... er ... suck. Don't expect
>great
>quality even with S-Video and SVHS tapes. Our expectations for quality
>have
>increased over the years. When you record, set the resolution to match
>that of
>the source material. Anything higher will make defects more visible.
>
>In the end, I'd suggest that re-recording the shows OTA or purchasing
>DVDs would
>be more effective for your time and will yield better quality than
>converting

The procedure for recording from analog from my DVR will be the same as with the VCR, although it would produce much higher quality.  As far as I know, there is no way to record the HDMI output.  Buying from Hollywood (for example Star Trek) is about $ 3 / show.  That doesn't sound like much until you consider how many shows there are.  I'd like to get by cheaper and still legal.

>from VHS. Still, if you have content that hasn't and will never be
>converted to
>DVD, then this is the only way.
>
>Video and audio sync has not been any issue for years, neither has
>macrovision,
>at least with the recording hardware I've used.

I made a test recording from my cable box dvr using the analog out and the digitizer I just returned.  There is a .3 sec sound sync variance in the mpeg file between the audio and video.  I can compensate by playing through VLC and tinkering with it but I'd rather fix it then save it.

Sincerely,

Ron




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Ron Frazier
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