John:
I use the set-top encoder for analog conversions that are one hour or
less and over-the-air recording (OTA). Very good for quick camera
encoding also.
My Pinnacle USB hardware encoder is generally used for my VHS tapes.
It gives me more control over the encoding process. I got started
doing this to convert some precious VHS tapes.
AVI is a *wrapper* could also say *container*. In reality there is no
AVI format, simply a way of identifying installed codecs (software) on
the PC to the program interfaces. Mpeg is also a container, with a
single m2v video and mpa (or ac3) audio elemental stream. The DVD VOB
files are also containers, with a single m2v video, one or more audio
streams (ac3/mpa/pcm), and subpicture streams, chapter and camera angle
info. A video as we know it generally as a video and audio elemental
stream muxed into a wrapper/container.
There are programs, such as TmpgEnc Plus, that will convert AVI to mpeg
format. Software conversions are notoriously slow though, but can
yield better results. Many of us in this group use hardware encoders
to save time and see few discernable differences in many/most cases.
I use VideoRedo first to clean up analog captures and make sure that
the audio and video frames are in-sync. Nothing else is available that
I have tried or heard of that does this. It is also the most versitile
editor for removing commercials, unwanted footage, joining footage
frame accurately. It is my single most used and favorite tool. Great
support. Just go to their web site and read their forums. Talk to the
developers. Best $50 that I have spent.
Mpeg-vcr is very good for different videos that have been captured
differently and making them compatible by transcoding their audio or
video. For example, I may wish to convert ac3 audio to mpa audio, or
mpa 224 audo to mpa 192 audio for making a single mpeg stream from two.
It also changes aspect ratios, bitrates, etc... Very versitile tool.
I have owned this one longer that VRO. But yes, I use it much less
often but only for tight places. For your particular set-top example,
no you probably won't need it. That will come when you want to combine
your STR video with video from another source.
There simply is no best mpeg (or AVI for that matter) NLE (non-linear
editor).
I also use Pinnacle Version 8 for mpeg editing as well. Mostly for
titles, transitions, converting jpeg images to mpeg etc... It came
with my PC capture device. This is where I started. I now use VRO to
frame accurate cut my video for input to P8. I quickly started looking
for solutions to problems not covered by Pinnacle. I never author with
the software (toooooo slow) or burn with it (no control) instead using
either TmpgEnc DVD Author (95%) / Dvd Lab (5%) to author and
DvdShrink/DvdDecrypter to burn.
I am still shopping for a new effects editor. My current favorite next
try will probably be the Serif Movie Plus 4.
These are all very good tools, imho.
No two of us who regularly post to this group do things the same way.
We all learn new things every day, often from each other. I have been
contributing/learning to/from this group for about 16 months,
lurking/learning here for 6 months prior to that. I only add this
because you continue to call yourself a newbie. I feel that way every
day. What am I going to learn new from Ken, Alpha, Smarty, and many,
many others today?
Cheers...
Mark
