MPEG-2 vs. mini DV - Which is better quality?

David,
Go direct to iMovie. Use your Camera , if it has the function in playback mode to convert on the fly. In via S video or composite (RCA)connections. Out via firewire to iMovie. Searching the forum will give excellent info on this subject as there are a number of things that may/may not affect the workflow. Good Luck!
Mark

Hi David,

besides the method Mark mentioned, you cannot easily import mpeg2 into iM; mpeg isn't meant for editing, it doesn't store every frame of a video, what you needed for editing purposes, it is a pure playback format.... and you will loose quality that way....

so, to make a choice: a) is the correct answer.... ;-))

VHS to DV gives the best possible quality.

VHS to MPEG-2 uses much more compression than the miniscule compression used by DV, so you get a lower quality copy, and then you lose some quality when unscrambling the MPEG-2 to bring it into iMovie.

Use DV, then you'll have a true digital copy which you edit several times over, and still keep the original quality!

Hey you level 3 & 4 guys,

Why do you think this is this such a common question? Why is everyone trying to import DVDs into iMovie?

I've answered about 5 threads on the subject this weekend alone.

Hi Greg,

VERY good question! I think, we have three groups:
* the poor guys who have bought a "dvd camcorder"...- I don't have a clue, why I should record on a mini-dvd instead of a cheap tape...- the compression codec used on such machines is by definition! no editable format, so you allways need workarounds...
there should be a warning on that boxes "for playback only!"
( besides: the mpeg2-format allows to store video that way, you can edit it later, has to do with i-Frames etc... but that is not the way, Sony & Co goes...)
* using "older" homebrewn dvds...- ok, maybe somewhere are the old tapes... but where? and on that tape where do I find THAT scene? isn't it easier, to throw the DVD I made and copy that into iM?..... again: people see the fantastic pic quality of a DVD made with iDVD and think, "press play and record!".. THAT would be nice 😉
* re-edit commercial DVDs... you made your personal version of StarWars, Episode XVII, and you are not that good in CGI as ILM... so, you want to copy a few frames from the disc on your shelf...- or, "forget all that plot, I want all Bruce Lee fighting scenes on ONE disc!" (<< ... "favorites", as we do in iTunes with playlist!)

you could make BIG Bucks with a 49$ tiny, shiny white box, analogue-in >> firewire out, which is recognized by iM....- ;-))

I think there is yet another reason: In the PC world it seems that the computers are configured in a way that allows direct MPEG import from camcorders, and they are also configured to allow importing of movies directly via the USB connection. If you wander over to one of the many discussion groups involving movie editing on a PC, people are totally frustrated trying to download movies via USB. Many people in these boards don't even know what the Firewire connection is for. And, the PC world is loaded with programs that allow direct importing of video from pre-recorded DVDs. I think the questions about this naturally gravitate over to any movie-editing forum, like this one.

It is a common question as people are trying to add X rated or hollywood DVD content to make complication DVD's for whatever nefarious purposes they have, or to compress down into Quicktime (though MPEG Streamclip will do that without iMovie at all) . There are not that many DVD camcorders out there.

There are no DV camcorders that "allow direct MPEG import" to PC's. Even the DVD cameras expect the DVD to be finalized and then used in the PC DVD player. The USB is for the transfer of the picture card data. One exception are the JVC hard disk MPEG-2 models in which case the USB is used to mount the camera on the desktop to drag and drop the hard disk content form the camera. So an interesting guess but not very accurate.

Hi Rick,

as the expert for "Get for free Steamclip....", my observation in this forum is about 2/3 is DVD, 1/3 is dvd-camcorders... these %$§*&-machines are a pest!

funny enough, have you seen lately that Sony TV-commercial, people record and jump to anybodies living-room, throwing in that dvd-r...? no editing... as I said before: even the extreme-Dogma-guys from Danmark wouldn't dare ;-))