HDV MiniDV to BluRay DVD without editing

[metazone]

I read the threads on transferring video from HDV (e.g. from miniDV tapes recorded by my Canon HV20) to computer to Hi-Def DVDs (BluRay). In my case, I want to do this without ANY editing or modification of the tape; however, I want to get the least loss of image quality when it's writtent to a BluRay DVD. I need to buy a new computer and, therefore, hardware and software recs would be greatly appreciated -- again, assuming NO editing and a desire to create (least) loss-less BluRay DVDs.

Steps:
1. Connect Canon HV20 to computer via Firewire - what's the requirements for the non-MAC computer -- which OS is best (XP, Vista)? Is Intel Core 2 Duoprocessor sufficient? How much RAM do I need? Do I need to consider the graphic card and how much memory it has (again, assuming no editing)
2. Use capture software to capture the HDV video from my Canon -- which product should I use (again, no editing is going to be done)? And what format does it save the video as?
3. Use DVD burn software to burn the saved file onto a BluRay burner. Which burn software should I use? I don't want to author the Hi-Def DVD and I want least loss of quality (is there a loss of quality going from the format that it was captured as to the BluRay format?). I also want the BluRay DVD to be played in different stand-alone BluRay players.
4. Which BluRay burner is best? Panasonic SW-5582?
5. If I wanted to save the captured video (the video captured from my Canon HV20 to my computer) in its captured format (and not the format that it's put into when it's burned onto a BluRay DVD), can I just save it onto any non-Hi-def DVD or CD (as long as it fits) because it's just a data file, right?

As an aside, I think I will create a second copy of my tape using the computer and putting it back onto a different tape -- in this way, I can have the master copy used only once or twice and use the other one to avoid deterioration of the original...

Thanks,
Bill

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

1. Connect Canon HV20 to computer via Firewire - what's the requirements for the non-MAC computer -- which OS is best (XP, Vista)? Is Intel Core 2 Duoprocessor sufficient? How much RAM do I need? Do I need to consider the graphic card and how much memory it has (again, assuming no editing)

XP or Vista, Core2Duo, 2 GB+ RAM, any modern graphics card.

2. Use capture software to capture the HDV video from my Canon -- which product should I use (again, no editing is going to be done)? And what format does it save the video as?

The freeware HDVSplit, google it.

3. Use DVD burn software to burn the saved file onto a BluRay burner. Which burn software should I use? I don't want to author the Hi-Def DVD and I want least loss of quality (is there a loss of quality going from the format that it was captured as to the BluRay format?). I also want the BluRay DVD to be played in different stand-alone BluRay players.

I am afraid that there are not many BD burning apps out there, they usually come with video editors. E.g. Ulead, Vegas 9, Premiere support BD burning, and some of them support burning into DVD disks instead of BD disks (cheaper). But thing is, I don't know if they won't re-convert the HDV .m2t file to another file. My gut feeling says that they will re-encode it.

4. Which BluRay burner is best? Panasonic SW-5582?

The Sony PS3.

5. If I wanted to save the captured video (the video captured from my Canon HV20 to my computer) in its captured format (and not the format that it's put into when it's burned onto a BluRay DVD), can I just save it onto any non-Hi-def DVD or CD (as long as it fits) because it's just a data file, right?

Yes.

[metazone]

Thanks very much.

It looks like I'll have to buy burn software anyway so ... I'll get one that does capture and burn. The next question is which one -- I'll have to research the following -- CyberLink PowerDirector v7 Ultra , Corel VideoStudio X2 Pro, Sony Vegas Studio 9 Platinum, Pinnacle Studio 12, Adobe Premiere Elements 7

With respect to format, I read that HDV uses MPEG-2; I then read from the BluRay FAQ that BluRay players need to support MPEG2 (in addition to H.264/MPEG4). This, to me, would mean that no translation from HDV/MPEG2 to MPEG4/H.264 would be required when burning HDV to BluRay. But ... I read another article that said when transferring HDV to BluRay, a transcoding step (MPEG-2 to H.264) is necessary (which basically says to me that BluRay format IS H.264/MPEG4).

Bill

[alwyn]

I read another article that said when transferring HDV to BluRay, a transcoding step (MPEG-2 to H.264) is necessary

That's not correct as far as I am aware. There is a sticky about using free software to create a Bluray folder from plain HV20 video ie 1440x1080 MPEG 2 with no transcoding. It does not need to be encoded into H264.

Have a look at the free Imgburn for burning your Bluray disk.

[Bob Sanders]

You do not have to transcode, mpeg2 works fine on both hi def dvd 5/9 or blu ray disk without reencoding. You will not get menus however if you go with mpeg2 and dvd 5/9.

It also depends on what player you use too. The PS3 for example will M2T files simply COPIED to dvd's as data disks. It's fast, easy and obviously there is no re-encoding at all with the copy command

And as alwyn mentioned, Imageburn supports blu ray, it's a great little program.... and it's free.

[bigjezza]

The sticky that Alwyn mentioned is the way to go. It is free, and does not change your video. No re-encoding is necessary. HOWEVER, it does not follow the bluray standard 100%. It puts MPEG2 data inside an AVC wrapper. Dunno how it will go with various stand alone players.

I also use PCM instead of AC3. AC3 compresses the audio, PCM doesn't. Since the file from the HV30 is already compressed, it is a bad idea to recompress it.

Eugenia, you simply love that PS3, don't ya! Enough to claim that it now burns Bluray!

I'm having fantastic results with the LG GGW-H20L. It loves verbatim 2x BDR's. Infact, it loves them so much that it allows you to burn at 6X without errors! I'll have to test the discs again in a year to see how they've held up, but so far its all good.

BTW, blurays can be MPEG2 or AVC. The standard covers both. It also covers our funny pixel aspect, ie 1440X1080. Don't know why Vegas has to render out a HDV into BD MPEG2. Might have something to do with our long GOP

[Eugenia Loli-Queru]

>Eugenia, you simply love that PS3, don't ya! Enough to claim that it now burns Bluray!

I don't claim that. But I do claim that you don't need a burner if you have a PS3. You just export a file, and you are done. No burning, no mess.