Hello, everyone. 10-15 years ago, I used an EasyCap style USB 2.0 Capture Card with software to convert VHS to DVD. The result always worked well and was 100% compliant for Nero Video, so no re-encoding was necessary.
Recently, I offered to convert a tape for a friend. I connected the EasyCap and it worked, but the results were terrible. I thought it was the old hardware and picked up a Roxio Easy VHS to DVD capture card, but the results were the same. I tried other tapes and VCRs with equally poor results. I don't know what changed.
I returned the Roxio and purchased the hardware recommended in this YouTube video. The quality is great and the stability issues are gone.
Since my friend asked for DVDs, I'm trying to produce NTSC DVD compliant video files so Nero Video's SmartEncoding feature won't try to re-encode it. I've gotten the video to be compliant, but am still struggling with the audio. I've compared the results with a different video that is compliant, and according to VLC and MediaInfo, everything is exactly the same.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
"The SmartEncoding feature analyzes the video files that you have added to your project and checks if they are compliant or partially compliant to the selected target format. Parts which are compliant to the target format will not be re-encoded..."
TL:DR
I'm new to OBS Studio and need help generating 100% compliant NTSC DVD video that doesn't need to be re-encoded. The results "look" perfect, but Nero Video does not consider the audio track to be 100% compliant and wants to re-encode.
My settings:
Source:
Elgato Cam Link 4K: Default settings
Scaling/Aspect Ratio filter added with Lanczos scaling and 704x480 resolution.
Settings > Video:
Base (Canvas) Resolution: 720x480
Output (Scaled) Resolution: 720x480
FPS: 29.97
Settings > Audio
Sample Rate: 48 kHz
Channels: Stereo
Everything else is default.
Settings > Output > Recording
MediaInfo: compliant NTSC DVD video and audio
General
Complete name : C:\NeroVideo\CapturedVideo\NVECapture.0004.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 5.90 GiB
Duration : 2 h 3 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 6 834 kb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Writing library : Created by NeMpeg2Enc (2024-12-22T18-38-25)
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings : BVOP
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=12
Duration : 2 h 3 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 6 442 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 9 800 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.622
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed : Open
GOP, Open/Closed of first frame : Closed
Stream size : 5.56 GiB (94%)
Writing library : Created by NeMpeg2Enc (2024-12-22T18-38-25)
Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 2 h 3 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -80 ms
Stream size : 226 MiB (4%)
Service kind : Complete Main
Dialog Normalization : -31 dB
dialnorm_Average : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum : -31 dB
Nero Video results:
MediaInfo: OBS video is compliant, but not audio
General
Complete name : C:\Videos\2024-12-29 09-33-25.vob
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 372 KiB
Duration : 5 s 672 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 537 kb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : N=18
Duration : 5 s 672 ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 78.6 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 9 800 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.008
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed : Open
GOP, Open/Closed of first frame : Closed
Stream size : 54.4 KiB (15%)
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 4 s 736 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 kb/s (I've changed this to different rates with no change)
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -5 ms
Stream size : 259 KiB (70%)
Service kind : Complete Main
Dialog Normalization : -31 dB
dialnorm_Average : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum : -31 dB
Nero Video results:
Recently, I offered to convert a tape for a friend. I connected the EasyCap and it worked, but the results were terrible. I thought it was the old hardware and picked up a Roxio Easy VHS to DVD capture card, but the results were the same. I tried other tapes and VCRs with equally poor results. I don't know what changed.
I returned the Roxio and purchased the hardware recommended in this YouTube video. The quality is great and the stability issues are gone.
Since my friend asked for DVDs, I'm trying to produce NTSC DVD compliant video files so Nero Video's SmartEncoding feature won't try to re-encode it. I've gotten the video to be compliant, but am still struggling with the audio. I've compared the results with a different video that is compliant, and according to VLC and MediaInfo, everything is exactly the same.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
"The SmartEncoding feature analyzes the video files that you have added to your project and checks if they are compliant or partially compliant to the selected target format. Parts which are compliant to the target format will not be re-encoded..."
TL:DR
I'm new to OBS Studio and need help generating 100% compliant NTSC DVD video that doesn't need to be re-encoded. The results "look" perfect, but Nero Video does not consider the audio track to be 100% compliant and wants to re-encode.
My settings:
Source:
Elgato Cam Link 4K: Default settings
Scaling/Aspect Ratio filter added with Lanczos scaling and 704x480 resolution.
Settings > Video:
Base (Canvas) Resolution: 720x480
Output (Scaled) Resolution: 720x480
FPS: 29.97
Settings > Audio
Sample Rate: 48 kHz
Channels: Stereo
Everything else is default.
Settings > Output > Recording
MediaInfo: compliant NTSC DVD video and audio
General
Complete name : C:\NeroVideo\CapturedVideo\NVECapture.0004.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 5.90 GiB
Duration : 2 h 3 min
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 6 834 kb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Writing library : Created by NeMpeg2Enc (2024-12-22T18-38-25)
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings : BVOP
Format settings, BVOP : Yes
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : M=3, N=12
Duration : 2 h 3 min
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 6 442 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 9 800 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Scan order : Bottom Field First
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.622
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed : Open
GOP, Open/Closed of first frame : Closed
Stream size : 5.56 GiB (94%)
Writing library : Created by NeMpeg2Enc (2024-12-22T18-38-25)
Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 2 h 3 min
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 kb/s
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -80 ms
Stream size : 226 MiB (4%)
Service kind : Complete Main
Dialog Normalization : -31 dB
dialnorm_Average : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum : -31 dB
Nero Video results:
MediaInfo: OBS video is compliant, but not audio
General
Complete name : C:\Videos\2024-12-29 09-33-25.vob
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 372 KiB
Duration : 5 s 672 ms
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 537 kb/s
Frame rate : 29.970 FPS
Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : N=18
Duration : 5 s 672 ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 78.6 kb/s
Maximum bit rate : 9 800 kb/s
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4:3
Frame rate : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.008
Time code of first frame : 00:00:00:00
Time code source : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed : Open
GOP, Open/Closed of first frame : Closed
Stream size : 54.4 KiB (15%)
Color primaries : BT.709
Transfer characteristics : BT.709
Matrix coefficients : BT.709
Audio
ID : 189 (0xBD)-128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital
Muxing mode : DVD-Video
Duration : 4 s 736 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 kb/s (I've changed this to different rates with no change)
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel layout : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : -5 ms
Stream size : 259 KiB (70%)
Service kind : Complete Main
Dialog Normalization : -31 dB
dialnorm_Average : -31 dB
dialnorm_Minimum : -31 dB
dialnorm_Maximum : -31 dB
Nero Video results: