Can You Capture Video Straight to DVD Format Without Encoding Later On

[Harry]

I noticed that the Mainconcept DVD Encoder has a video capture program and I was wondering if you could capture video right into the DVD format.
So that way, you wouldn't have to capture a video from vhs and then later on spend a great deal more time encoding it. Has anyone ever captured video straight to the DVD format this way from Mainconcept or any other DVD encoding program?

Also, once a movie file is encoded to DVD, is there any reason that it still has to go through a DVD authoring program to play on a DVD player. It's not that necessary for me to have chapters.

[RJ]

So that way, you wouldn't have to capture a video from vhs and then later on spend a great deal more time encoding it.

Sure you can. Set top DVD recorders do it all the time.

Has anyone ever captured video straight to the DVD format this way from Mainconcept or any other DVD encoding program?

Well, I've tried in the past. Just for the sake of trying, as I never really wanted to use it. If you have a fast PC, the quality will be pretty good for realtime MPEG-2 capturing. Actually I have only captured to hard drive, but if a program supports the VR mode (VR = video recording) then it can be captured straight onto the DVD.

Also, once a movie file is encoded to DVD, is there any reason that it still has to go through a DVD authoring program to play on a DVD player.

Yes. Otherwise you don't have a Video DVD, and DVD players play Video DVDs. Some players also play data DVDs, but if you want high compatibility, you need to create a video DVD, and without authoring, no video DVD. Since you don't need chapters, IFOedit would be the fastest way for you to do it.

RJ