Capture Date and Time info to MPEG

[Archie Hu]

Sorry if this question has been asked before, because I'm new
here, and I can not find a thread directly related to it.

As many of you know, when you capture DV to AVI via IEEE
1394 port, the date code is preserved (I say this becasue
I can see the date and time after I transfer the AVI back to
camcorder via 1394). However, if you capture DV to MPEG
via 1394, the date code will be lost (I can no longer see the
date and time after I transfer the MPEG back to camcorder).
Since most of my video footages are about my kids. The
data information is important in them. AVI files take a lot of
disk space and can not be backed up on DVDs. Capturing
the DV to MPEG via analog capture card can display the
date, but the video quality will be degraded. Is there any
software that can capture DV to MPEG via 1394 while
preserving the date information? It would be better if the
date can be overlaid to the final video at a click of a button.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Archie

[Rob Lohman]

To the best of my knowledge this is not possible. I've been working
on such an auto overlay system but that is currently stalled.

Mpeg cannot hold the data you want, so I see the following
options:

1) create an introduction graphic that you show before the
movie that states the information you want (date, time, location
etc.)

2) Create a subtitle track that shows that kind of information
(you can add extra tidbits of information throughout the movie)
which can be switched on/off as you want when playing the DVD
back

3) Write it down on the disc/insert

4) Put it in the DVD menu screen

5) Put it in the credit scroll

Etc. etc. In the end all manual work but not so that it takes a
lot of time.