When does generation loss occur?

[eqwalker]

I have read several posts that speak of generation loss when you go from "this or that". I guess what I am wanting to ask is when does generation loss really occur and how can I help prevent it in the editing process when possible? When you capture your footage from the DVX it is an exact copy of the tape. Now, as you edit how does generation loss occur? And, do you want to keep your rendering at a minimum? Just want to get the story straight. Comments?

 

[mmm]

Any time the footage has to be recompressed results in a generation loss. For example, colour correction, super imposed titles, a cross dissolve.

However some compressors are clever and will recompress using the same method as the original compression (as long as it is the same compression system). This minimises quality loss.

Basically try not to recompress anything and keep the original footage in the time line. You can render and re-render over and over again and not loose any more quality. Aim to compress to output format (normally MPEG2 for DVD) straight from you original footage on the original timeline.

 

[mmm]

BTW, when capturing you footage to Hard disk, it copies the exact DV data stream, preserving the quality.