Hi, I've got a concert movie in DivX, 29,97fps, 1h.36.min, 352x288. I've encoded it with ProCoder 2.0 in VCD PAL format, 1150 kbps, CBR 1 pass.I managed to burn it on a CD-R 99 min. The main problem is that I see macroblocks, which are even more evident because the concert is mostly in the dark. My thinking is that the VCD bitrate is too low and that maybe I get more chances to encode everything to DVD 352x288. What's your opinion? Any suggestion? Also, apparently ProCoder does not allow me to encode in DVD 352x288, therefore, I will use TMPGE for this, maybe you have some suggestion on the best settings? Thank you! Alex
No, sorry, the PAL DVD movies are 720x576. Authoring a DVD with VCD movies gives no better quality, it just makes you able to use a media with more room (4500 MB instead of 800 MB). DivX -> VCD is the same of doing DVD ->VCD, but the quality of DivX movies are usually much inferior of 'pure DVD's. I usually like to do DVD --> MPG with TMPGenc (length < 110' -> SVCD on 2 CD-R; length > 110' (or <80') -> VCD (but I use , on http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd2vcd_with_smart_dvd2avi_tmpgenc_page_5.cfm , 'Very High Quality (very slow)' as setting, because the PCs are fast, now). You can do SVCD always, if the movie has good quality if you accept a movie split into 3 CDs. And remember: the time needed to encode a SVCD mpeg is about 3-4 times the time needed to encode a VCD mpeg). I usuallly follow http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd2svcd_with_tmpgenc.cfm (SVCD) and http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd2vcd_with_smart_dvd2avi_tmpgenc.cfm (VCD) using Dvd Decrypter instead of SmartRipper , because it might not work, due to some DVD 's advanced protections (Smartripper has stopped being updated in December 2001). It never fails. If it works, fine. Just multiply for 99/80 ( * 1.25) the lengths above mentioned. Sorry, but I like TMPGenc too much and I never learned to use another one....
I'm afraid you are not totally right, DVD supports as well: [bold] PAL [/bold] Video: Up to 9.8 Mbps* (9800 kbps*) MPEG2 video Up to 1.856 Mbps (1856 kbps) MPEG1 video 720 x 576 pixels MPEG2 (Called Full-D1) 704 x 576 pixels MPEG2 352 x 576 pixels MPEG2 (Called Half-D1, same as the CVD Standard) [bold] 352 x 288 pixels MPEG2 352 x 288 pixels MPEG1 (Same as the VCD Standard) [/bold] 25 fps* 16:9 Anamorphic (only supported by 720x576) Also, unless the macroblocks are in the original DivX, I hope to get a better quality because encoding at 1150 kbps (VCD) vs 8000 kbps (DVD) should allow me to have an encoding with the minimal decrease of quality vs the original. Substantially, what I want to say is that the source can be good or bad, but the copy out of it has to be as accurate as possible, at least not inferior to the source. I'll give a try and let you know. Thaks Alex
Hi all, I encoded with TMPGE at 8000 kbps, with and without block softner, both much better that the previous VCD, but unfortunately not enough for me to accept the level of quality. As a result, I threw everything in the bin, the source is not good enough, which in a way, being a DivX, it is not a surprise Thanks for the help guys Alex
For this reason I always suggest to make VCD movies (352x240/288) and to author a DVD with it (DVD Lab accepts VCD movies in DVDs..) instead of losing hours in making a MPEG-2 authored on a DVD with a 600 MB AVI. AVI --> MPEG-1 id the quickest way to encode a movie to be watched on a DVD player, and the quality is not so bad, expecilally if applied to transform an AVI movie.
