Choppy/Laggy Video After M2V Encode

[StarScream]

Hey All. I've searched the forums for choppy/laggy/sticky video problems but wasn't able to find my problem. All the topics that I could find where for converting a video from NTSC to PAL or the other way around.
My encode is different.

My problem is after I encode the video from the source format to my m2v format the video playsback a little laggy. The audio is fine, and is okay, it is just the video. I don't know how else to discribe the video problem... it is like it isn't getting loaded fast enough so the video is choppy.

The Source (info. from G-Spot):
Codec: XviD
FPS: 23.976
bitrate: 987
file size: 350 MB (or 358,642 KB or 367,249,408 bytes)
frame size: 640x352


The Encoded (from vdub):
frame size: 352x480
FPS: 23.976
m2v file
file size: 189mb

Programs:
DVD-Lab Pro to author my DVDs
TMPGEnc Plus 2.521.58

The source file plays well on my computer. After encode, it will be a little choppy (enough to notice) and then after the author it is barely watchable.
The WEIRD THING is... I have used the SAME SETTINGS, PROGRAMS, everything for different episodes (each episode has the same video properities) and they work perfectly. All burnt to the same DVDRW to test, played in the same player... I just don't understand.

If there is anything you think might be the problem with ANYTHING, please let me know and help me out as I am so stuck on what to do next.

EDIT: I'd like to add that while searching the forums, I did see a post where it says that bad frames and bad avis can be the problem. I scanned the source file, and it came back fine.

[Soopafresh]

At what Bit Rate did you encode your M2V file ? Did you use oen of the TMPGEnc Templates ?

[StarScream]

I used a KDVD-352x480-half-D1_NTSC Template.
The CQ setting was at 40 (hence the small video file).. I've tryed it now, with it is 60 and changin the feild order.

No change... still a laggy video.

Note: I've playedback all the other episodes I've converted and they play back fine. Same settings as the one I'm having problems with.


Note 2: I've noticed that the video onyl gets laggy/choppy sometimes. It isnt throughout the whole video. Only parts, it appears to be random happening most often when it is a lot of movement (eg. a landscape pan, two characters walking through a hallway, two characters walking a great distance across the scean)...

Note 3: Some more encode settings;

Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Display
Frame Rate: 23.976 fps (internally 29.97 fps)
Encode mode: 3:2 pulldown when playback
video format: NTSC
YUV format: 4:2:0
Rate control mode: Constant Quality

I'm stumped.

[ronnylov]

Try another DVD media, it may be a low quality media.

Try a higher bitrate. MPEG2 is normally bigger in file sizes compared to XviD. With the original bitrate of 987 kbit/s and a reasonable final bitrate of 3000 kbit/s at 352x480 resolution you should have three times bigger m2v file, I guess around 1 GB would be OK. If you need smaller filesizes then try 352x240 resolution but the filesize should not be smaller than your original XviD even then.

[StarScream]

Right now I've up the CQ setting to 60 (it was at 40), so the quality will be increased.
The reason why it is so small is because I want to fit as many episodes on one DVD as possible.
And this KDVD Template should be able to support over 10 hours on 1 DVD.

Although, I don't think it is the DVD Media (since the other episodes work fine), but I will try it anyways.

Thanks,
StarScream