AVI quality cutoff for all-in-one converter use

[vincejose]

OK, before I get yelled at I did do a search but I didn't find the exact info I was looking for and I wanted to make sure that I had the most up to date advice concerning software.

I'm looking to convert a 700MB Xvid AVI file, with Mp3 audio for DVD authoring. I can figure out the "how" with any number of tutorials on this site. My question is, with that size AVI file, will I notice a difference if I take the time to do a multi pass encode with something like CCE versus using an all in one tool like VSO X2D?

And in general, which file types or size would you treat with tender loving care and use multiple programs for conversion/authoring? Thanks in advance!

[jagabo]

I'm looking to convert a 700MB Xvid AVI file, with Mp3 audio for DVD authoring. I can figure out the "how" with any number of tutorials on this site. My question is, with that size AVI file, will I notice a difference if I take the time to do a multi pass encode with something like CCE versus using an all in one tool like VSO X2D?

It will depend on running time, frame size, frame rate, brightness of the video, amount of motion and detail, noise, etc.

Some of the biggest issues with all-in-one encoders:

Frame rate: if you need a frame rate conversion (PAL to NTSC or vice versa) most all-in-ones simply duplicate or drop frames. This leaves you with jerky video.

Frame size: most all-in-ones use poor resizing filters. The result can be fuzzy video, aliasing artifacts, and/or moire artifacts.

Most all-in-ones may have A/V sync problems with variable frame rate sources (not Xvid) or variable bitrate audio.

[guns1inger]

Most (all ?) one-click-wonder products are optimised for speed over quality. They may have quality settings, but they are relative to each other. They are certainly not all created equal, and some are far worse than others in different areas, but none compare to the level of quality and flexibility that can be obtained by using the right tools for each step of the way. This is the price of convenience. At the present time, the only product in the category I would even consider using is ConvertXtoDVD.

That said, my basic methodology is

If it something I am doing for clients or friends (home videos etc) then it gets the treatment. Avisynth, ProCoder, Vegas etc. I would never use ConvertXtoDVD to create final works from DV source or for anything that was for presentation.

For a quick conversion to DVD of downloaded source, ConvertXtoDVD is fine. It can do a 90 movie in an hour or less on my system (about half the time of CCE's 2+1 pass VBR) and the quality is acceptable in most cases.

For most avi material that is for one-time or occasional viewing and does not require the full DVD treatment, I don't convert at all. With a capable player I can put 6 movies to a disc. Anything I cap from the digital broadcast I either author directly, or put through AutoGK if I want to put multiple episodes to a disc. It has been months since I converted a downloaded file to DVD because it just isn't worth the time any more.

Regardless of the method you chose to use, I would recommend putting only one movie to a disc if you are converting to DVD. Even with the average download quality avi, putting 2 on a disc will give you less quality than 1.

[theewizard]

it depends some things I use convertX, for others, I use CCE & gui4dvdauthor / GFD

if it looks real good on the PC, i might just use convertX

my methods have changed since joining this site, but I don't do everything the same way everytime

I don't use file size as a criteria for how to convert it..

I use file quality & whether i intent to keep it or just watch it and erase the disc

[vincejose]

Well thanks for he advice. The file I'm talking about is an hour or so. 700MB is pretty big for that length so I though I might try to squeeze all the quality I could out of it. I will experiment. Thanks again.