General Guidelines about DivX encoding.

[spud1980]

Hi guys,

I'm new to this DivX conversion thing, I'm still in the experimental stages of DVD ripping and encoding.

Currently I am using either DVD Decrypter or Smartripper rip and using DVDx (with recommendations on one of the tutorial on the website) to encode with DivX 5.0.3 Pro Codec.

Could someone advise me on whether I should use better software for ripping or encoding? I have doubts especially about DVDx.

The settings I use are generally using the default Home Theatre profile within divx, setting a bitrate of 2000, is that too high or low? I want to attain quality as near as possible to dvd standard, Disk space is not an issue as long as I can spilt the file and burn them into 2 seperate 90mins disc. I'm using 1-pass setting (Whatever that means).

One aspect I cannot figure out is the output aspect ratio I should set, the resolution I'm setting is that of 720 x 576. Since DVDx does not offer a lock ratio aspect feature, my first few rips were squashed image. The settings recommended in the tutorial on this site was that I set the zoom settings to that of 16/9 in dvdx but that resulted in a squashed image with a resolution of 720x576. Thus I've experimented with "envelope" setting.
Which seems like the normal dvd perspective except that it's quite irritating the way it resizes in transition to fullscreen and non-fullscreen mode. What resolution should I set and what output format should I choose?

Another irritating thing that I've come across with DVDx is that it spilts the file up with a setting of (80 Min ISO DATA CD) once the file reaches 753 something MB, which prevents me from burning into conventional cdrs. Attempts to customize the size to 700MB always results in file size other than the one I've specified and I have to trial and error and set it to 680MB to get a estimated size of 700 MB which enables me to burn the resulting dvd files onto 2 cdrs. Why does the file size vary?

[Juelz]

Programs I use for encoding to DivX:

-DVD Decrypter
-DVD2AVI
-VFAPI Converter
-BeSweet (for audio)
-Nandub

It may seem more programs than what you are using, but it worked out great for me. Gordian Knot would be the same if you asked me. Go check out www.doom9.org DivX tutorials.