Best encoder for creating a smooth and clear bmp sequence

[mojo2185]

I'm doing an animation created in Macromedia Flash MX for school. It is possible to export the flash animation as a movie file, but the quality is always really bad. I've found that the picture is much clearer when I save the whole flash animation as a bitmap sequence, and encode using TMPGEnc. The results are much better, almost to where I want it, but the quality is still a little distorted at times. So, can anyone recommend an encoder for what I'm trying to accomplish? If you think TMPGEnc is the best for this, please let me know too.
Thanks,

mojo

[mic_]

You could try an mpeg4 codec like DivX or XviD with a high bitrate (say 1500-2000 kbps).

[crazeplaya]

Use DivX, but rather than selecting a specific bitrate try selecting the quality percentage.

[mojo2185]

I've never played with DivX, but since you guys say it should work nicely with what I'm trying to do, i'm willing to learn. So... what program would I use to connect all the bitmaps? I have divX player 2.0 and the codec that comes with that package. Now what?

Thanks for your help

-mojo

[mic_]

Virtualdub can read bitmap sequences. Just give all the images the same name, but with a different digit (0, 1, 2, 3 etc.). Then select "video"-"compression" and pick DivX or XviD (make sure you have the codecs installed). Try doing 2-pass encoding with a high bitrate (or quality) setting. And if you want to you can add music from a WAV file in the "audio" menu.

[mojo2185]

I have Virtualdub, and I attempted to try what mic_ said, but I'm running into a few problems. I'm using version 1.4.10

I am attempting to "compress" with the DivX Pro 5.0.5 Codec. Below it, there is a "quality" slider, but it is grayed out and cannot be adjusted. The only way to change settings is by configuring the codec. In the config screen, I can select VBR mode (1 pass, multipass-1st pass, and multipass-nth pass), Encoding bitrate (goes to 4000 max), Bitrate Modulation (high motion, constant quality, low-motion... not sure what to do here), and so on. I won't post the other options on other tabs because there are many, so I hope that someone knows some settings I should use .

Also, my original flash file was created at 1024 px by 768 px. What is the ideal size to be best viewed on a TV screen? How can i change this?

So far i've been able to "sort of" create an AVI file out of my trial and many-error attempts, but it came out to be 3kb, and wouldn't play. I've also created one that is 5mb but also won't play in Windows Media Player (it should play with the codecs installed, i'm pretty sure other divXs have played fine with WMP).

On the preview of the file, the quality was very clear, much better than what TMPGEnc gave me, so it looks like this would be great if I could get it to work.

Thanks for all the input!

[mic_]

For resizing, select "Video" - "Filters" - "Add" - "resize". Enter the desired width and height and select Precise bicubic as the method (or Lanczos3 if it's available). You should probably go no higher than 720x576 pixels (for 25fps, 720x480 for 29.97fps). I hope by "watching on a TV" you mean using the tv-out of your graphics card, because DivX videos don't work with stand-alone DVD players, unless you have a KiSS DP-450/500 of course.

When doing multipass encoding you first select "Multipass 1st pass" and "Save avi" as "1pass.avi" or some bogus name. This file will only contain information gathered by the codec during the analyzing stage (or something like that) and cannot be played. Once the first pass is done, open the compression settings again and select "Multipass nth pass" this time and enter a desired average bitrate - don't change anything else. Now save this as 2pass.avi or whatever you prefer, et voila; your movie is done. In case "Psychovisual enhancements" is checked in the DivX settings you might want to uncheck it. It tends to blur things.

[mojo2185]

Thanks mic_ for all the info, its clearing a lot up for me.

As far as framerate, the original flash file was done at 29 fps to get the mouth animations to look good. So i guess I'll have to play around to find the right size. My video size probably caused most of my problems, 1024x768.
As far as viewing on a TV, the video will be on the morning video announcements at our school. I intend to take my AVI file and transfer it to VHS in the near future (as soon as i get this DivX thing worked out).

Thanks!