Best TMPGenc Manuals/Guides

[neo]

I downloaded about 6 guides on TMPGenc and I appreciate the authors putting them up but most do not seem to really know what the settings do. There is a lot od "I do this" "I don't know what this does".

I am capturing from my satellite dish in AVI. I wish to encode it to files on my external drive. I want no quality loss or artifacts but with smallest file size. Time is not that important as I will just encode overnight.

There are just so many Guides on TMPGenc. Can someone please direct me to the best?

Thanks

[Will Hay]

I want no quality loss or artifacts but with smallest file size. Time is not that important as I will just encode overnight

The biggest factor in ascertaining how your output will look is how you capture, not how you encode.

There are just so many Guides on TMPGenc. Can someone please direct me to the best?

You haven't said what you intend to output to so I'm going to guess.
Configuring TMPGEnc for high-quality, DVD-compliant MPEG-2
I don't know if this is the best because I haven't read every single TMPGEnc guide ever produced.
It's not so much a guide as it is a definitive guide to settings.
I like it, it works for me.
Good luck
Will

[bugster]

I want no quality loss or artifacts but with smallest file size.

Thanks

What you are asking for is a contradiction in terms. Smaller file size means lower bitrate. Lower bitrate means lower quality, which frequently means artifacts. You can't have small files wothout losing quality, you need to find a compromise.

The guide Will points you to has been of use to me in the past too.

[Will Hay]

......you need to find a compromise.

And there lies the million dollar question
Will

[Gees]

I want no quality loss or artifacts but with smallest file size.

You asked that yesterday. Didn't you believe me? :c)

Do small segments - 2-5 minute (test) clips and compare quality vs. filesize to find a compromise you're happy with.

Then let that choice encode overnight if you need to. No use waking up to something you're unhappy with.

[theDruid]

No use waking up to something you're unhappy with.

It's so tempting to make a childish joke - but it's almost too easy!

:P

[neo]

I want no quality loss or artifacts but with smallest file size.

You asked that yesterday. Didn't you believe me? :c)

Do small segments - 2-5 minute (test) clips and compare quality vs. filesize to find a compromise you're happy with.

I believe that bitrate is not the only factor in the quality/size equation. I work in DV with an excellent capture device until the final render so there are no quality problems there. The key quality step is the rendering or compression into MPEG-2.

Other factors that may be important are:
1. Quality of encoder.
2. Encoder settings.
3. Time encoding.
4. Using a smaller resolution (704x480).
5. Reducing audio to MPEG-1 II 128.

I am trying to capture Satellite quality (135 minute DVD standard) into 1-2 GB with no quality loss.

I have found 2 good guides for TMPGen so far: the one by del-***** and the pdf guide. It seems they were written for older version of the program. (see new posts)

Thank you

[holistic]

I believe that bitrate is not the only factor in the quality/size equation. I work in DV with an excellent capture device until the final render so there are no quality problems there. The key quality step is the rendering or compression into MPEG-2.

Correct.....so far.....read on

Other factors that may be important are:
1. Quality of encoder. Agreed - not all are created equal - some more equal than others
2. Encoder settings. true - there are some tweeks that can be made
3. Time encoding. not relevent - as far as "motion search precision" is involved - yes - higher takes longer and is better but this is not a TIME problem
4. Using a smaller resolution (704x480). in extremes yes .... at the same bitrates a smaller resolution in theory should look better because it has more bits allocated. But then you must consider how it will be viewed - monitor / TV .
5. Reducing audio to MPEG-1 II 128. well this has the effect of allowing more bits to be allocated to the video for a given time - so no .Only come into play when time V capacity is an issue.

I am trying to capture Satellite quality (135 minute DVD standard) into 1-2 GB with no quality loss.

Not to burst ya bubble here (smurfy has the info somewhere) but satellite is typically 480*480 @ average bitrates of 4000 MPEG2. The "quality" is already lost from the original source.
][

[neo]

I am trying to capture Satellite quality (135 minute DVD standard) into 1-2 GB with no quality loss.

Not to burst ya bubble here (smurfy has the info somewhere) but satellite is typically 480*480 @ average bitrates of 4000 MPEG2. The "quality" is already lost from the original source.
][[/quote]


I have been trying to find this out for months. I used Dish Network and have checked on multiple forums. I even called the tech people at the company. The best that I could come up with is that they vary their compression depending on a number of factors (cartoon vs paid for movie channels). What I would like to know is the maximum horizontal resolution. I have heard that they use up to almost 600. I do not want to lose quality on the movies so 704x480 seemed like the best resolution to use.

Does anyone really *know* for certain.

Thanks

[Gees]

Try LordSmurf's ever-expanding site: www.lordsmurf.com

Go to Understanding Your Source

:c)

[neo]

Try LordSmurf's ever-expanding site: www.lordsmurf.com

Go to Understanding Your Source

:c)

I looked at this and two other reffered sites. It appears that 480x480 may be the standard resolution. I have also read that they use a higher horizontal resolution for sports and paid movies. No one seems to know for certain.

This is critical for what I am trying to do. If their maximum is 480x480 then I should be encoding at 480x480 since I am storing on an external hard drive.

[Gees]

I'd say only if you never want to enlarge it - ever.

Always size down - never up. :c) I'd always capture higher than or equal to final intended output.

[neo]

I'd say only if you never want to enlarge it - ever.

Always size down - never up. :c) I'd always capture higher than or equal to final intended output.

Gees

I really, really appreciate you help on this. I have been working on this on and off for months. Let me explain what I am trying to do and why.

Purpose: Most of my caputures will be from Dish Network S-Video. I want *no* quality loss but smallest file size as I am saving on Maxtor external 250 GB hard drive. I see no reason to burn to DVD at this time but wish to be able to do it and still maintain quality if need ever arises.

Equipment:
- Canopus ADVC-100 capture device.
- WinDV for capture as it takes few resources and will capture DV AVI with 0 dropped frames.
- Ulead VS 6 for editing in AVI. I do not like the required higher screen resolution of VS 7 as I work in 800x600 or I would buy it.
- TMPGEnc for encoding
- mpg file to DVD program unknown yet

Problems:
- What is the maximum horizontal resolution of Dish Network?
- Refinement of TMPGEnc settings.
- Finding best free mpg file to DVD program.

I reallly appreciate all your help and any suggestions welcome.

neo

[Gees]

I want *no* quality loss but smallest file size as I am saving on Maxtor external 250 GB hard drive.

I think I few people have stated that's not possible, in this and prior threads. I know I have - at least twice. :c)

If you have adequate or ample storage available, I'd capture as high as your software allows to then be used in whatever way you want in future.

As I said above - you can always size down, but should never size up.

I'd also said prior to do small tests on your sources to find the right quality vs size compromise. Only you can determine that. There is no magic setting, bitrate, filter or number in existence that someone can furnish you with. Only you have the source material, so only you can make that call.

Good luck with it all.