Encoding DivX... How to keep same quality?

[Namie]

I have a divx file that is 512 x 384 and would like to make it into a mpeg file so I can load it in TMPGEnc DVD Author. I use TMPGEnc to encode first but when I convert it, the quality is really sacrificed. I just use the normal wizard and so on, so that may be the problem? Could someone tell me the advanced way to keep high quality?

[holistic]

...Divx to mpeg2 ....advanced way to keep high quality....

There is no advanced way ...... there is no way.

Garbage IN = garbage OUT

Buy the original.

[johns0]

If the divx quality is good to begin with then encode at 352x480 at 3000kbps in 2pass encode.

[awlchu]

I convert DIVX to huffyuv first then into MPEG2.

If the DIVX source is not at 720x480 etc., I add a black boarder around it to prevent the encoding software from scaling the image up.

You can add the border using avisynth or any video editing tool.

Yea, I know that converting into huffyuv takes up ALOT of space, but my encoding tool doesn't like frameserving.

Never had a problem with a bad encode or audio sync.

[Namie]

Thank you johns0 and awlchu for both your helpful comments.

To johns0:
Yes, the divx quality is pretty good from the start. I tried your method of 352x480 at 3000kbps in 2pass encode and then played it on TV, it looked a lot better than before! Less noticable pixels. But it was wide screen and the people in the video seemed a little squeezed. The other setting I used was 'Full Screen (Keep Aspect Ratio)'. Also, would changing the setting of 3000kbps greater make it even clearer?

To awlchu:
I will check out the tools you suggested also.

[Jim the ripper]

set the motion search to high [SLOW] 720x480 or 576 uk. full screen keep aspect ratio and tick the noise reduction box encoding will take a lot longer but quality will be better. what is the bitrate when you load the movie into tmpenc

[Namie]

what is the bitrate when you load the movie into tmpenc

3000.