Encoding in realtime... or faster

[mrtristan]

Does your machine encode at realtime or faster, when converting from DV to mpeg? If so, what are your times like?

I'm thinking of putting together a new computer for my house and I'm looking at another dual setup. I was thinking of trying out a Xeon based platform instead, this time.

It's either a new computer or new, (used), moped.

[DVD_Ripper]

I have a P4, 2Ghz with 512M of RAM -- I use Mainconcepts MPEG encoder and it cannot encode in real time.... it has to buffer the job. Maybe my machine, maybe software.

[bugster]

Does your machine encode at realtime or faster, when converting from DV to mpeg? If so, what are your times like?

Yeah sure, even with TmpGenc I can encode to mpeg in better than realtime on my 2.2Ghz P4. Thats to VCD format tho. If I want good quality want DVD it gets a bit slower

I think you need to narrow your requirements if you want a useful answer.

[rallynavvie]

You're not encoding at realtime with the 1900s? I thought I was pretty close to that mark with mine. My new machine absolutely trounces the old one though. There's already a thread started in here with some suggestions for a dual Xeon machine that myself and BJ_M are contributing to. Check that out for more info.

[tekkieman]

Using TmpGenc, my work machine (P4 3G with 1G RAM) encodes slightly better than realtime.

[bugster]

Using TmpGenc, my work machine (P4 3G with 1G RAM) encodes slightly better than realtime.

that means nothing without details of the source format, destination format and encoder used.

[stiltman]

Does your machine encode at realtime or faster, when converting from DV to mpeg? If so, what are your times like?

Might be a stupid question, but here goes.

How can you encode faster than realtime?

I mean if the stream it coming in at 100 frames per second, how can you encode it at say 200 frames per second?

curious

[rallynavvie]

Meaning encoding a one hour piece of DV AVI to MPEG2 in less than an hour is what we mean by faster than realtime. Why on earth would you want to encode a capture on the fly

[tekkieman]

Using TmpGenc, my work machine (P4 3G with 1G RAM) encodes slightly better than realtime.

that means nothing without details of the source format, destination format and encoder used.

Honestly, it only means slightly less than:

Yeah sure, even with TmpGenc I can encode to mpeg in better than realtime on my 2.2Ghz P4. Thats to VCD format tho. If I want good quality want DVD it gets a bit slower

[DVD_Ripper]

Why on earth would you want to encode a capture on the fly

Rallynavvie... I have very, very limited time to devote to DVD production... I transfer / convert my DV to MPEG2 on the fly with the MainConcept product. It works fantastic. And, yes, it saves a lot of time as many editors don't reencode compliant MPEGS when you are just inserting transitions or titles. (it encodes the titling and transitions sections but not the bulk video)....

[bugster]

Using TmpGenc, my work machine (P4 3G with 1G RAM) encodes slightly better than realtime.

that means nothing without details of the source format, destination format and encoder used.

Honestly, it only means slightly less than:

Yeah sure, even with TmpGenc I can encode to mpeg in better than realtime on my 2.2Ghz P4. Thats to VCD format tho. If I want good quality want DVD it gets a bit slower

The point I am trying to make is that any encoding time comparison has little meaning unless you specify the exact parameters and tools used. As I said in my 1st post, I can encode to VCD mpeg1 from an avi source (DV usually) faster than real time using TmpGenc, one of the slowest encoders out there. But this is useless info to anyone trying to encode to DVD compliant mpeg-2. Even then, the encoder used and the settings have a big impact (CBR vs CQ vs 2P VBR, motion search precision, bitrate etc).

The original question was

Does your machine encode at realtime or faster, when converting from DV to mpeg?

to which I am able to answer yes, it does. But that doesnt help someone trying to produce high quality DVD output.

[stiltman]

Meaning encoding a one hour piece of DV AVI to MPEG2 in less than an hour is what we mean by faster than realtime. Why on earth would you want to encode a capture on the fly

Thanks for the clarification...

[rallynavvie]

The reason I was mocking MPEG encoding on the fly is that editing with a compressed format is awful. Even for simple VHS to DVD conversions where there is no editing involved I set up the capture in Premiere, tweak out the dropped frames if I got any, then encode to MPEG-2 for DVD. I can't sell a service if there are any imperfections like that I can avoid. If you don't plan on editing the stream at all then encoding on the fly is fine. I just can't live with any flaws in my streams if I can at all help it. A digital video perfectionist I guess

[mrtristan]

I left my question open ended, because I wanted to see a variety of answers.

I use Tmpgenc to encode to mpeg format. Depending on the project, I encode from avi for dv, 720X480 resolution, to mpeg or mpeg2.

DV to mpeg usually runs close to realtime. It takes about 1.25-1.5X when encoding to DVD compliant specs. That's without any filters running.

[adam]

I get more then 3.5x encoding when backing up DVD9->DVD5. If I were making VCDs, damn it'd be done in no time.

But with DV, I never encode without heavy filtering. Reinterpolate, Convolution3D, damn those things slow down the encoding 10 fold. I get like 3/4 real time.

[bugster]

I left my question open ended, because I wanted to see a variety of answers.

Thats fair enough, but unless a poster tells you what he is encoding from/to/with/settings, the answers will be of little use to you in determining wether or not to buy that new, faster PC.

[thecoalman]

With Media Studio Pro you can tell about how fast it's encoding, it shows the time/frame. Going from 720x480 DV to DVD compliant MPG my machine does about real time on the parts with no filters,transitions etc.