To X Or Not To X

[moviebuff2]

Would someone please tell me the time difference in making a VCD (or SVCD) versus making a XVCD (or XSVCD)? Assuming everything else is kept the same, will it take more time to make an X-version than a non-X-version?

I tried with EasyVCD to make a XSVCD, higest quality, of a 1-1/2-hour movie, it was indicated that the time to make it would be around 25 hours! I want to know if it would take less time to make simply an SVCD with highest quality.

Thanks

[yoda313]

Hello,

I can't tell you about the time it takes. However, a friendly reminder: Xvcd's AREN'T 100% compatible. Use a rewritable disc to test your end result so as not to waste a coaster .

Kevin

[adam]

In general, mpeg2 will take a little longer to encode then mpeg1, probably not all that much though.

Increasing bitrate will also increase encoding time, but again not by that much.

By far the biggest factor is resolution. If you double the resolution you effectively double the time it takes to encode, since there are now double the pixels.

Other then that, it is impossible to give you any kind of answer. It will depend entirely on the actual settings you use. SVCDs allow for alot of variation in bitrate, and of course once you go non-standard you can do anything you want. If you opt for a compliant SVCD, over an XSVCD, it make take twice as long or half as long, it completely depends.

Also another thing to consider is that encoding time estimates generally take a while to stabilize. That 25 hour report easily could have dropped down to 10 hours after the first 10 mins. Maybe give it another shot.

[jimmalenko]

What do you have the Encoding Quality set to ? (Highest takes much much longer than High for very little advantage IMO)

It might be an idea to fill in your Computer Details in your profile too. That way, we know what you are working with

[Cole]

I really like xVCDs. By playing around with the settings in TEMPGnc I found various different outcomes and times, and as you say ending up with a film that was going to take 25 or more hours to encode just got aborted. When I started learing about making VCDs etc the xVCD is what taught me the most.

Anyway, the time it takes for an encode will also depend on the power of your PC (which jimmalenko is alluding to).

A loose guide from the two PCs I have used (and using TMPGEnc) an hour of video to standard VCD:

AMD Athlon 1.4Ghz with 256mb RAM - aprox two and a half hours.
P4 2.8Ghz with 1gig RAM - aprox one hour and five minutes.

Hope that this helps.