What Ultimately decide the video quality: bitrate, res...?

[filmhappy]

Hi all,

Tried to find the related topics to read, but still not very clear about what ultimately decides the video quality. I am converting an avi to DVD. Assume that the source file has high enough quality. The length of the film dictates that I can only use a bitrate of 4867 kbps. According to jimmalenko, I should preferably use a resolution of 352X480. HOw would it affect the result if I use 720X480?

Another post says that one should make the value of bit/pixel between 0.17 and 0.30. For my case, even using 720X480 gonna end up too high
(4876*1024/720*480*30 = 0.48)? So what would it be, and if this value is the factor that ultimately decides the video quality? Thanks.

[Cornucopia]

How are you encoding? Hardware? Software?
Which apps? Mainconcept? CCE? TMPEGEnc? etc.

Can/Will you do VBR?

What kind of program content is this? High motion/editing? Visually complex/fine detail?

Ex:
If it was just average, and I was doing this job, I would do this:

1. Capture file to Uncompressed/Lossless/DV avi file at full rez (720x480).
2. Edit to exact length.
3. Apply mild Noise Reduction, etc. and save (or maybe frameserve via AVISYNTH/VDUB)
4. Do 2 or more-pass VBR using TMPEGEnc/CCE with High motion precision. Maybe do short 2 min clip of difficult section 1st and compare.
5. Go back a tweak settings and redo full show a final time.

My guess is you could get a VERY ACCEPTABLE encode at 720x480 with VBR set to ~4876kbps. It may take a little longer, but you can get good encodes that way. I know, I have done so with less, and I'm a seasoned Audio/Video Engineer.

Scott

[monzie]

only 4867? Thats a pretty good AVE or CBR rate for a typical avi (presuming its from a compressed source).

This is how I work things (other people probably go by other routes but hey, thats encoding so deal with it...there is NO perfect way or ultimate guide..it all boils down to what you find acceptable).

Lets start with your avi.

How long is it (in time)?

Is it compressed a la divx/xvid or raw(ish)?

Whats its resolution?

Whats it bitrate?

Does it look OK at its given size, use Zoomplayer to get the EXACT size on your monitor [dont use full screen as your achieving nothing] set the display size to the same as the resolution.

Whats its audio format and bitrate?

What encoder are you using (tmpg, cce, mainconcept, etc)?

Do you know how to use your encoder..or are you just following guides? If so which one?

[lordsmurf]

What Ultimately decide the video quality: bitrate, res...?

- user knowledge
- source quality
- hardware
- software
- bitrate allocation

[monzie]

Look like we all posted/started typing around the same time........

[Soopafresh]

The source quality is the most important determining factor in target quality.

The other factors are important, just not as important.

[junkmalle]

What Ultimately decide the video quality?

You do. Why don't you just try both and see which you like better?

[BJ_M]

The source quality is the most important determining factor in target quality.

The other factors are important, just not as important.

exactly