Need advice with XviD to DVD-SVCD using TMPGEnc

[MaRa-23]

I have about 6 H 28 min 24 sec of XviD video at 560x416 resolution, 1520 kbps bitrate (VBR) and 30 fps, according to GSpot. I wanted all this to DVD so I figured that DVD-SVCD would be the best way, putting 3 h 14 min 12 sec on two discs. The resolution would naturally be 480x480 and framerate 29.97.

I've been experimenting a little bit with TMPGEnc and it doesn't let me put any higher video bitrate than 2520 kbps, thus only allowing me to use 90 % of a DVD-5 disc. Is 2520 kbps the max kbps for SVCD? I can change the bitrate to a higher one with the mpeg tools but it makes me wonder if there's any gain in having any higher bitrate than 2520 kbps with SVCD. If that's the case, is it ok for me to use CBR, since I don't need to save any space?

What should I choose as video mode? The video is originally progressive, should I use progressive with SVCD too?
Should I use closed GOP or open GOP?
What should DC component precision be at? 8 bit?
Should I change VBV buffer size?
etc...

Any other suggestions for improving image quality are appreciated, too.

[Baldrick]

make dvd instead. use a low resolution, like 352x480 o 352x240 similiar to vcd,svcd. use the dvd templates in tmpgenc and just change the resolution.

[MaRa-23]

Thanks, Baldrick, but that brings me just to the same screen where I was before, but with DVD resolution as default. I've confirmed that both my DVD players play DVD-SVCD so I think I'll go with that...

I mainly would like to have answers to these questions.

Is there any gain in having any higher bitrate than 2520 kbps with SVCD? If no, is it ok for me to use CBR, since I don't need to save any space?

What should I choose as video mode? The video is originally progressive, should I use progressive with SVCD too?
Should I use closed GOP or open GOP?
What should DC component precision be at? 8 bit?
Should I change VBV buffer size?
etc...

[MaRa-23]

Anyone?

[uxbridge]

There is no perceiveble gain in burning SVCDs at speeds higher than 2520.
But in that case your SVCD might be not playable by your DVD player cause the speed is too high for something in the family of CDs.
Stay at 2520, of course CBR.

I guess you'll want to watch the SVCD on a TV set, in that case just use interlaced, that's the way TV sets work.

In TMPGenc do not change the GOP, neither the VBV buffer size.
DC component you can set 8, 9, 10 as you like.
10 would not harm.
In DVD encoding use a 2-pass encode and if not bothered about time, choose the best quality option.

Ciao

[kush]

2520k IS (if memory serves me) the limit for SVCD..Unless you use the unlock template within TMPGenc and make an xSVCD - but no telling if it will work in your player.

You better off doing as Baldrick suggested and doing DVD - perhaps 1/2 D1 (352x480)/2 pass VBR..With ~3h 14m each disk, you're looking @ appx 2960kbit/s, assuming 1x192k audio stream (via VideoCalc 1.1). I generally use CCE Basic though, but usually I go Closed GOP/9-bit precision, and depending on the source>destination progressive 23.976 (and apply DGpulldown after), although TMPGenc has a 23.976(29.97 when playback) option which would be the same thing...

[Abond]

I mainly would like to have answers to these questions.

Is there any gain in having any higher bitrate than 2520 kbps with SVCD? If no, is it ok for me to use CBR, since I don't need to save any space?

What should I choose as video mode? The video is originally progressive, should I use progressive with SVCD too?
Should I use closed GOP or open GOP?
What should DC component precision be at? 8 bit?
Should I change VBV buffer size?
etc...

There might be gain. I would suggest to put the average bitrate which would allow to fill the space and some sane max.
You can put also interlaced mode for encoding. It will take a little bit more time to encode, but for compatibility reasons I think it is even better. Many progressive DVDs are encoded interlaced.
Open GOP. The encoder would close it when required.
9 bit looks OK - it mainly depend of bitrate I believe.
VBV buffer - as for DVD. It also depend of bitrate.
About etc... I would load NISC DVD template, then unlock template and change only the horisontal resolution and average bitrate.

[guns1inger]

Top left corner of this page is What Is DVD. Read it. The table towards the bottom explains why you can't raise the bitrate - Kush is correct about the limit.

If you choose a compliant DVD resolution and encode mpeg-2 then you a) can increase the bitrate and fill the disc, and b) will be assured of compatability with your player. Half-D1 is probably the closest to what you currently have.

[MaRa-23]

Okay, does Half-D1 (352x480) with average bitrate of 2881, 8000 max and 2500 min VBR 2-pass sound good?
Will this look better than DVD-SVCD 480x480 with 2520 kbps CBR bitrate?

Edit: Or should I try to make a DVD-SVCD with 2820 average, 8000 max and 2500 min bitrate?

[smearbrick1]

Okay, does Half-D1 (352x480) with average bitrate of 2881, 8000 max and 2500 min VBR 2-pass sound good? :)
Will this look better than DVD-SVCD 480x480 with 2520 kbps CBR bitrate?

Edit: Or should I try to make a DVD-SVCD with 2820 average, 8000 max and 2500 min bitrate?

Look better? Maybe. You are encoding from an XVID source, which means that however you put it to DVD it's not going to look 100% like the original. Sometimes encoding to lower resolution will make the transition (from XVID to DVD) less noticeable.

[Abond]

Okay, does Half-D1 (352x480) with average bitrate of 2881, 8000 max and 2500 min VBR 2-pass sound good?
Will this look better than DVD-SVCD 480x480 with 2520 kbps CBR bitrate?

Edit: Or should I try to make a DVD-SVCD with 2820 average, 8000 max and 2500 min bitrate?

The first for me sounds ok, but I would drop the min to 500. There is quite good possibility it will look better than 480xxx with lower average bitrate (2520). I would go with the third possibility with 8000max 2820 (BTW why is it lower than the average with halfD1) and 500 min.
Well, I would use avisynth script with some motion adaptive filtering.