AVI-->MPG Low bitrate Encoding Versus DVD Shrink

[MrSpeed]

I know this topic has been covered many times before but I think I have a new twist.

I recorded a 2hr 15min theatre show and need to fit it on a single layer DVD.

According to the bitrate calculator I need to encode near 4200 kbits/sec.

I really don't like to encode at such a low rate so I have come up with a few different options.
BTW I just bought Ulead Moviefactory 5 which has two pass VBR and AC3 encoding.

The options:
1)-Two Pass VBR Encode at a high bitrate ~8000 kbit/s and then do a pretty major shrink with DVD Shrink

2) Two Pass VBR Encode closer to to the target bitrate ~5500 kbit/s and then DVDShrink at a smaller percentage ~85%

3) Two Pass VBR encode at the target bitrate of 4200 kbit/s

I tried option 2 and really things didn't look too bad. The artifacting waasn't too bad but the video looked a little "flat" (maybe less dynamic range in the colors ?).

[fritzi93]

Option 3, no doubt about it.

You must encode, so get it right the first time. Don't transcode unless you're slightly over target and don't want to re-encode. Transcoding will definitely degrade the file, as transcoding only removes DCT precision data. No way around it. Therefore it's a wasted extra step in this instance, as well as costing you quality.

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?&threadid=63587

[greymalkin]

when you say theater show are you talking about a tv show or something you actually recorded with your video camera?

[Bjs]

Well , you can not even begin because you have said "recorded" ?

1: How (as avi . mpeg , dv , or via dvd recorder)
2: Width x height .
2: What was the video bitrate used ?

Gspot for avi
MPEG Validator or MPEGProperties for mpegs/vobs

No sence in encoding to 4200 kbits , if source is lower ...

Now decide on option's for encoding ...

[MrSpeed]

The source was my Panasonic GS250 camera recorded to DV, transfered via Firewire to my PC and edited in Vegas Studio and then saved as an AVI with transitions etc..

So basically the source has never been encoded or captured in MPEG. It was shot on a tripod so picture is pretty steady except for the pans and zooms.

I also have another question. I normally will pick a small 5 minute sample of the video and encode at the calulated bitrate and then view it on a TV.

It doesn't seem like this will work well if I am using 2 pass VBR since the encoder examines the entire source file on the first pass to determine where to allocate the bitrate. My small 5 minte sample may not be representative of the entire movie...correct ?

[greymalkin]

it would be a shame to lose such a good picture quality trying to cram it on a single layer dvd.
Since you used a tripod and if you didn't pan alot you might be able to get away with it though using VBR.

yep..with VBR you would need to let it do the whole thing..set it up and go to bed...come back the next morning, burn to DVD-RW and see how it looks

[bendixG15]

I also have another question. I normally will pick a small 5 minute sample of the video and encode at the calulated bitrate and then view it on a TV.

It doesn't seem like this will work well if I am using 2 pass VBR since the encoder examines the entire source file on the first pass to determine where to allocate the bitrate. My small 5 minte sample may not be representative of the entire movie...correct ?

The way around that is to cut a 5 minute piece of the AVI file and then use that as your test file for the 2 pass VBR

[greymalkin]

you could chop it up but then you are not getting an accurate representation of the entire video and the VBR information would be useless (unless everything on the video is done exactly the same way every 5 minutes)

[MrSpeed]

it would be a shame to lose such a good picture quality trying to cram it on a single layer dvd.

My first choice was to burn to a printable dual layer disc. The economics kills me though. It's like $3.10 for a dual layer vs $.49 for a single layer disc. I have a 2:15 movie plus about an hours worth of "extras".

So now the plan is a two single layer discs. One for the main show and one for the extras. I'll try an encode tonight and have some unbiased eyes look at it and compare it to a disc I made that split the show onto two DVD that was encoded at 8000kbits/s.