Encoding Divx for DVD player w/ Divx capability

[Dolly]

Hello,
I did hunt around the forums and found that people were successful. However, there were no specs.
I am trying to encode 25 minutes AVI and MKV files to play on my Philips DVP 626. I have tried numerous ways and used up several CDs, DVDs to test the results. They play fine on Quicktime. However, once burnt and playing on the DVD player, only the top half of the video is showing on screen - it is choppy, ditto audio and goes at a fast pace. I have used both mencoder and ffmpeg AVI, I mirrored as much of the original: film size of 640x480. Chose auto size of 4:3. Tried both NYSC and NYSC film w/ best video bitrate.
Can anyone give me a few clues please? Thanks.

[touche]

Hi Dolly, do you have FFMPEGX? It's is your best friend to do what you want.
Got to here: http://www.ffmpegx.com/howtos.html#divx, maybe could help you.

best,

Touché

[ffooky]

Whichever method you end up trying, why not use rewriteable media ?

It's not clear from your post what the source format for your attempted conversions is.

[internik]

this probably won't help in your current situation, but it is something to file away. i've got a dvp624 and this works for me.

for video_ts rips, conversions using handbrake work right out of the box.

however, for existing avi files (not sure about mkv), IF you happen to have an intelmac and parallels (or access to one), download avirecomp and run your file through it. the program is designed to make avis playable on stand-alone players and the output file will work on a philips.

the great part is the speed though. i've got a low-end 17" intel imac and avirecomp can process a file at just under real-time (ie a 45-minute file is processed in about 40 minutes).

i can't vouch for whether it works in virtual pc. it's considerably slower, even on a dual-g5 and gives errors to the point where i canceled the job.

i hope this helps, but if it doesn't it is something to keep in mind.

[Dolly]

Hey, thanks for all the input.
I have been using FFMPEGX to convert the files. Everything plays fine on Quicktime. However, when I burn it on a disc for the player. the resulting video is choppy and plays only on the top half of the TV screen, ditto choppy sound. The lower half of the screen is solid black. I think somehow the bit rate I use is incorrect?!?
I have tried to follow instructions via the tutorials. I've even managed to load on the subtitles.
I think the problem is the video bitrate. I set the parameters to 4:3 and used NTSC, 25 min. then I nudged the MB to mirror the original video size of 640x280. Resulting in a slightly larger file.
I am working on OSX 10.3.9 and the raw source is overseas (non-US) TV. I do not intend to upgrade until the next gen Intel.
At least I can encode it from MKV to AVI w/ subs, which is a start. Worse case senario is to use Divx converter which is picky and takes forever, but works. 2 steps and 3+ hours for 25 minutes.

[internik]

i know the problem you're talking about. it's happened on my dvp624 and to be honest, the only way i've gotten usable files from ffmpegx is to use either the DivX 3 or XviD codecs.

Xvid is slow and causes some initial audio sync problems that should fix themselves as the file plays.

DivX 3 is an old, not-well-respected codec. the picture quality won't be stellar, but the resulting file should work on your machine.

[ffooky]

I have a DVP5960 that has played everything I've thrown at it but I also have an iisonic which is a *lot* more temperamental and running some AVI files through the Repair AVI function of D-Vision's Tools ("for DVD/Divx player" checked) rendered them acceptable.

OK, it screwed up the audio sync on some but it might be worth a go.

[Dolly]

Thanks for all your input. Converting to Xvid worked, although overscan occurs, unless it is played at 4:3 ratio. Using [Zoom] for TV screen helped a bit. To be picky, so it plays nicely on HDTV monitor, I still have to either run the file through a second time via Divx converter or Toast DVD converter. And this is just for fun?!?
Alternative is to acquire yet another DVD player like the newer Philips or Pioneer, which may hopefully work on all current files. Unfortunately newer codecs are invented continuously.....