Need a fast encoder, not worried about quality

[JDShaffer]

Normally I encode AVI to MPG2 with TMPGEnc, however even on the fastest setting 2 hours of video can take around 8 hours on my computer, which is fine when I want quality . There are times when I care little about quality and want a fast encode done to hurry and get the files to DVD. So I was hoping for some suggestions of a fast encoder.
Thanks

[steveryan]

ConvertXToDVD

[redwudz]

TMPGEnc encoder is one of the slower encoders out there. But it's easy to setup and use. If you use the default settings it's fast enough most of the time. If you change them, you can slow it considerably.

CCE, ProCoder and Mainconcept MPEG Encoder are faster, and probably the freeware encoders like QuEnc, HC or FAVC may even be faster than TMPGEnc. But all of them may be a little harder to set up and use.

For speed, I would recommend trying CCE and learning how to use it. JMO Lot's of guides for it in 'CONVERT.'

But I would agree for a fast and easy conversion, you can't beat ConvertXToDVD.

[FulciLives]

AviSynth using FitCD to help with the script along with CCE.

Both AviSynth and FitCD are free and CCE Basic is just under $60.00 US Dollars.

Hard to beat for quality and speed.

BTW the quality of TMPGEnc Plus can be good but it is probably one of the slowest MPEG encoders around. The big plus though is that it is fairly easy-to-use.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Afterlife]

Ill probably get cursed for this, but if you want speed and dont care at all for quality (though to be quite honest it never looks terrible) you cant beat WinAVI. Its generally regarded as a POS software, as it doesnt output properly. However I can usually convert 1hr of footage in <20 mins (P2.4Ghz 512RDRam).

Good luck.

[JDShaffer]

Thanks for all the replies. I will play around with some of suggestions and see what works for me.

[guns1inger]

If you are encoding 23.976 source material, use ConvertXtoDVD. It encodes correctly at 23.976 with 2:3 pulldown. WinAVI encodes at 29.97 by adding duplicate and blended frames. You get jerky output and a lower bitrate. Note: DivxtoDVD does not do pulldown encoding, only the payware version does this.

[laspis59]

Mainconcept MPEG Encoder or CCE are fast and give compliant output.The bonus is they DO give good quality encodes,CCE being better quality and cheaper to afford (Basic version).The freeware encoders I've tried seem slower and harder to setup (Avisynth).