mpeg-2 streamclip to qicktime .mov

[blubot]

a)
I am converting some of my .mpg vids to create a new quicktime format video library (for future conversion to ipod, apple TV, or other formats)
which configuration/conversion settings should I choose in order to maintain the original .mpg playback quality?
Which of the followings should I choose:
1)Compression? (H.264,...?)
2)Data rate? (kbps?)
3)Frame rate?
4)Frame size? (4:3,16:9,unscaled?,DV-NTSC/PAL, HD?)
5)Sound, max. kbps?

b)
most of my home vids (30mins) convert fine and in reasonable time...but there is one mpg clip that is approx 90mins long and it took more than 3 hours to convert 30% of the vid...how can it take so long and can this be improved?

[Baldrick]

a) Why do you need to convert to mov? You will lose quality by reconverting. It would be better to leave them as mpeg2 and then convert the mpeg2 directly to ipod, appletv formats when you need to do so.

b) Did you use same setting as the other video you converted?

[blubot]

a) right, better to keep the mpeg-2 files as they are and convert directly to ipod whenever needed!

b) yes i used the same settings (for ipod) to convert my vids, but one of the 2hrs movie converts very very slowly...and even makes the computer crash halfway through...should not be actually since my PC is fast enough...I dont understand this and it should not take 10 hours to convert a mpeg-2 movie to ipod...any ideas or other options?

[Baldrick]

b) The mpg file could be corrupt, try repair the mpg file using for example Videoredo and use the Quickstream fix.

[blubot]

ok i will give this a try. thanks

[CDan]

I've done a lot of MPEG to MOV conversion, and have found that best combination for quality with minimal file size is the Sorenson Video 3 Compressor and IMA 4:1 audio compressor. Your resulting quality will depend on your individual settings for bitrates and resolution. You should also have a setting for "spacial quality" or motion detection that will influence file size and image quality quite a bit.