DVD2AVI Vs FLASKMPEG

[mtb_boy18]

My aim is to try and determine the fastest and most effective method of DVD - VCD/SVCD.

My usual method for VCD/ SVCD creation is as follows -

1. Smart ripper
2. Flask Mpeg (convert Vob to full resolution (720xXXX) and divx low motion @ 6000kbs)
3. TMPGEnc

This has given me excellent quality VCD/SVCD which i have always been happy with. However it is very time consuming due to the fact that I have to encode the AVI's then the MPEG.

I have been browsing through this site trying to find a faster method of DVD - VCD/SVCD with equal if not better quality results and came across Sefys guide. Having tried it I found it did halve my encoding time but gave unsatisfactory results in comparison to my previous method. I noticed that the black was slightly grey and there was a significant increase in pixelation. I am not prepared to compromise with quality over encoding time but desperately want to seek out a method that will cut my time down.

I ask if you would try this comparison. So many times I hear on this site how DivX AVI is a bad source for MPEG encoding. However I do not believe this is true, assuming the source is a full resolution, maximum quality DivX Avi. TMPGEnc seems to be able to encode better as oppose to using the D2V files created using DVD2AVI.

I have heard that CCE will rival TMPGEnc's quality and dramatically reduce the encode time, but it only work with avi's that are already vcd resolution - is this true?

Any help with be appreciated.
Regards,
Matt

[stanwebber]

dvd2avi frameserves 24bit uncompressed rgb thru vfapi. the only possible error is introduced by the idct decoding algorithm, which is to say near mathimatically lossless. any lossy compression step will degrade picture detail, which is what i suspect you are drawing your conclusions from. fewer details or noise=more bits to work with=less macroblocks from bitrate starvation. a blur/smooth type filter has the same result

[spidey]

I agree Stan. I think his biggest loss of time an possible quality is his converting of the vobs to an avi and not a project file (d2v).

Don't encode from dvd2avi to an DivX avi - use dvd2avi as a frameserver to TMPG. See Sefy's Classical Newbie rip guide under the DVD rips section for more clarity.

[baker]

try using my guide, I think u will like.

Baker

[hailieu]

Hey, How is it fit the subtitle into this procedures?

Smartripper -> DVD2AVI -> Subtitle? -> TMPGEnc

where is the subtitle fit into it and where is the instructions and best software to use?

This instruction in VCDHelp and Doom9 are not clear and too old for the new software!

[warthawg]

Hey, How is it fit the subtitle into this procedures?

Smartripper -> DVD2AVI -> Subtitle? -> TMPGEnc

where is the subtitle fit into it and where is the instructions and best software to use?

This instruction in VCDHelp and Doom9 are not clear and too old for the new software!

Are you trying to do permanent subtitles or selectable subtitles? This makes a difference in how you would go about it.

[incognito]

If you just want to save steps,
you can always use flask (or xmpeg)
to frameserve directly to tmpg using avisynth.

Should produce the same results as dvd2avi.

I dont believe that xmpeg supports de-interlacing,
so you'll have to change the source video type in tmpg.

[hailieu]

What about permanent? Try to stick with
Smartripper -> ? -> DVD2AVI -> ? -> TMPGEnc

[stanwebber]

try dvd2avi>mpeg2dec>avisynth>vobsub>tmpgenc or dvd2avi>aviutil>vobsub>vfapi>tmpgenc

[vitualis]

FlaskMPEG --> DivX --> TMPGEnc is a bad choice. Not only does it take longer, you are introducing an intermediate step where you will undoubtedly loose quality.

If you want to use TMPGEnc, it is probably preferable to frameserve with DVD2AVI as others have described.

If you want to use Panasonic and/or include hard-encoded subtitles, FlaskMPEG is probably a neater route.

Regards.

[mtb_boy18]

The theory should hold that converting from the D2V file should harbour better quality results compared with a compressed full quality AVI. However, my I ask you to try and encode from full quality DivX AVI at full resolution and then compare it to the very poor results you obtain when you frameserve using DVD2AVI. It is very easy to point out the theory but you might consider backing it with some actual tests. You then my find that you are as baffled as I am. If anyone with greater intellect then the vast majority people on these forms cares to explain why then I would be very interested to hear it

[vitualis]

If you get poor quality with frameserving, it means that you've stuffed up a step somewhere... I've done this many times and creating a DivX file (or even an uncompressed/minimally compressed AVI) first is not the way to go.

Frameserving essentially means that you are creating a dummy full resolution uncompressed AVI file (perfect quality from DVD) and then encoding that.

Regards.

[mtb_boy18]

May I reassure you that I followed Sefy's guide precisely using numerous DVD rips. I encoded using exactly the same settings in TMEPG. I fail to release how I could have “stuffed up a step”. The guide really isn’t that complex that a step could be missed which harbours noticeable quality difference compared to the DivX source. Remember, frameserving is simply a direct video "link" from example a video editor application to standalone mpeg encoder such as TMEPG so you don't need a plugin or create a temporary video file. May I please hear comments from anyone who has tried this comparison between the encoding of MPEG from full quality DivX avi files at full quality and D2V.

[aguillon]

I have found FlaskMPEG using either the Panasonic or bbMPEG plugins to be a very satisfactory (and speedy) VCD solution; Flask can even take care of subtitles (except for certain reluctant DVDs like Das Boot) and produces very reasonable quality that way.

[incognito]

If you get poor quality with frameserving, it means that you've stuffed up a step somewhere... I've done this many times and creating a DivX file (or even an uncompressed/minimally compressed AVI) first is not the way to go.

Frameserving essentially means that you are creating a dummy full resolution uncompressed AVI file (perfect quality from DVD) and then encoding that.

Isn't frameserving from flask essentially the same as frameserving
from dvd2avi?

[stanwebber]

if it looks better to you then it is better(really). outside of explaining the obvious i'll make no more attempt to persuade you. if your intent was to convince others & myself, i am not persuaded

[vitualis]

Isn't frameserving from flask essentially the same as frameserving
from dvd2avi?

I'm not entirely sure to what you are referencing this to, but essentially, I suppose that it is similar...

However, DVD2AVI is generally considered the superior frameserver (compared to Flask) and is definitely faster if you are going to TMPGEnc. In terms of the video quality of the frameserve, I personally don't think that there is a significant (if at all) difference between DVD2AVI and FlaskMPEG (that is, divorced from the MPEG Encoder), but some people think that DVD2AVI is better.

I don't know if this is still true, but FlaskMPEG used to have a problem frameserving to TMPGEnc if you used tooLame for the audio...

Regards.

[hailieu]

try dvd2avi>mpeg2dec>avisynth>vobsub>tmpgenc or dvd2avi>aviutil>vobsub>vfapi>tmpgenc

OK, dvd2avi provide a WAV and a d2v file and vobsub required AVI file and mpeg2dec only a plugin of what?? I am confuse and can not connect together! Please help!

[mtb_boy18]

Firstly, thanx for the healthy response. I have carried out a variety of new tests and find that frameserving using DVD2AVI will give me more than satisfactory results which I am now prepared to use for my encodes using TMPGE. The new tests were carried out using all three algorithms and PC Scale. This cuts out a very large amount of time for the whole DVD 2 VCD/SVCD process. I do still find that the colour doesn't seem to be as strong using this method but is more then a fair compromise.

[stanwebber]

mpeg2dec is an avisynth plugin; however, i think it would be easier for you to go the vfapi route & add the subtitles with virtualdub or aviutil, both support vobsub as well. mpeg2dec+avisynth+vobsub will save you a bit of time once you familiarize yourself with the process & are comfortable working with .avs scripts

[hailieu]

I don't understand! Avisynth is just a dll file and how mpeg3dec plugin use in Avisynth.dll?

If I go with the dvd2avi>aviutil>vobsub>vfapi>tmpgenc route.
I can't find the aviutil anywhere in www.doom9.org download or vcdhelp!
vobsub have submux.exe and subresync.exe what do they related to aviutil?
Vfapi has two directory on is Codec which has VFCodec.dll, 2 inf file and a vifpset.bat file. How they be used? OK the route dvd2avi>aviutil>vobsub>vfapi>tmpgenc is support to be
dvd2avi>aviutil>vobsub>vfapi>VirtualDub>tmpgenc ?
I am confuse.

Please show me how they connected?

[stanwebber]

aviutil, http://ruriruri.zone.ne.jp/aviutl/
english patch, http://arbor.ee.ntu.edu.tw/~jackei/enu097e.zip
run vifpset.bat to install vfapi
run auxsetup.exe to install virtualdub avi handler
run install.reg to install avisynth @ http://www.videotools.net
either dvd2avi>aviutil>vobsub>vfapi>tmpgenc or dvd2avi>vfapi>virtualdub>vobsub>tmpgenc or dvd2avi>mpeg2dec>avisynth>vobsub>tmpgenc

[hailieu]

OK, I did the VFAPIConv to convert to a avi file from vfapi.
What and where is the instruction for the Virtualdub? I tried to open the avi file from the Virtualdub and tried to Preview. The sound is terrible! I tried to open the wav file and Preview it was still terrible? What should I do from here.

[Roginator]

Select a compression codec and save the file! VirtualDub isn't meant to be a player, it's an editor.

[BoB[uk]]

Hi , i was wondering if u could help , im reading a tutorial Sefy's Classical Newbie DVD Conversion Guide v2.0 , and the DVD2AVI has a mp3 compress menu under Audio, im using dvd2avi v1.76, and there is no mp3 compress opton ?

can u help ?



:o

[oberkfell]

Try version dvd2avi version 1.85.

[BoB[uk]]

thxs oberkfell ..

mp3 compress is in the options :))

damm im happy now, shit small things make me happy :))

Another quick question , how can i retain the subtitles in a movie ?

and how can i find out the language on a dvd ?



:)

[Sefy]

If you used Smart Ripper to rip the DVD, it usually creates a INFO.TXT file, you can open that up and see what each Audio Track is.

As for subtitles, there is a frameserving method with VirtualDub which gives subtitles, but also you can use FlaskMPEG and/or DVDx for that purpose.

[jolo]

Problem I have had with Seffys classical guide for ripping is that it is not up to date. The versions of the software have been updated and I have spent a lot of time looking for menus, items,etc that aren't there.

Woould love to see an updated version using Smartripper --> DVD2AVI or FlaskMPEG --> Panasonic or TPMG. All with the latest version of each.

Thanks,

Jolo, (Jon)
:lol:

[Sefy]

Which part of the Classical Guide isn't updated ?
Smart Ripper latest version is 2.41
DVD2AVI latest version with the MP3 support is 1.76 build 1.85
TMPGEnc Wizard latest is in 2.53
VCDEasy has same interface for both 1.0.8 and 1.0.9

So which program would you like me to update ?