Should you keep the resolution you download at?

[SIMES]

Can anyone tell me if you download an avi and it says it has a resolution of 640x272 does that mean when you use s/w like TMPGenc to decode it, that you should choose the same resolution?

On TMPGenc it defaults to VGA 1:1, but it makes sence to me to choose PAL 704x436 PAL

So can I choose that or do I need to stick with the default?

Also if the latter is the case, then does it actually matter what original 'res' you download the file at or is that irrelvant once you 'decode't it with TMPGenc?

[FOO]

It would help just a little to know what you intend to do.
The mind reader is off today

[Gees]

Foo, that's the 3rd mean post you've done in like 5 minutes. :c( Bad day?

Simes, you do need to provide more info. What do you want to do with the file in the end? Put it on DVD? When we have that info, it's much easier to help.

And just to clarify Tempenc does not "decode" You use it to (mainly) re-encode video.

Keep checking the glossary & guides and do searches on "aspect ratios" and you'll find lots of useful info there.

[macleod]

I am wearing my mindreading hat today and hazard a guess that you are wanting to watch your converted avi on a standalone dvd player. If that is the case, you will want to use a valid resolution AND also use a valid audio level and bitrate.

vcd = 352x240 (288 for PAL) 1150 bitrate 44.1 audio
SVCD = 480x480 (576 for PAL) 2520'ish 44.1 audio
CVD = 352x480(576 for PAL) 2520'ish and either 44.1 or 48mhz
DVD = 720 or 704 x 480 (576 for PAL) I think up to 9000kps and 48mhz

With your specific avi, I would recommend VCD as anything higher and you are "polishing a turd".

you might just want to download dvd2svcd and choose the vcd template and let it do the conversion for you. Save yourself some grief.

[Gazorgan]

TMPG is telling you what resolution it is in, not what it will convert to.

You determine your output by setting the parameters. It's easier to use the wizard, and select VCD/SVCD/DVD and PAL/NTSC. Bitrates are a different story, but generally speaking go with TMPG defaults and see what you get. Need to know what your converting to.

By the way, if it's a 1 CD movie, then go VCD. 'Turd Polishing' sucks.

[SIMES]

It would help just a little to know what you intend to do.
The mind reader is off today

Ok, on a re-read it was a bit thin on the old 'information'. Yes, you guessed correctly, I am taking 'avi's and I want to 'encode' them to DVD format using TMPGenc

It's just that the come down in all kinds of resolutions and I wanted to know do I need to stick to that resolution or can I choose the resolution I want in TMPGenc or does it not work that way. Will it simply be in the original resolution I downloaded it in.

[SIMES]

Foo, that's the 3rd mean post you've done in like 5 minutes. :c( Bad day?

Simes, you do need to provide more info. What do you want to do with the file in the end? Put it on DVD? When we have that info, it's much easier to help.

And just to clarify Tempenc does not "decode" You use it to (mainly) re-encode video.

Keep checking the glossary & guides and do searches on "aspect ratios" and you'll find lots of useful info there.

Ok Thanks Gees

Yes it's to bung into DVD format and play in a domestic player.
So to be clear

online - hardisk = download
hard disk via TMPGenc to mpg = re-encode?
mpg to vob/ifo = rip ?
vob/ifo folders to blank DVD = burn ?

I will check out the whole aspect ration issue.

I guess my basic question was, does the format you download in have a baring on the format you need to -re-encode' it in

Ie if I download an avi with a resolition of 320x 225 (for arguments sake) can I then choose in TMPGenc, PAL Widescreen 720x550 (for arguments sake)

Ie, Can it take one file with a lower resolition and then create one with a higher resolution or does it just ignore what you set it for and simply create the best it can based on the original file or is it the case that the avi contains the code in it, that when encoded allows for higher resolutions in DVD PAl mode.

Does that make sence.

[SIMES]

TMPG is telling you what resolution it is in, not what it will convert to.

You determine your output by setting the parameters. It's easier to use the wizard, and select VCD/SVCD/DVD and PAL/NTSC. Bitrates are a different story, but generally speaking go with TMPG defaults and see what you get. Need to know what your converting to.

By the way, if it's a 1 CD movie, then go VCD. 'Turd Polishing' sucks.

Whooa, Thank you, yes your right, I didn't read the TMPGenc properly on the screen, that resolution bit is for the 'SOURCE' , damm it, ok, so my entire point is totally mooot. Presumably if it defaults to VGA 1:1 in TMPGenc, then that is the resolution of the source file (the avi) and I should just leave it as that and hit the big 'GO' button and let it do it's stuff.

The only option I am actually given that I can change is whether I want a VCD,SVCD or a DVD and whether PAL or PAL widescreen.

I guess the former are choices based on whether I want the extra quality DVD affords(although from the turd polishing references I am begining to understand perhaps that's a non issue) and the latter is just down to my own preference of how I prefer to view it, 4:3or 16:9

[SIMES]

I am wearing my mindreading hat today and hazard a guess that you are wanting to watch your converted avi on a standalone dvd player. If that is the case, you will want to use a valid resolution AND also use a valid audio level and bitrate.

vcd = 352x240 (288 for PAL) 1150 bitrate 44.1 audio
SVCD = 480x480 (576 for PAL) 2520'ish 44.1 audio
CVD = 352x480(576 for PAL) 2520'ish and either 44.1 or 48mhz
DVD = 720 or 704 x 480 (576 for PAL) I think up to 9000kps and 48mhz

With your specific avi, I would recommend VCD as anything higher and you are "polishing a turd".

Ahh , ok, although I think the issue is moot as somebody else said, the TMPGenc settings are for the source media, not the outputted file, so it's pretty much irrelevant what I set from that drop down box.

Re the 'turd polishing' exercise, I presume that means taking a shit original format and trying to make it into something it's not, like DVD quality.

How do you know what 'avi' I have, what 'avi's should I be looking for to ensure the highest quality and make it worthwhile going to DVD format as opposed to VCD , SVCD etc

The avi's I see to download all have weired and wonderful descriptions

ie

DVdrip
divx
xvid
sati
tcf.ts.divx
centropy. ts


And that's just to name a few, is there one specific kind I should be looking for to ensure the 'best' original version I can?

Also is it better to download an mpg than an avi? Does the mpg format have the same inherent limitations as the avi's , is there a preferred format to start the process with?

under what situations would you choose DVD other VCD or SVCD in TMPGEnc?

[overloaded_ide]

mpg to vob/ifo = rip ?

NOPE
DVD to hard drive = rip

You can go down on quality but not up basically. Polish a turd and you have a shiney turd, but a turd none the less
Then again can you even make a turd shine at all ?

I guess the former are choices based on whether I want the extra quality DVD affords

First, to get DVD quality you must start with a DVD quality file.
If you start with a VHS you'll have VHS on DVD.
If you start with VCD, then you'll have VCD on DVD.

The format changes, but quality pretty much stays the same.
Though sometimes it seems as though The VHS I put on DVD looks a bit better than off the tapes. But that's probably a difference in cables, the player, ect..

[Gees]

Simes,

All that you learned was correct, except:

mpg to vob/ifo = rip ?

I'd call that "author". :c)

As overloaded's said - pulling the files from a dvd to your hard drive is considered "ripping".

But great work learning the lingo. :c)

[theDruid]

How do you know what 'avi' I have, what 'avi's should I be looking for to ensure the highest quality and make it worthwhile going to DVD format as opposed to VCD , SVCD etc

The avi's I see to download all have weired and wonderful descriptions

ie

DVdrip
divx
xvid
sati
tcf.ts.divx
centropy. ts


And that's just to name a few, is there one specific kind I should be looking for to ensure the 'best' original version I can?

Also is it better to download an mpg than an avi? Does the mpg format have the same inherent limitations as the avi's , is there a preferred format to start the process with?

under what situations would you choose DVD other VCD or SVCD in TMPGEnc?

In my experience the filenames often bear little relation to the actual content of the file - some people deliberately misname their files, and others simply don't know better - DVD in a filename might just mean that someone thought the video was good quality.

DivX and xVid are probably the most common types of files out there - and these refer to the codec used in the file's encoding. However, the files should have a .avi extension, and again anything else in the filename might be a load of rubbish. If you really want to know what codec has been used, check the file with gSpot or a similar tool (you can do this with a partial file, before the whole lot is downloaded).

Some people will argue that xVid is better, and some argue the opposite. It's subjective really, and the other thing is that an file can still be encoded badly (low bitrates, wrong aspect ratio etc..), or come from a bad source - regardless of the codec used.

DivX is older than xVid, and there many files around which used older verions of the codec (e.g. Div3). These older files can be worse quality.

In my humble opinion, the best quality files tend to be xVid with ac3 audio, and tend to be in two parts.

With these, it might be worth encoding to MPEG2 (SVCD/DVD), but most other files - particularly one disc Div3's and suchlike are not really worth anything better than VCD. This is where the turd polishing comes in.

Getting mpg files instead of avi's pretty much just means they've been encoded already. Some may be very well done SVCDs (MPEG2), but some of the worst files I've seen are mpg's (poor quality MPEG-1/VCD files). gSpot should also show you what the actual file is.

So, in conclusion:

1. Filenames are often a load of rubbish.
2. Check files with gSpot or something like that if you want to know what it really is - this won't tell you the source, but will tell you the codecs used.
3. Up-to-date versions of DivX (5+), and xVid files are arguablly going to be the best quality - especially the ones encoded split into two files, and with AC3 audio.
4. Whether it's worth going to VCD/SVCD/DVD etc.. is really a judgement call, but remember the phrases you can't polish a turd, and also garbage in, garbage out. If the source is not great quality (blockiness, artifacts etc..) it's not going to get any better just because it's re-encoded and burnt onto a DVD.

Of course, we're not talking about piracy here - no names mentioned.

cheers,
mcdruid.

[tim6661234]

I think things are getting mixed up a bit here.
If you load a file into TmpEnc (not through the wizards) the output resolution is set to be the same as the source file so this does matter.

You're better using the wizards and selection DVD PAL, setting the bit rate etc. This will generally sort out the output options.

On aspect ratio, MPEG's have this as a property, this tells the player how to display it. In other words the resolution does not control the aspect ratio. avi do not they are 1:1 in terms of pixels. Simply put the resolution of an avi governs the aspect ration. To find out what ratio you need view the avi and judge for yourself. Select this in as part of the wizard.

I don't agree that because your source file is not full DVD res that you should go to VCD res. You won't improve the quality of the original file going to DVD res but you will degade it going to VCD. As your choices with DVD are 2 that are higher than your source and 1 that's lower I'd go higher. After all getting it on a DVD rather than 2 VCD is much less hastle when it comes to playing it.

Tip
Once you have your MPEG play it, and check that the sound track has not gone out of sync. There are posts here to refer to if you find this a problem.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[SIMES]

ok

Thanks to everyone, I am taking it all in , re the TMPEGenc Wizard, etc, I just won't bother you with further confirmation, but I do now understand all the issues re conversion, PAL, aspects ratios, and 'turds' (Damm technical the faeces aspect of copying DVD's )

Just one more on terminology, re 'ripping'

I never 'Rip' then presumably because I am 'going the other way' for lack of a better description.

I presume 'ripping' is for people putting a normal DVD in their machine and 'ripping' that to the HD, I only take stuff from the HD and then burn it onto the DVD

So is ripping, simply the opposite of burning OR does anything else happen in the transfer from the DVD to the HD, like protection removed etc to classify it as ripping' and if that's the case, if you just 'copied' a DVD to your hard disk (if that's possible) would that be just plain copying, not ripping?

ps Why is this forum not emailing me anymore when somebody posts, does anybody else have this problem?

[overloaded_ide]

If your using Yahoo, check your bulk mail folder.
Yahoo was dumping this forum and another into my junk mail at one time for some unknown reason! Working fine, then one day I just stopped getting notices! A few days latter I checked to see what I was getting in bulk mail, and there were some notices!

Could happen on other type mail accounts to I would think, so check that.

There is alot that can be done durring ripping. For instance many DVDs are larger that a recordable will hold, so shrinking can be done durring ripping. Protections can be removed as well as regions. Also you can leave out stuff like extra languages or soundtracks etc..

A copy is just from here to there basicaly.
Though most the time many people use either to mean the same thing