FFMpeg: which settings for DVD video?

[KillerLoop]

Which is the optimum setting to get mpeg2 video and ac3 audio in order to import into DVD Studio Pro? I start from .vob files, pal 16:9 with ac3 5+1 audio.

Thanks!

[AntnyMD]

Optimal settings depend on your expectations of the output. I tend to like to cram a lot of material onto one DVD, and a bitrate 3 Mbps yields about 5.25 hours of material encoded at 30 fps, and just slightly over 6 hours for 24 fps material (for 24fps you have to make sure you include pulldown or it wont be compliant). Compare this to using the full 9 Mbps for DVD, which yields about an hour's playtime on a DVD-R.

Keep in mind that ffmpegX, although capable of making compliant MPEG-2 video, does not create closed GOPs, so you will not be able to add markers (for chapter stops) to your final video. If you want to be sure to have closed GOPs, use the MPEG-2 encoder that came with DVD Studio Pro via Quicktime 5 or 6.

[KillerLoop]

Thank you for your help!

What about all those settings like deinterlace, interlace frame or field, svcd headers, etc. etc. ?

Bye

[AntnyMD]

I always select de-interlaced, but only on MPEG2 video that is 30fps. I don't notice much difference when I use it and when I don't use it, so I always use it ... I figure it can't hurt.

I don't use SVCD headers when my intent is to put the output on DVD.

[KillerLoop]

Thanks again for your help, but I'm still having a problem with mpeg2 video. I have tried almost any combination of settings, but I'm still getting a picture on DVD whatched on TV with "moving" effect around fast moving areas, and it seems like I get 2 frame forward and 1 frame back... The thing is evident in areas with a fast moving object, just were you can see on PC monitor interlacing lines... I'm going out crazy !

Can you help?
Bye!

[bilestyle]

ffmpegx uses yuvscaler to deinterlace if i remeber properly, which doenst always finish w/o interlacing artifacts, yuvdenoise (while alot slower if not in fast mode) deinterlaces alot more efficiently, not to steer u away from ffmpegx (it is a great program) but u can try out afropic, it supports output in dvd folders so when your done u can just drop and burn in toast.

http://www.anycities.com/user/bilestyle/afropic.html

[KillerLoop]

ffmpegx uses yuvscaler to deinterlace if i remeber properly, which doenst always finish w/o interlacing artifacts, yuvdenoise (while alot slower if not in fast mode) deinterlaces alot more efficiently, not to steer u away from ffmpegx (it is a great program) but u can try out afropic, it supports output in dvd folders so when your done u can just drop and burn in toast.

http://www.anycities.com/user/bilestyle/afropic.html

Well I have been using afropic and I find it very good with useful mpeg functions like field swap, but I can't still find the way to encode a .m2v file 720x400 into 720x576 (needed for PAL DVD) adding two black bars on top and bottom.
Is it possible?

Bye!