(TMPGEnc) CBR1150kbps VS VBR1150-1150kbps?

[Dodzzz]

Hi guys, I found out that in TMPGEnc if I encode to VCD using VBR (any VBR) with minimum 1150kbps and maximum 1150kbps yield better picture quality than CBR 1150kbps. (I could be wrong though! I was so sleepy last night when testing out these settings)

but my question is will it be playable on any VCD players?
are there any differences (in how a decoder must decode the mpeg) between those two (since I think it has a same flat bitrate of 1150kbps)?

[Bondiablo]

think about it logically, whether you're using CBR 1150 or VBR 1150max 1150min the end result is going to be a bitrate of 1150 so all you're doing by using VBR like that is getting the same quality in twice the time.

[Dodzzz]

I know that, but who knows that TMPGEnc uses different encoding algorithm for CBR and VBR?
I'll try some more testing tonight..

[loseyourself]

why not make a max bit rate of 1150kbps and a min bit rate of 0kbps or a max bit rate of 1750kbps and a min bit rate of 750 / 500 / 250 kbps....when i encode anything i use a bit rate calculator and just us a huge CBR to fill up the 80 Min disc, if a movie of mine will only fit on 2 discs at a min bit rate of no less than 1300 i will put it over 3 discs instead and so on....1150 isnt bad if done with the right encoder like tmpgenc but i just buff the bit rate up to fill the disc and get a little raise in quality....for any thing i capture off of the tv i ecode at 1850kbps and that works out to 15MB per minute of video and i can get two 30 minute episodes on a disc with comercials cut out or a 1 hour episode on 1 disc, i prefer to make them all the same bit rate for some reason....VBR is great but i really cant be bothered doing it cos it takes a while longer to do it properly....bye

[Nelson37]

There are several different issues here, which have been debated pretty heavily. Here's the consensus, SFAIK.

VBR does better bitrate allocation, even in single pass mode, plus offers multipass mode for even better improvement. Even with the flat 1150 settings. Almost all VCD players will handle VBR. How much improvement you see and whether it is worth the additional time is the real question.

Thought of this example for the bitrate allocation. Husband and wife each go to the grocery store, each with $11.50 to spend. He zips in, grabs some stuff and zips out, she goes up and down each aisle with a calculator in hand. Which one will have more food for the same $11.50?
And which one will grab the beer?

Most, if not all, DVD players will also handle a 1150-1250-500 avg-max-min XVCD. But that is a different issue. As you raise the maximum you start losing compatibility, and that's another judgement call.