SVCD NSTC Resloutions

[headless chicken]

I am resampling a 2-part movie with different bitrates for each part into SVCD with a common bitrate which I will join, and then split into 3 parts.

I wanted to know what the best resolution (pixel size) would be. I tried both TMPGEnc's NTSC SVCD template with default settings and customized bitrate, and then the NTSC SVCD template modified to 352x280 and set the source aspect ratio to 4:3 (704x480).

Both gave me similar results in final visual format on the TV when I tested a burned clip. The only differences I noticed were that the unmodified NTSC SVCD was a larger file size (I'm worried about fitting each of 3 parts onto an 80 min CD), and only the standard SVCD would play back on WinDVD.

So, is standard SVCD resolution (480x480) and a source aspect of 1:1 better than ouput resolution 352x280, source 4:3 (704x480) for any particular reason?

[hwoodwar]

There is one "standard" NTSC SVCD resolution, 480 x 480. Use any other resolution (except 352 x 480, which is CVD) and you are making an XSVCD. Some people (myself included) sometimes capture and encode XSVCDs to either 704 x 480, or 720 x 480 resolution to get what appears to be a better quality output.

[EddyH]

Why do people keep coming up with a 352 by 280 resolution?
I don't get it....

[headless chicken]

The 352x240 resolution is standard NTSC VCD.

I went ahead and encoded one clip in 7 different sample formats ranging from 352x240 with VGA (1:1) as the source, to 480x480 with NTSC 4:3 (704x480) source.

I found that 352x240 with a 1:1 source produces a very similar size, shape and picture quality to standard 480x480 SVCD. While the 352x240 had less macro blocking (if that's what you call the poorly defined bunch of rectangular pixels), the 480x480 had clearer titles. I started off encoding to 352x240 but switched to standard SVCD because it can also be played back on a PC.

Thanks for your help.