Quality, What do I do Next?

[bazzae123]

As I understand it the files that come from my Panasonic DX100 camera for 720x576 and are stored as AVI files in my PC with no loose to quality as nothing has been done to them apart from coming from my camera to my PC. Is that correct? Now, if I wanted to get them to a disk to play in my DVD player (Sony DVP-S735D) and aren't to concerned about file size what should I do next.

I'm using TMPGEnc to convert the AVI file but what settings are best to achieve the best quality? I've read this board for days and have over loaded with info.
A couple of questions somebody may be able to answer for is:

Do I keep the same resolution of 720x576
Do I de-interlace or not
Are there other settings that I can adjust to get the best possible results

Bazza

[Tommyknocker]

If you are interested in the best possible results, read the DVR section. But to make a DVD you will need a DVD burner. If you only have a CD burner, you can only make VCD or SVCD. The SVCD has the best quality of the VCDs.

[SaSi]

Even if you don't have a DVD, you can create a DVD compliant SVCD and record it on CD. When you get a DVD-writer (eventually), you will be able to use the encoded files and convert them into DVD without re-encoding.

For encodng, you can try Tmpgenc with the DVD templates for NTSC or PAL, depending on the source (although 720x576 imply PAL).

Don't de-interlace. I have been doing so in the past and several TVs and DVD players don't handle the video properly.

Use 1 pass VBR or 2 pass VBR with min. bitrate at 1000, average at 6000 and max at 8000. For audio, it depends on the source, however for home movies, 128kbps MPEG layer II (within Tmpgenc) is fine.

You can start with the Tmpgenc wizzard and templates and as you gain experience you can experiment with different settings.

The resulting mpg file can be used to SVCD burning (with Nero). Start an SVCD, select non-standard SVCD and drop in a MPG file. Test it on your DVD player and if it's ok, use these settings.

[bazzae123]

Thanks Guys,

I've used 2 pass VBR with min bitrate 1000, average at 6000 and max at 8000 as suggested. The problem is the picture is very stop and start. I wouldn't say its jerky as it dosn't seem to get started enough to be jerky. Its more of a start, stop motion. The audio sounds like somebody talking under water. Any ideas what to do next.

Thanks from a total newbie.

Bazza

[energy80s]

Sounds like your DVD player can't take such high bitrates from a CDR disc - don't worry, most can't. The only way to play it would be on a PC.

[ZippyP.]

Sounds like your DVD player can't take such high bitrates from a CDR disc - don't worry, most can't. The only way to play it would be on a PC.

If you are burning to cd i.e. creating an SVCD, then you shouldn't exceed 2750 b/s total (video + audio). Most players won't accept it and any higher bitrate won't increase quality (much). Best to stick to the SVCD standards that TMPGEnc gives you.

[bazzae123]

Thanks Guys,

Now I know I'm not doing anything wrong.

Bazza