Quality

[Mike Powell]

I have converted DVD to SVCD a few times, using the Flask Mpeg, or even DVD2VCD and TPMEng etc. Always worked but never was quite perfect. Usually "mozaic" or tiling type interference around certain opoints. I am using XP, and have just tried VCD Easy and DVD2SVCD. Quaility is still poor, if not worse. Am I missing something obvious ?

Thanks,

Mike

[SaSi]

First things first, so welcome to a cool forum.

A SVCD can hold slightly less than an hour's worth of video with acceptable if not good quality. The more you try to squeeze into a CD, the lower the bitrate gets, and bye-bye quality.

A "trick" to increase capacity to almost an hour if not more, is to deviate from the default SVCD settings of CBR @ 2520 kbps for video and 224kbps for audio and make audio 96kbps joint stereo with video as VBR with an average of 2400 kbps, a min of 200kbps and a max of 2600. The SVCD should still be playable on most standalone players supporting SVCD and the quality would increase. Reason is that more bitrate is allocated to video than audio and VBR means that bitrate is allocated more to scenes requiring it rather than to all frames. You can experiment with Tmpgenc to get the best "compromise" for your own eyes and content. Also, some video content requires less bitrate than others. If not much action is contained, then you can safely decrease bitrate and not actually lose any quality on those films. Experiments and experience are your tools there.

[Mike Powell]

It sound easy, but I will print it off and read it. What is the best "tool" for the job in your view. I used Smart ripper and TMPEng etc, and lastly EasyVCD. Are these the best, or is there another ?

Thanks for your reply,

Mike

[drewson99]

you got it right, that is the best trio, but why not go to DVD if quality is a concern for you?

[ZippyP.]

I use TMPGEnc and there is a setting under the Quantize Matrix tab to soften Block Noise, which I think is the "tiling" you refer to. The default settings of 35 are good but you might want to experiment. It can be caused by too low a bitrate.

[puertorican138]

I use TMPGEnc and there is a setting under the Quantize Matrix tab to soften Block Noise, which I think is the "tiling" you refer to. The default settings of 35 are good but you might want to experiment. It can be caused by too low a bitrate.

I hear that Soften Block Noise does more harm than good.

[SaSi]

you got it right, that is the best trio, but why not go to DVD if quality is a concern for you?

Not everybody got a DVD burner, just yet.

[ZippyP.]

I hear that Soften Block Noise does more harm than good.

I find that it makes the block noise less noticable, and I adjust it from 20 to 50 depending on source quality. I've heard others complain that it makes things fuzzy but I've never noticed that myself. I also use the sharpen edge filter (usually 20-30), maybe that's why I don't see it.
8)

[puertorican138]

I hear that Soften Block Noise does more harm than good.

I find that it makes the block noise less noticable, and I adjust it from 20 to 50 depending on source quality. I've heard others complain that it makes things fuzzy but I've never noticed that myself. I also use the sharpen edge filter (usually 20-30), maybe that's why I don't see it.
8)

Yeah, but then again, what might look good to you might look horrible to someone else.

[ZippyP.]

Yeah, but then again, what might look good to you might look horrible to someone else.

Absolutely, everyone must make up their own mind what works for them!