VCD or SVCD?

[ratuna]

Hi,

If usign the same settings (TMPENGc) is SVCD really better?
Example:
max. bitrate : 2520
avg bitrate : 1182
min bitrate : 0
audio: 128 kps
Using VBR.
Will I get better quality encoding to SVCD than to VCD?
Or if the avg bitrate is around 1150 should I encode to VCD?
If using bitrates like those specified to VCD can also be used to SVCD and give better quality I think the best option is to encode always to SVCD (considering that the time is not a problem). Am I right?

Thanks

[kees1952]

You're partially right.
VCD = 352x288 and SVCD = 480x576 (PAL). So making an SVCD with the bitrate of VCD will end up with a worse SVCD compared to VCD.

When you have an AVI 352x288 Non Interlaced (so VCD material) and you encode as SVCD (an SxVCD btw) at 1150 CBR it will not look better. MPEG1 (VCD) is better optimized for low bitrates regarding to MPEG2 (SVCD).

Regards, Kees Janssen.

[Sefy]

I Don't totaly agree with that, i've done lots of SxVCD's and in most cases it's not possible to tell the difference between the VCD and SxVCD, since it's not just MPEG1 <=> MPEG2 but also CBR vs VBR and other little tweaks which help improve quality.

Bottom Line, it's same quality, and sometimes SxVCD is even better quality.