A couple of video questions...

[magic_impuls]

I have a video .avi file that I need to convert to MPEG. I am using TMPGEnc for this.
The file is currently 320x240, at 24.997fps.
I want to keep this file at a 4:3 aspect ratio.

Would it make a difference if I convert the file to 640x480 (which is still 4:3 aspect ratio)?
Would this make the file better qualtiy, or doesn't it make a difference?

Also, TMPGEnc has set the default fps as 29.970, and I can't change it to 24.997 because 24.997 isn't one of the options. Shall I change it to 25 (which is there), or shall I leave it as 29.970?

[Craig Tucker]

If you increase the resolution it will look worse.

Encode it to 25 FPS PAL if you are planning on playing this on a DVD player check it will play PAL, otherwise you will have to convert to NTSC 29.97 FPS.

How do you plan viewing this file PC or DVD player, if it is DVD player then you will need to encode to VCD for which there are strict specifications. If this is the case load the VCD template in TMPGEnc.

[magic_impuls]

If this is the case load the VCD template in TMPGEnc.

What is a VCD template? I used the Wizard in TMPGEnc and clicked on PAL under the VCD option (see pic below)...

[magic_impuls]

Sorry I couldnt' post pic. So basically, ur saying that you should keep the resolution the same as it is originally, but change the fps to 25fps if its on PAL, or 29.997fps if it's NTSC, correct? (Sorry, I am a proper newbie in these things)...

[Craig Tucker]

The resolution will automatically be changed so as to be compliant with VCD that is 352x288 for PAL of 352x240 for NTSC. If you are using the wizard and you are selecting VCD pal, then you are using a template. You can select them manually by clicking the load button but using the wizard is fine. Your source is PAL, near as damn it, so if your player is PAL compatible then it is best to encode as PAL.

At the top left of this page see what is VCD, it tells you the specs that VCD have to follow.

[Drakng]

A question for craig.. Changing resolution will degrade the quality.. I am not so sure. For VCD the resolution is fixed at 1150 but for svcd and dvd you are free to change any resolution to the max. So how can changing resolution degrades quality?

[Craig Tucker]

I think you are confusing resolution with bitrate, bitrate for VCD is 1150kbps, SVCD is a max of 2520kbps and DVD is 9.8Mbps, valid resolutions can be found under WHAT IS VCD/SVCD/DVDR