Here's how to make the best looking SVCD's on just 2cd's!!

[Yeshi]

Well i did some research on this myself, and found some very good results that helped me heaps. Some of the results i found were rather confusing too, but follow this guide, as it helped me very much.

Ok first off load the SVCD Pal Template if you have a 25fps movie, or SVCD NTSC Template if you have 23.97 or 29.97.

Once done, load the UNLOCK template from the TMPGEnc template folder.

Ok, now click the setting button
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VIDEO TAB

- 480x480 NTSC or 480x576 for PAL
- 4:3 Aspect
- 2pass Variable Bitrate (Avg. 1900, Max. 2600, Min. 600)
- MP at ML
- 4:2:0 ( i dont think standalone's play 4:2:2)
- 10 bits DC Coefficient
- High quality motion search

GOP STRUCTURE TAB

Number of I Picture - 1
Number of B picture - 1
Number of P Picture - 1

This will give you the sequence IBPB - This has been documented on some websites to help improve blockiness and overall quality. It actually makes your video SMALLER, yes its smaller and better quality than 1,5,2 the default setting.

QUANTIZE MATRIX TAB

- On the dropdown bar, change from default to MPEG Standard
- Use Soften Block Noise (Intra = 45, NON Intra = 30)

SYSTEM TAB

- Make sure your steam type is MPEG2 SVCD

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I found these settings gave me very good results when encoding DVD Rips in DivX format. There was virtually no block noise at all, i managed to fit about 115 minutes of video on 2cd's that played perfectly on my DVD player

[av-freak]

Does movement looks ok too? I experimented with this myself a while ago and I thought I saw more after glow in the picture when I use a shorter GOP structure. I also tried I-frames only, IPPP and IBBPBBPBBPBB (1-3-2). (1-3-2) looked ok and my dvd player does respond better with FF, but I thought it was a little bit more jerky.

Does anyone ever have tried to change the quantize matrix?

[hence]

I'm going to try this tonite

[Yeshi]

great. i hope it works out for you, it certainly did for me

[kinneera]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
This will give you the sequence IBPB - This has been documented on some websites to help improve blockiness and overall quality. It actually makes your video SMALLER, yes its smaller and better quality than 1,5,2 the default setting.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Where did you hear this? I ask, because it is totally incorrect. I-frames are full-description frames (similar to JPEGs) whereas P and B frames descrive the image relative to the frames around them, meaning they are substantially smaller. Thus, fewer I-frames results in a smaller file.

[Kaiman]

what exactly is the svcd template??

[Yeshi]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
Where did you hear this? I ask, because it is totally incorrect. I-frames are full-description frames (similar to JPEGs) whereas P and B frames descrive the image relative to the frames around them, meaning they are substantially smaller. Thus, fewer I-frames results in a smaller file.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Well i also read that it makes your files large using IBPB sequence so i did some testing myself. I got some wierd results. I'll post them later

[Yeshi]

It is the template located in the template folder of TMPGENC. that wasnt so hard to figure out was it now.

[Yeshi]

Ok kinneera, in some cases it results in a larger file, and in others, a smaller file. It depends on settings (wierd results). Here are the results i obtained

Movie - a selection from Boyz 'n the hood DVDRip.avi
Length - 1000 frames
Encode Mode - CQ quality 100 max Bitrate - 3000, Min Bitrate 0
Lowest quality motion search precision
GOP Sequence - 1,5,2
File Size - 10,207Kb

Movie - Same as above
Length - 1000 frames
Encode Mode - Same As Above
Lowest quality motion search precision
GOP Sequence - 1,1,1
File Size - 11,809Kb

Movie - Same
Length - 1000 Frames
Encode Mode - 2pass VBR (Max3000, Avg2000, Min0)
Lowest quality Motion Search
GOP Structure - 1,5,2
File Size - 7,994 Kb

Movie - Same
Length - 1000 Frames
Encode Mode - 2pass VBR (Max3000, Avg2000, Min0)
Lowest quality Motion Search
GOP Structure - 1,1,1
File Size - 7,227 Kb

So there you see in mode CQ the file size for a 1,5,2 header was smaller, but in 2pass VBR is was larger! try it for yourself and see.

[Peter]

Strange, with 2-pass VBR you should get the same size. Only quality will be different.

[Yeshi]

What do you mean. Same size as the CQ file or same size as the file with the 1,5,2 header?

[Peter]

2-pass VBR:

The encoder has to encode with an average of 2000, max of 3000 and min of 0. So it must distribute the bytes, so the entire clip will have appr. the same quality, with an average of 2000. Both clips has to be the same size, because of the same average set. If a part of the movie requires less bytes, it gives those bytes to another scene.

If you do singel pass CQ VBR, the encoder tries to meet the quality you set with a max of 3000. This can be different to the different gop settings. If it uses less bytes on a part, the bytes are not going to another scene.
You don't have a average bitrate!

[Yeshi]

Sorry but that doesnt follow. Try it out for yourself