dv to TMPGnc

[vetmac]

i am trying to convert a dv .avi file to mpeg-2 using the tmpgnc. i have tryied all the possible settings but the quality is not acceptable. If i import the file to avid xpress dv and export it as qt ref file and then import the file to tmpgnc the results are great. the original avi was created in a mac using fc express and the videos were captured by a jvc dv pal camera.
I have the same crappy results even if i export the fce timeline as a dv .mov file. Then again if i import the .mov file into avid and export to tmpgenc the results are great.
any ideas?
thank you in advance

[Tommyknocker]

I don't copy. What happens when you load the DV directly into TMPGEnc? Also have you tried frameserving the DV from Virtual Dub mod to TMPGEnc? I also found AviSynth to TMPGEnc gives me good results as well. And once you get the video into TMPGEnc, are you using the templates?

[daamon]

Hi vetmac,

I found this guide VERY useful for TMPGEnc settings:

http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html

I use VirtualDub to extract the audio (from my DV AVI) to .WAV then use ffmpeg (and Baldrick's GUI for it, also in the Tools section) to convert to AC3 (much less bitrate, leaving more for video).

Hope that helps...

Good luck.

[vetmac]

I don't copy. What happens when you load the DV directly into TMPGEnc?

the quality is bad (i.e. zigzeged lines etc...)

Also have you tried frameserving the DV from Virtual Dub mod to TMPGEnc?

i will try it

And once you get the video into TMPGEnc, are you using the templates?

nop. i am using the wizard with setting for best quality. the results are fine only if i frameserve with avid.

[vetmac]

Hi vetmac,

I found this guide VERY useful for TMPGEnc settings:

http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html

i am following all the sugestion and the results are excelent when i am using the avid to frameserve to tmpgenc. i am wondering why the results are not good when i am importing the dv avi or mov file directly to tmpgenc.
thank you for your response

[daamon]

Hi vetmac,

And once you get the video into TMPGEnc, are you using the templates?

nop. i am using the wizard with setting for best quality. the results are fine only if i frameserve with avid.

The wizard uses the pre-defined templates in TMPGEnc - unless you're making changes to the settings.

When I use TMPGEnc, I close the wizard and use the guide I referenced STEP-BY-STEP. There's a lot of info in it - easy to miss if you skim-read.

Try closing the wizard and following the guide closely. I get excellent results with my DV AVI.

Let us know how you get on...

[vetmac]

the pwoblem was the wizard!!! Same settings BUT without the wizard and the results are great!
thank you all very much

[daamon]

Pleasure.

Probably a subtle difference somewhere, but at least you've got results you're happy with.

Now that you're happy - You may want to save the settings you've got as a user defined template in TMPGEnc.

[seandvd]

I've been struggling with the same thing and went through the guide in great detail. The improvements were subtle and I'm wondering if maybe it's not fair to compare my original DV to the DVD. I'm converting my son's football games to DVD and the original DV footage is so crisp when compared to the DVD. I'm only doing a one minute sample so I've maximized the quality settings and no matter what, it's really hard to watch after seeing the original DV.

Based on what I've read in the forums here, people are quite satisfied with the results of converting DV to DVD so I am most interested in what I'm missing. I'm not trying to cram hours on to a DVD; one game is only 20 minutes of action. So what is the absolute best you can expect if you pull out all the stops... anything close to DV?

As mentioned, I followed the guide referened above and saved it as a template. I have TMPGEnc 2.5 and I use Premiere 6.0 to capture the avi from my Sony camcorder.

Any advice would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

[daamon]

I'm only doing a one minute sample so I've maximized the quality settings and no matter what, it's really hard to watch after seeing the original DV.

What settings in TMPGEnc have you set, and with what values? Are you using constant quality (CQ), or constant bitrate (CBR)?

I may be wrong, but I believe that sometimes, having the settings too high (thinking it's gonna be better) is sometimes the cause.

I've used DV AVI captured by Premiere 6.0 as a source (as you are) and encoded using TMPGEnc with CBR @ 8,000 and the output has been excellent.

Technically speaking, it's not fair to compare DV with DVD as the former (DV) is at 25Mbps whereas DVD maxes at around 9 - 10 Mbps. That said, the difference is usually not noticeable on the typical sized TV screens, especially if they're not high-definitiion.

So, in short, you should expect to see your DVD at very close to DV quality.

When you say "it's really hard to watch" - can you elaborate?

Hope that helps.

[seandvd]

Thanks for the reply daamon. I used the guide referenced above (http://dvd-hq.info/Compression.html) and CBR. My monitor is a 35" Mitsubishi tube (about 12 years old, not hi def) and I use the S-video input. At about 15' it's hard to see the difference but at about 4' it's very easy. The DV looks perfect while the DVD has some jagged edges and the overall resolution seems to be slightly better than VHS. (copied same footage onto VHS)

I have a friend who has a Mac setup and claims he can burn DVD's from DV and they look just as good. I'll check out a few on my 35" monitor and maybe I'm just expecting too much.

Thanks again.

[daamon]

Hi seandvd,

I have a suspicion that using your S-Video input could be part (if not totally) responsible. S-Video (or S-VHS) is better by design than standard VHS - hence (I guess) your comment "the overall resolution seems to be slightly better than VHS" would make sense. Your monitor / TV may also be playing a part as its 12 years old...

I have 2 suggestions:

1. Try your friends home-made DVDs (that are good on his setup) on your TV with the S-Video input still as is.

2. Try your home-made DVDs on your friends TV.

If your friends DVDs look like yours do on your setup then it points to the setup. This would be re-inforced if your DVDs look good (as DV) on your friends set up.

As for your process, as long as you've followed the guide closely and done your research into influencing factors (but you should be OK with DV, that guide and TMPGEnc), you should be OK.

I doubt if it's a field ordering problem coz you'd still see that from 15 feet.

Good luck.

[seandvd]

Thanks daamon, I'll give it a go.

seandvd

[daamon]

No problem - hope it works out. Let me know how you get on...