Settings for tooLAME 0.2l for SVCD

[DRP]

I understand that tooLAME is the best MP2 encoder out there and I've been using it for some time in TMPGEnc but I think I may not have been using the optimal settings for quality.

In the case of converting an XviD movie with MP3 audio @ 48kHz (as if ripped from DVD for example), is it best quality-wise to leave the audio at 48kHz and encode at 224kbps (as per the VCD standard specs) or to resample it down to 44.1kHz and then encode @ 224kbps?

Furthermore, is stereo or joint stereo the better option at a 224kbps bitrate with tooLAME 0.2l?

Thus far I have been extracting the audio from the AVI with GoldWave, resampling to 44.1kHz and then maximising the volume before saving out as WAV and encoding with tooLAME 0.2l @ 224kbps stereo via TMPGEnc Plus. I haven't noticed anything adverse with that procedure, but is there a better quality option?

[adam]

Well it is best, quality-wise, to leave it at 48kHz. The question is whether you are willing to give up some amount of compatibility, since both VCDs and SVCDs require 44.1kHz audio. Most dvd players don't seem to have a problem with 48kHz audio in a VCD or SVCD. If you do resample then either keep doing it prior to importing to TMPGenc, or use an external frequency rate converter, like Shibatch encoder, as a plugin to TMPGenc. Many people have complained of TMPGenc's internal frequency rate converter.

As for bitrate, joint stereo is sometimes a better choice at lower bitrates. For a 2 channel audio track, 224kbps is more then enough to warrant using stereo over joint stereo. I personally wouldn't switch to joint stereo until my audio dropped below 192kbps.

[DRP]

Well it is best, quality-wise, to leave it at 48kHz. The question is whether you are willing to give up some amount of compatibility, since both VCDs and SVCDs require 44.1kHz audio.

Excellent. Thank you for your reply. I checked the VCD/SVCD specs before posting but could find no reference to the sampling rate needing to be 44.1kHz, but now I know. TMPGEnc rejects the encoding as being an invalid MPEG stream when you try to encode with 48kHz sound anyway, so I guess that answers that question. I shall keep doing it as I have been then.

As for bitrate, joint stereo is sometimes a better choice at lower bitrates. For a 2 channel audio track, 224kbps is more then enough to warrant using stereo over joint stereo. I personally wouldn't switch to joint stereo until my audio dropped below 192kbps.

Again good information. I didn't even discover that there was a j-stereo option in tooLAME until yesterday, so from now on I shall take your advice and consider it if I need to go below 192.

Thanks again for your replies.