Improve vcd quality?

[slickrick]

I know you can't get great quality from VCD, but does anyone have some experience in messing around with all the settings and getting better quality? I use the LSX-MPEG plug-in on my rt2500. I use the default settings, but there are so many - should I fiddle around with any of them (i.e. - bitrates?, upper field/lower field, etc)? Also, I am using Nero to burn. How about those settings? Again, I am using the defaults for vcd, but should I change anything? Speed of burn, for example? Also, I am beginning to use svcd also, so any info on those setting would also be appreciated. Thanks.

[vhelp]

slick,

First, i can't keep track of wheather or not you ever reply to me, but in any case. . .

* R U capturing
* R U DVD transfering to VCD
* what is rt2500 - video editing + hardware card??
* R U using tmpg or an mpeg encode supplied by your card/kit??

The answer to you question is YES and NO.
* it all depends on your source's quality
* what resolution U R capturing at, etc., etc.
* and, how you encode the clip

Three are other methods to achieving good quality VCDs but they
for the most part (capturing) require re-dundant methods/processes.

As for DVD transfers to VCD. . . if the method you (or others) use is
a good one, you can get near, close or right on DVD quality, but hold
the DVD specs, cuase they are different,ie, sound system, resolution
to name a few. I have managed to figure how to get close to DVD
visual quality (minues the sound specs and resolution).

I have ben exploring with the VCD standards for some time now (non
stop) and have even amazed myself - I've made many statements
claims that VCD sucks, yada, yada, yada, and here I am eating my
words this very day.

-vhelp

[slickrick]

vhelp - thanks for the response. haven't replied to you yet due to the fact i am a newbie - just registered the other day.

i shoot on mini dv (sony vx-2000), and capture that, and existing video footage (vhs, svhs, whatever) on the rt2500 (Matrox Realtime 2500 Capture Card). no transfer from dvd. i use premeire for my editing, and use the Ligos LSX-MPEG plug-in to convert the files to mpeg-1 or mpeg-2. i then use nero to burn the cd's.

when i capture, i use the matrox dv pre-set (highest quality, 720x480). it looks great, especially after editing when i output to svhs or even vhs tape. now i have customers asking for dvd's (will be buying a burner soon). until then, i want to provide vcd or svcd. that;s where my original questions come into play. i know i can try all the settings myself, but if someone out there can offer suggestions, it would be appreciated. thanks.

[KennyC]

<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>
On 2002-01-06 17:36:14, vhelp wrote:
I have ben exploring with the VCD standards for some time now (non stop) and have even amazed myself - I've made many statements claims that VCD sucks, yada, yada, yada, and here I am eating my words this very day.

-vhelp
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>\Hiya

Do you happen to have a TMPGEnc template I can test with my DVD -> VCD rips?

Cheers.

[vcdfreak]

I used LSX from Matrox package before (plugged in to Premiere), the quality is not as good as the Panasonic MPEG Encoder, or Tsunami MPEG Encoder (TMPGEnc).

From experience, the best is to use the TMPGEnc(freeware) being sent by Frameserving in Premiere to save you plenty of time-cosuming rendering process.

Hope this helps.

[bbb]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: bbb on 2002-01-07 00:59:34 ]</font>

[slickrick]

Thanks, I will try TMPEGenc tonite when I get home. I've been reading a lot about it, and the best thing is that it is free! what does it mean "being sent by frameserving in premiere"? is is a plug-in that you use directly from premiere - like lsx-mpeg? also, in TMPEG, are the settings automatically set for you, or is it dome manually? how do i know what will produce the best vcd's in TMPEG? Trial and error? thanks.

[dphirschler]

The best way to get quality out of VCD is to provide great quality source video... even more important when using SVCD. Always keep the following in mind when shooting video:

- MPEG compression is based on the fact that very few changes occur from frame to frame. Therefore, MPEG takes advantage of this and is able to give 10:1 compression or better by only updating the changed pixels.

What this means in real life is that if you are shooting, you want to keep your camera very still or at least slow moving. A steady frame means that less "bandwidth" will be wasted updating the background.

If you are capturing a VHS, then keep in mind the same thing. Any noise in the video (common with VHS recorded from TV) will need to be addressed. Use a temporal cleaner. There's a very good one available on the Virtual Dub filters download page (buried pretty deep).

Keeping the frame steady and clean means that MPEG can spend the much needed bandwidth updating the moving elements of the foreground. Paying attention to this one detail can vastly improve your (S)VCD quality and can eliminate completely any visible macro-blocking.

There is nothing you can do about the low resolution of VCD but if you get your source clean enough, you can try SVCD. You need a very clean source in order for SVCD to be impressive enough to go with it. But if you do, it can be almost DVD quality.


Darryl

[vcdfreak]

Use the VCD template in TMPGEnc. Click on Load(bottom right) and select the desired .mcf file.

The reason to use frameserving is to save time and disk space generating a lossless avi file.

I believe you can find the tutorial on frameserving in the CONVERT link on the left panel of this page. Anyway the software is called 'Avisynthv'. Let me know if you need more info installing or using it in Premiere.