Newbie: Conversion Question

[thasaltyone]

I am trying to convert some .avi files to a DVD playable format in the highest quality possible. I have ConvertXtoDVD but the result is always really pixelated. Are there any conversion tools that I could use that would work alot better towards quality? Thanks. --- Salty

[redwudz]

Use a regular encoder like TMPGEnc encoder. You need to calculate the bitrate to fit the video into a DVD. For a freeware encoder, try HC. After you have encoded the AVI to MPEG-2, then you author and burn it to DVD. DVDAuthorGui or GUI for DVD Author are two freeware authoring programs, or you can use TMPGEnc DVD Author for a payware program. You may have to do some reading, but we have guides for 'CONVERT'ing and for 'AUTHOR'ing to the left.

And welcome to our forums.

[guns1inger]

I would suggest FitCD, avisynth, the blockbuster and asharp plugins for avisynth (or alternatively, virtualdub and the MSU Smart Deblocker plugin), HCEnc and some time to learn how it all works.

However, even then you need to be realistic in your expectations. In order to get an avi file that you can comfortably download, certain sacrifices are made. These generally come in the form of reduced resolution and reduced bitrate. Reduced bitrate comes at the expense of data. often a lot of data. Once this data is thrown away, it cannot be retrieved, and it leaves a mark in the form of artifacts (pixelation, blocking, mosquito noise). The encoding process also uses a number of tricks that it can (usually) comfortably hide when played back on a PC.

Unfortunately, when you convert these files to DVD, these tricks, the low bitrate, and the effects of the compression process are often exposed. They cannot be restored to what they once were. The best you can hope for is to hide these effects enough that they are not distracting. If the source is good enough, sometimes the results can be quite pleasing. Often, however, you cannot hide everything. How well you do hide things depends on how much time it is worth to you to invest in fixing the problems.

Now I could be way off track here. You may have good quality source from a HD DV camera. In which case you just need to learn how to control your encoder better and you should get great results.

But if you have downloaded avi source, take a very close look at it before you encode. Push the gamma levels up so you can really see how thin the tonal range becomes at times, and how many flaws there are.

[Bjs]

Pixelation can be caused by going from X scale to X scale .

You havent mentioned the scale of the avi's in order to reach " DVD playable format in the highest quality possible " .

Scale's for dvd : mpeg2

Pal

720x576
704x576
352x576
352x288

Nstc

720x480
704x480
352x480
352x240

Upscaling will cause pixelization .