VCD Quality

[roach76]

I've just ripped my first DVD, Shrek. I have a problem with quality. I have read so many places that VCD is like Video tape quality but with my resulting mpeg that comes from TMPGEnc, the quality is not even that good.

I used all the highest quality settings, from DVD2AVI(project file method) and TMPGEnc. To keep it at the VCD standard so my stand-alone DVD Player can play it, I can't set the settings any higher to get better picture quality.

What am I doing wrong? I'm baffled!

[Dave B]

Sorry to hear you're not happy with the quality on your VCD..

What is the problem exactly? Is the picture generally bad or is it good during slow/low motion scenes and bad when there is a lot of motion?

If you want to start experimenting with XVCD bitrates and the like, you need to load the unlock.mcf template into TMPGEnc after the standard VCD template. This will then allow you to change most of the settings.

You can find unlock.mcf in the same folder as the standard templates.

Good Luck!

[roach76]

It's bad when there's alot of motion. I increased the bitrate by unlocking the settings and the quality was alot better. But I have seen flawless VCD's before (Freddy got Fingered-DVD Rip) and that was at the VCD standard bitrate of 1150. So it's possible to get this type of quality, but I just don't know what to do as there's not alot you can change in the settings without deviating from the VCD standard.

[Dave B]

Due to the nature of the MPEG algorithm, some films will always look better than others at low bitrates.

As well as playing with the bitrate you may also like to experiment with some TMPGEnc filters (Settings -> Advanced). In particular, the Noise Reduction filter is recommended if you want to start reducing the macroblocks in the video (those annoying little digital squares!) The noise reduction filter will result in a softer looking video but many people prefer it that way.

The tools section of this site has a number of good TMPGEnc templates to download and try out. I would recommend that you take a look at those aswell.

[dumwaldo]

experiment with some TMPGEnc filters (Settings -> Advanced).

that is the answer in a nutshell. changing templates or bitrate will only change your VCD to XVCD. if you want a standard CD-i compliant VCD load the template for the VCD (PAL or NTSC depending on your source file) and start working the filters.

your not going to find one filter that will amazingly clean up your VCD. just as Dave B suggested if you apply the noise reduction filter it will soften your picture, so you have to add a sharpen edge filter. the combination of those 2 filters may clean up the noise but at the same time make the color become more bland so you have to add a color correction filter. remember your filters are configurable by double clicking them. they dont just turn on and off, you need to adjust the setting of each filter to give you the best results.

something to keep in mind. each time you add a filter you add time to the encoding process. while it may take you 1x to encode a VCD with no filters do not be surprised if it takes 10x to do the same thing with filters. if you are willing to invest the time (and it is a long tedious process) and try new things you will eventually find what you are looking for. i would say i have managed to improve my VCD quality by 30% with effective use of filters. im still working on it but each time i encode a VCD i think it looks a little better than the one before it so i know i am headed in the right direction. most people will not use filters because they dont like to wait the extra encoding time.

default settings will get you a default product. while many people are satisfied with this some will strive for more. think about it this way, the last new TV you got, did you take it out of the box and plug it in and go or did you plug it in then adjust the color/tint/hue/etc... to get the best picture.

[stanwebber]

filters will clean up a poor source, but dvd is typically clean. all i can see a filter doing is muting the picture detail so the mpeg algorithmn has less to cope with. this strikes me as a self-defeating strategy(blurry vs macroblock)

[dumwaldo]

ok my point was that you dont have to have macro blocks or blurry picture. 1 filter might give you a blurry picture but the combination of a few filters will give you great results.

i will admit in very high action scenes with alot of light colors it is virtually impossible to get rid of all macro blocks. just adding more bitrate is not the solution. the solution is to learn how to use the bitrate you have then when you move on to higher bitrates you get results that are just awe inspiring.

to tell someone that the answer is just to move on to another format is wrong. if you have seen it then you can do it. i downloaded a pile of movies before i tried to capture anything myself. some of the VCD's i downloaded were just amazing quality, the group VORTEX comes to mind. so when i started making my own VCD's i was surprised when mine looked like such shit. after doing some experimenting with filters i have been able to dramatically increase the quality of my VCD's. now i am no VORTEX but im getting a little closer with each VCD. when i feel that i can no longer get any more out of the standard VCD then perhaps i will get into SVCD or XVCD but i want to really know how to get the most out before i move on.

[staind_96]

and in dvd2avi under video select the forced film option. this gives better results.

[sabot]

I agree with dumwaldo. I have been at this for about 2 weeks striaght and have learned alot.
My source is downloaded captured TV so the quality sucks from the start. However after about 25 variants encoding using diffrent frame rates mpeg standards and filters I have found that the blocky stuff you get during high motion frames can be controled mostly with filters.
I even ripped a 4min section of Cats and Dogs to compare the sources to see if it was me or the source. Of course as everyone stated it is the source. Here are some things that helped me to get a better product.

1. Try the cq_vbr it MIGHT help it does for me but again I am encoding captured TV (analog signal) This is not standard so when you go to burn you may want to ignore any compliance popups the burn ware may throw up.
2. Use a bitrate calc to get the info you need. I use FitCD which I got off this site. The layout is a little ugly but it will give you LOTS of info about your source and some to make a better VCD/SVCD. NOTE not all the info given will be used for your encode.
3. Play with the filters before you encode. Take the noise reduction filter. If you double click on it you can go to some high motion scense and adjust the filter so you don't over do it. Keep in mind if you use more than one filter while tweaking the other filters it will only show you what that filter is doing and will not combine another filter you already applied.
4. Have plenty of patience because it may take a while to encode. A long while. (not that you don't already know but turn your screen saver off to make sure you don't lock up TMPGenc) That will only piss you off if you forget.
5. I use nero to burn with and it gives me a player to see my finished mpeg. I run it at full screen to get an Idea of the quality before burning.
6. burn the finished product and enjoy once it's done you don't have to worry anymore. at least not for that movie. And remember you may never get a perfect product.

**** Note you can try a test strip to encode first. Just use the scene selection filter to encode a high motion scene so you don't waste your time. Also when I encoded my test strip of my DVD rip I used default settings and notice the blocks as well but because of my whole 2weeks experiance encoding and trying diffrent settings I knew what I needed to make a better product. Finally the subject here for everyone is the product. I don't know anyone that can download a new program and automaticly know how to use it. Time and patience will give you the knowledge then everything else will make scense.

[x2pacalypsehalx]

change your matrix or the qm from default to cg/animation