DVD Ripping using Nero Recode 3

[blueleo65]

Hello,

I ripped an older DVD movie today using Nero Recode 3 and the result wasn't too impressive to say the least. The DVD is an older release that is not even in anamorphic wide screen, it is letter boxed. Reading through these forums (I'm no expert in DVD ripping), these are the settings that I used. First I clicked on "Recode Main Movie to Nero Digital".

- Profile Category: "Nero Digital"
-Profile: "Nero Digital AVC"
- Encoding Method: High Quality (2 pass).

I set the video quality to 1.50 Mbps, and I let it rip. The target proprieties were:

720x480
23.976 fps
40:33 (NTSC 16:9)
Progressive

Now let me say that the source material isn't the best of quality. The movie was released in 1981 (S.O.B.) and it bombed at the box office (although it's one of my favorite movies), and so the DVD is not remastered. it looks like an old TV show that you find in the bargain DVD bin. But it is still way better than the output. From how critical some of the posters on these forums are, I expected much better quality results. So that leads me to believe I did something wrong. Looking at the above settings, can anyone advise me as to how I can improve the quality of the output. If I left off any important information, please let me know.

Thank you for reading this.

Mike

[johns0]

Rip the dvd with dvdfab and encode with handbrake at 1500 kbps,you will get much better results than nero.

[manono]

I set the video quality to 1.50 Mbps, and I let it rip.

1.50Mbps isn't a quality but a bitrate, which has next to nothing to do with quality. Maybe it's difficult to compress (grainy, bright, action-filled, etc.), and needs a higher bitrate for a decent result. So, if johns0's program and bitrate suggestion doesn't help, give it a real quality-based encode (using about anything besides Nero). But the resulting file size might be larger.

[wulf109]

Rip/Encode? Did you use Nero directly from the disk? You should rip to your HD and then encode from the HD not the disk. Personally I would use Vidcoder and encode from the HD. Always use 2 pass mode. I prefer to set a size in MB's and let the program set the bitrate.

[blueleo65]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

So, no encoding directly from discs. I should rip dvd onto the hard drive and then encode it.

I downloaded handbreak and dvdfab. Nero seems much more geared towards newbies like me. The other two offer to many choices that i'm not familiar with. Will have to find time to look for some manuals on this site. In the mean time any suggestions about settings in habdbreak and dvdfab if i want accomplish the above. I'm looking for quality without wasting time and space if you can't tell the difference.

Thanks again

Mike

[hello_hello]

I'm not a Handbrake user but the High Profile preset should give you pretty good results.
Don't set a bitrate or file size unless you really need to. Setting a predetermined file size also sets a predetermined quality, except you've no idea what that quality will be.
Actually I'm not even sure Handbrake lets you specify a file size any more. Just use a decent quality setting (around 20 should give very good results).

[Hoser Rob]

No, handbrake doesn't offer target file size anymore. You definitely need to use high profile for good results ... the default standard profile is only good for people who want to convert to a mobile platform.

Vidcoder uses the same encoding engine as handbrake. It's almost the same with a simpler interface. It's probably better for newbies. It does have target file size mode because it hasn't updated to the newer version of handbrake yet.

You don't need to always use 2 pass in vidcoder (or handbrake), but I would say you should never use the 1 pass target bit rate or file size mode if you care about quality at all. The constant quality mode, as mentioned, is fine.

If you want to learn about settings I'd suggest reading the docs at the handbrake site, which also apply to vidcoder since they're really the same underneath. The avidemux wikis also have good h.264 info, as do the mplayer docs.

However, you may regret you asked once you start reading them. That stuff is complex. You can't really simplify it that much because there's no one solution for all types of content. There's a reason that all those easy one click programs don't give good results.

Start with handbrake or vidcoder in high profile. Use constant quality and vary it from 20 to 16 or so (lower=better quality but more encoding time) and see what you're happy with.