SVCD vs DVD

[mcanyes]

Hi all,
I have been making SVCDs from my trips (taken with a DV camera). When I compare a frame from the tape - directly through the camera, with a frame on the SVCD there is a noticable loss of sharpness. I understand why this happens, but my question is: if I buy an external DVD burner (probaly LaCie) will I notice an improvement in sharpness, assuming I use the same software, etc.

Thanks,
Michael

[trekchess]

Michael,

If you capture in DV format, with the full quality on, which is approx. 3700 kbps, and then burn to DVD, you can not see a quality loss, as you will have the same quality.

Somebody is probably proving me wrong, but with the eye that see, you see no difference, and you can not get to a higher quality, as the DV is recording in 720x576 (PAL) and the DVD is 720x576 (PAL).

I tried it, and I see no difference.

Kind regards,
Per :lol:

[Anonymous65]

If you convert the DV file to 720x480 mpeg-2 with a bit rate of 5MB/sec CBR mode, or VBR with a 9MB/sec max setting, you should see no degregation in your video. However, a SVCD done right should look pretty much as good as your DV tape. DV does have a 5:1 compression, which does knock down the resolution a bit from 720 pixels, plus your lens quality and camera CCD might knock the resolution down even more.

[mcanyes]

Thanks for the info.

For the benefit of anyone else reading this, I was using Pinnacle Express to burn the SVCD. I downloaded TMPGEnc and Nero and got results much closer to the tape. I knew that Express was not as good as TMPGEnc but it turned out to be a waste of money.

With better software and a DVD burner I should get what I want.

Michael

[trekchess]

Michael

One thing more, do not exceed the bitrate of your camera, it will not improve quality, but capture in full resolution (PAL or NTSC).

When converting to MPEG2, use CBR, and the CBR of the DV, approx. 3700 kbps, that will give you approx. 2 hours on a DVD.

The reason for using CBR is that if you want to merge all your MPEG fragments into one file, I have learned that VBR is creating a lot of problems with audiosync, whereas that problem never happens when using CBR.

I am using Pinnacle Studio to edit my videos, and I never use their MPEG2 converter, use either LSX or Tmpgenc, it is a far better result.

Enjoy.