low bitrate svcd vs sxvcd

[incognito]

I've been getting generally good results with tmpg's
svcd ntscfilm template (usually set the audio to 128 bits,
usually cq_vbr around 75)

When I have to cram a few extra minutes onto a cd, I
usually just lower the maximum bitrate.

So here's my question: at what point does it make more sense
(ie produce better quality video) going to an sxvcd type template
with a lower resolution, filters, etc,
than just lowering the maximum bitrate?

50 min? 60min?

[Sefy]

I don't know exactly at what point, but I believe that SVCD has the higher bitrate for a reason, it needs to support it's higher resolution, so when you can't fit the movie (over 40min) on your CDR media, that's when SxVCD will come in handy, but don't compare the two, each has it's own designation.

[adam]

You can easily fit 50-55 mins into a svcd in high quality, especially if you are using 80 min cdrs. Once you start putting 60+ mins per disk, thats when you need to start considering lowering the resolution. If you use a resolution of 352x480/576 than you actually arent making an xsvcd you are making a cvd, which is backwards compatible with all svcd players so your guaranteed proper playback.

CQ is really a very ineffective encoding method. If your goal is to try to push the limits of the svcd format by fitting as much movie per disk in high quality than you really have to use multipass vbr.

Personally, anytime I have to fit 60+ mins per cd I always use cvd resolution.

[therick]

another important thing to mention is that when trying to push the limits of svcd (or cvd) is that CCE is the way to go. It is 4 times faster than TMEGEnc (for multi-passes)and will give you way less blockiness...at least in my varied experience I should say...