TMPGenc 2.58 plus first tests...

[SatStorm]

... and I don't like the results!

I don't know if it is the nature of my source (huffyuv avis or DVB transmissions) or PAL in generall but the last two versions of TMPGenc does not give me good results.
There are problems with the colors, expecially red. So, if you have a very colorfull avi and you want to encode it to SVCD/CVD, the distortion is awfull. Noise everywhere if you use low bitrates. An average of 1900 for a CVD movie looks like hell!. This new pixel allocation doesn't work for me (PAL user)!
I notice also differences in the use of 2 Pass VBR (you have to keep too close the values for good results...) and the de-interlace fuctions.

The possitives of the new version are: Slighty faster if you encode to CVD/SVCD, no more TooLAME crashes, no more silly messages (stream read error, etc), even better cut mpegs fuction and I think better CQ mode!

In the TMPGenc plus site, there is an announcment for a TMPGenc retail release in the close future (october). If Tsunami want PAL costumers, better start doing something for them fast!

What other users have to report for the new version? Expecially PAL users, which use low bitrates for their CVD/SVCDs!

What do you call a low bitrate?

[SatStorm]

An average of 1900kb/s for a SVCD/CVD is a Low Bitrate

VCD legal bitrate setting is 1150kb/s
CVD "standard" bitrate setting is 2300kb/s
SVCD "standard" bitrate setting is 2520kb/s

If you encode a movie @ CVD 1900kb/s , it is like encoding a xVCD @ 950kb/s for example.

[Guyver]

Damn, I was hoping they would have fixed the colour problem for pal by now

I'll try this version but since you already stated it's still having problems with PAL i don't see much room for hope

[SatStorm]

Hey, that's why I post my first conclusions! I really hope that I do something wrong and the new TMPGenc is fine.
Other users may have better results, it happened once again before ! (ver 12j, about last year, my tests sucked and other users show me that encoding a different way than my methods produced better results)

Test and post your results please! You are really welcome!

[jakecb]

I just downloaded tmpegnc 2.58 and it doesnot support downloaded
avi files. I changed the priority on the direct show to 6 like in the
previous versions. Has anyone had this experience and if you
what is the solution. Thanks in advance

[SatStorm]

Just finished some encodes with ver 2.56 - 2.57 and 2.58
Well, 2.56 is a clear winer! I don't know what to say....

[SatStorm]

It looks like no tests uh????

[Anonymous65]

Intersting post about PAL.

On the PC, there is no difference between PAL, SECAM or NTSC. ALL video is 16 or 24 bit images, eighter RGB or color combination. So, Tmpgenc will treat video the same, no matter if it was in PAL, SECAM or NTSC. So, if there is a problem with red, it most likely is a problem with the video capture device that cannot decode the PAL video and give correct RGB digital video for encoding. I would look at the captured video and see if there are any problems with it.

Obviously, there might be something wrong with the PAL encoder in the DVD player, but the video should look fine on the PC in that case.

[joeAgain------]

Yes, I've removed the later versions and gone back to 2.56 also.

It worked OK and didn't require me to buy a new 3rd party DVD player/decoder program ( I used demo versions for in the 2.57, 2.58 TMPGenc tests)

I don't know what is going on at Tsunami. They have lost more than only PAL customers and have emailed them about it. They replied, but defended the new changes as "necessary licensing and contractual arrangements with the 3rd party software makers".

I wish I'd never paid for the Plus now.

[BJ_M]

i believe they have been heavily pressured by the lic org for mpeg2 which has ben fairly heavy handed on lic rights for encoding mpeg2 ...

[SatStorm]

Well, there are no blocks but distortion in the picture if the overall picture is more "worm" (more close to red). It looks like pixels everywhere.

The source I use for my tests, was a DVB transmission (TMF Vlandereen (16East) Source Specifications: 720 X 576 VBR 2400 - 6900 - 15000. It is one of the best dvb channels out there, technically better DVDs!.
When I encode the same clip with versions 1.56, 1.57 and 1.58 I have:
ver: 1.56: Perfect colors, no pixel distortion in the picture but there are some blocks on extreme scenes.
ver: 1.57 and 1.58: Distortion all over the picture, expecially if there are red colour areas. If the source is more cold like (blue) the picture is perfect. No distortion, nothing. Also, with ver 1.57 and 1.58 there are no blocks where with version 1.56 use to be!

Same fx with other DVB channels and huffyuv avis.
So, it must have to do with the new pixel allocation data of the new VBR (1pass/2pass) fuction of TMPGenc or all this time, we use to encode the wrong way and now which the bugs are eliminated, we must find the right way!
For example, the use of 2 Pass VBR for CVDs like this: min 600 average 1900 maximum 2520, might be not the right use for quality CVDs with the new versions!
I already done some encodings last night, setting the min/av/max with the - 30%min/0av/+ 30%max bitrate rule and the results was far better, so the answer might be there!

It is a possibility, the new tmpgenc versions are full optimised for NTSC DV source and the encoder cann't handle correct mpeg 2 DVB sources or interlace PAL AVI ones. And if that retail version hit the market next month, there gonna be a better PAL optimised version earlier.

Or, those first results I have are because of something I missing and new version is OK. That's why I welcome opinions and test results of the new version. Who tested the new version and what are the results?


PS: I have Power DVD installed in my PC and Unlead movie factory latest.
So, the prob isn't there either.

[sjm817]

I like the 2.57 and 2.58 versions. The new cache setting cuts 2 pass VBR encoding time tremendously. I dont see any problem with quality (NTSC). I get the same quality results as I did in older versions.

[SatStorm]

Yes NTSC, you said it!
With NTSC the progress in quality is great, but it is useless for PAL users!

This post is about PAL!

[ajp]

I haven't run that many tests yet but so far I see no problems with 2.58. I'm on PAL and capture to DV from digital cable and then encode, looks great...

[SatStorm]

Thanks for the report, but you didn't mention what bitrate you used, what mode of encoding you used (CBR, multiVBR, CQ) and on what format you convert!

[ajp]

I convert DV 720x576 to DVD 720x576, tried CBR/CQ/2PASS. Bitrates range from 4000-8000. Also tried different motion search etc...

I have only done shorter tests so far, no full length movies or anything...

[Digital-Overload]

Where's the Tsunami Plus Home?

Latest on e i got was 2.57.

Its Pretty Bad Considering 1/2 of the dev. Team Uses PAL

[BJ_M]

http://www.pegasys-inc.com/e_main.html

[sjm817]

In my case, I'm converting 1 Hr 720 x 480 caps to 480 x 480 for NTSC SVCD. Using 2 pass VBR high quality motion search precision. VBR Bitrate is 1680/2520/300 Ave/Max/Min with 96K audio.

[SatStorm]

@ ajp: Of course and you have excellent results that way!
I think you miss the point of my question:
I wrote "There are problems with the colors, expecially red. So, if you have a very colorfull avi and you want to encode it to SVCD/CVD, the distortion is awfull. Noise everywhere if you use low bitrates. An average of 1900 for a CVD movie looks like hell!. This new pixel allocation doesn't work for me (PAL user)!"

The problem (if it is one) is with LOW bitrates and CVD/SVCD/xSVCD (VCD like) encodes!

[kayfam]

SatStorm.
One quick question, I'm stuck using v2.57 since like an idiot I tossed 2.56 in the trash. Any advantages using 2.58 over 2.57 other than some minor changes listed on the TMPGEnc home page?

[ajp]

SatStorm,

I can try some CVD as well and let you know. How low does the bitrate have to get before I see this? I burn to DVD so I don't use those low bitrates very much...
Sounds strange that only low bitrate PAL should be affected but I'll give it a try...

EDIT: I just saw that you mentioned 1900 as the avg bitrate....

[spidey]

I had problems with the colouring on a huffyuv clip when I had adjusted and maxed out alot of the Vfapi's and their priority levels, once I dropped them back down to "0" all has been more than cool with ver 258 plus

[ajp]

Alrighty then, encoded three short clips to CVD with a very low average and I saw no distortion or anything. One of the clips had some bright red areas. Input was DV files type 2 captured with an ADVC-100.

[shicalon]

i believe they have been heavily pressured by the lic org for mpeg2 which has ben fairly heavy handed on lic rights for encoding mpeg2 ...

Can you let me know How do i get TMPGENC 2.58

[SatStorm]

@ spidey: Very Interesting! I know that I missed something...
I'll test much further this weekend. Looks like new tmpgenc versions, needs more manual adjustments than previus versions. Last night tests, again gave me bad results comparing with previus versions, but not as much as the night before. So, it must be something in the way I encode or with the nature of my source... There are always some "small" things doing the difference.
One thing is certain: There are no problems when you convert from DV.
Thanks again all for your replies!

[BJ_M]

i believe they have been heavily pressured by the lic org for mpeg2 which has ben fairly heavy handed on lic rights for encoding mpeg2 ...

Can you let me know How do i get TMPGENC 2.58

http://www.pegasys-inc.com/e_main.html

download it - buy it

[KingJohn]

i believe they have been heavily pressured by the lic org for mpeg2 which has ben fairly heavy handed on lic rights for encoding mpeg2 ...

Can you let me know How do i get TMPGENC 2.58

Kazaa lite

[spidey]

Yes, I just tweaked down the DirectShow, and the avi Vfapi's and it has worked just as good as 257 plus. But I will be honest I was pissed, when I first tried it, and it "rainbowed my Huffyuv avi's, but after messing with the Vfapi's that deal with avi's, no problems at all.

Have already done 3-4 DivX rip conversions to cq vbr with no problems at all.

eDonkey (sharereactor.com) or cdrsoft.cc have certain "good softwares" posted in their software forums