DVD to Divx

[Espen]

I'm using DVDx to convert DVD to divx.....

I first tried to convert the dvd(The Others) to divx using 352x288. The quality of the divx was pretty bad so I changed the resolution to 720x576(as in the dvd) and the new divx file was in great quality and only 690mb big.

I have heard people saying not to use 720x576, better use 352x240(NTSC) or 352x288(PAL), why?

I most say I'm very satisfied with my divx movies (720x576)!

[fossil]

i seriously thought divx only support res up to 640x480.

well i can be seriously wrong

[jeremypps]

hi fossil,
could you please tell me what settings are you using?
i.e. bitrate, divx version, divx settings, audio compression?
and resulting file size?
thanks a lot.

[Timster]

I too also find that the higher you set the resolution, the higher quality. I use DVDx mainly to frame serve to TMPGenc as I think the encoder in DVDx sucks. What I have found out is that if you set it to any high 4:3 configuration and still output it in TMPGenc at 352x240, you still get a standard VCD in pretty good quality. I output DVDx at 400x300 and my videos look pretty good. I can go higher to 480x360 or even as high as 720x540. I'm speaking NTSC so Pal may be different (i.e.720x576). I also find that the higher DVDx output resolution the slower it takes to encode or frame serve. I personally would never use the DVDX encoder. The picture quality reeks for VCDs. Don't know about SVCDs.
Tim

Oops, Just noticed you're encoding to Divx, but I'd bet the same is true.

[DivXExpert]

You think DVDx looks great? Compared to what? I think that DVDx is one of the worst DivX encoders you can get. VirtualDub results in much better quality. As for resolution and file size; the resolution does not affect the file size. look at it this way, if you have 100 bytes and you spread it over 84480 pixels (352x240) and then you spread the same amount of bits over even more pixals (345600, 720x480) it will look worse. Because the more bits per pixal you have the better your video will look. Thats why if you have a low bitrate (1000kbps), its better to have less pixals.

[Espen]

jeremypps......

I don't now if u ask me or fossil, but her is my settings anyway:

bitrate, 810 kbps
divx version, 5.02 pro
divx settings, default
audio compression, Lame mp3 3.92 MMX, 192 kb/s 44.1 khz 16 bits Q4
resulting file size, 674 mb

[Espen]

DivXExpert......

Oki, so you say that a lower resolution will give better quality? That's strange because my 720x576 divx movie had better quality than the same movie using 352x288!

[DivXExpert]

That means that you supplied enough bitrate for all the pixals. if you don't you will be better off with a low res movie.

encode a DivX @ 720x480, 10 kbps
Then @ 352x240, 10 kbps

Then you will se what I mean. More bits per pixal = quality.
More Pixals = Sharper, but more macroblocks.
Less Pixals = Softer, less macroblocks.

It depends on what you want. Sharp or No macroblocks. Or the balance between the two, which is the best way to go. You can only find this balance for youself as it varies from movie to movie.

And encode your next movie with VirtualDub, you will see a difference. If you want to make good rips, don't use DVDx. You do your rips correctly and you will never use DVDx again. DVDx is bad quality and slow. Trust me.

[ronnylov]

DivX is normally played on a computer, or a computer hooked up to a TV. Then you normally would lika a 1:1 aspect ratio instead of the DVD resolution which is not 1:1. The resolutions 352x288 or 720x576 seems wrong for divx, unless you use a player that can stretch the image like zoomplayer.

I suggest using a tool like guordian knot to get the correct frame size.