How to best quality dvd authoring from downloaded DivX files

[bek]

I am very new (about a week's experience) to dvd authoring, but like it a lot so far. I am mainly downloading DivX AVI files from the Internet and burning them to DVD in MPEG-2 format so I can watch them on my DVD player.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get the best quality possible? I am using Movie Factory 2, and basically I just follow the prompts to produce my DVDs, but the quality is only okay (typically, VHS quality if the DivX file is 400-600 MB). I realize a lot of the quality is decided when the movie is being encoded, but I'd like to do everything I can to make the movie better quality. Are there any settings or other software I can use to improve the picture quality?

Thanks for any help you can give!

-Brian

[fossil]

follow the guide that shows on the left. and i recommend use tmpenc to encode the video use vbr and then import to mf2. it works wonders.

[BodyMaker]

You will find it near on impossible to get good quality Dvd's from xvids and divx files

1. Because of resize up to a larger frame size eg 720*576 or 720*480 (stretching the picture)

2. Beacause of the very low bitrate used in divx and xvid being a very lossy source for providing the high bit rate for needed for dvd

[Don2050]

You will find it near on impossible to get good quality Dvd's from xvids and divx files

Actually, I have gotten some amazing quality DivX/Xvid > MPEG2/DVD coversions. So long as you get them from some one who knows how to rip and encode DVD's....ie..screener rips. As long as the resolution is around 640x272(seems to be standard for Xvid Screener rips) you can convert to DVD and have it look good at least on standard TV...not too sure about HDTV and progressive players.

I use TMPGEnc to convert.

[BodyMaker]

I have found that most Xvid and Divx files to be 5xx*3xx frame sizes and most are made from the original dvd (dvd rips)

For the quality i was getting you might aswell make Svcd's as there were certainly not close to dvd quaility and a waste of a dvd-r disk

Most of the dvd's i make are 5000kbs average and 9800kps max you just cant seem to get that sort of quality from a 800kps average file

[bek]

So if Xvid and DivX are bad choices to convert from, are there better file formats that I should try to download?

[Don2050]

bek Posted: 2003 Mar 08 15:44

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So if Xvid and DivX are bad choices to convert from, are there better file formats that I should try to download?

I am sure this will draw different replies...but...

Xvid/DivX = MP4
DVD/SVCD = MP2
VCD = MP1

I guess the theory is that MP4 being the newer of the compression schemes is supposed to give better size/quality ratios. So for downloading it depends on the source file first off, then the encoding process. If you want to download a 5GB DVD MPEG2 file off the internet( which I dont know if you guys heard but can be done in under 30 seconds now at some University ) then yes....that mpeg file is probably better quality than the DivX/Xvid files of 700 or 1400 MB. But size to size comarison, I believe, the DivX/Xivd are supposed to be the best quality you can get.

If you get expertly encoded Screener Xvid/DivX rips( the only ones I think are worth anything) then yes...I have successfully converted 3 of them to DVD and on a standard 36" Sony TV they are remarkable...
In my experience the mpeg's you can download off the net are usually inferior as the sizes are usually intended to match the 700MB's of DivX/Xvid which just cannot compare in my opionion.

So to answer you question .. no, I personally do not believe you can download a better format off the net(size for size) if expertly encoded into an MP4 format.

[SaSi]

For some, bad, reason, DivX has been related with bad quality video. This is wrong.

I have downloaded MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 clips from the internet and they can have varying quality, same way as if you encoded them from original content.

It is not (only) the codec or encoding system that defines quality, it is bitrate (mostly).

VCD quality (which actually is a subset of MPEG-1), is a standard for low bitrate encoding so that enough content fits on a CD. This means 1150kbps constant bitrate at 352x288 frame size. Although a good encoder can do an excelent effort, the result is condemned to have medium to low quality. However, it is fairly viewable and has been with us for years (and perhaps still more).

MPEG-2 is used for various formats, such as SVCD and DVD. Each have their own restrictions. SVCD is limited to ~ 2500kbps while DVD is limited at 9800kbps.

Also, MPEG-2 streams are found in varying resolutions, ranging from 352x288, 480x480 up to 720x480 or 720x576 (for PAL).

An MPEG-2 stream at 352x288 at an average bitrate of 2600kbps is fine quality (if you don't mind the resolution). Equally, the same stream at 720x480 and 4800kbps would be equally fine, although the same stream at 6000kbps would be better.

DivX is an implementation of MPEG-4 (as is Windows Media). It compresses better than MPEG-2. If you compress the same source into MPEG-4 with DivX and into MPEG-2 with any given encoder at the same average bitrate, DivX will be better quality. This is more apparent at low bitrate <2500kbps and less apparent at higher bitrates.

The above comments about bitrate translate into the following rule of thumb:

A 720x480 frame movie encoded in good quality with MPEG-2 would need more than 20Mb / min.

The same movie encoded for the same quality in MPEG-4 would need between 13~16Mb/min.

If you go to the 352x288 frame size, the frame becomes 1/4 of the previous and file size per min. tends to reach 1/3 of the previous sizes (Not 1/4 as most of the compression is temporal and temporal information is the same regardless of the frame size).

So, if you download an episode (~40min) from the internet and the file size is 30Mb, it will be barely viewable. It would be difficult to loose any more quality by converting to MPEG-2.

If it is 500Mb in 352x288 and DivX, should be great. Converting it to MPEG-2 at the same resolution and at 15% higher bitrate, should not loose any of the quality.

And as I said, the above are just a rule of thumb. Actual quality and file sizes may vary slightly depending on how much action and color content is in the movie, but I stand by the general principle.

[bek]

Okay, I see. So I guess I will have to be satisfied with the typical 400-500GB DivX file that gives VHS quality (at best). I guess that's not too bad. I did see some files that there about the time playing time, but were 1200GB(!). I guess there's a good chance those are better quality because of the filesize, right?

Thanks for all the info.

[antoniosgubba]

Just to add to whats been already said....

If you're downloading DivX movies around 500 megs then I assure you you're NOT downloading the best!

In my experience, there is nothing that can beat DivX for quality in downloaded movies (include Xvid in this)....BUT...all the quality DivX movies available for download have a file size around 700 megs...anything below around 600 megs is usually a bit crappy. The vast majority of quality movies available to download have a file size just under 700megs, and these are certainly MUCH better quality than VHS standard...most approach DVD in quality.

I wouldn't download movies in MPEG format...usually they are BAD quality...far better to download a good DivX and then convert yourself.

It all boils down to "garbage in, garbage out"...get the best quality DivX movie (around 700megs and sometimes labeled as DVD rip) and you will get nice results encoding to DVD...certainly MUCH better than VHS

[vhelp]

Hi bek,

I realise that this is a new hobby for ya. But do try and not waist as much
monies on these divX files. For now though, it's a learning curve for you.

After a while, you'll soon realize that it's so not worth it, and you'll have
come to a decision to DO YOUR OWN encodes and finally, author to DVD.
This is the reward. Not D/L'ing other peoples poor divX sources, which are
not 100% accurate to begin with.

I see you have come accross some 1.2gig divX. Now, those may be worth
trying out and authoring to DVD's. Do give those ones a try, and let us
know how they came out. But do try and stay away from those 500mb
ones, and I've said above, you're really waisting your hard-earned monies
for nothing.

DVD's are still expensive (compared to CD-R's) you can't just go waisting
them -- except for "trial and error" .. a short "learning curve" at that.

I'm only starting out w/ DVD authoring myself (soon as I finish up w/ my
projects and things) I'll have my DVD writer hooked up and ready for
coasters he he.. but I do have a handful of DVD-RW's to re-use for some
"trial and error" processes.

Anyways.. good luck.
-vhelp

[bek]

Vhelp,

Thanks for the response. I am interested in creating my own encoding, but the only problem I have is that much of what I'd like to encode and play with is stuff that's already been on television and is hard to find (except on the Internet). Like the Birds of Prey series and old Smallville episodes. I enjoy these shows quite a bit, but have no other way to view them.

All this encoding and authoring is a pretty complex business, and made moreso by the fact you can only fit about 4.4GB on a DVDR. I also have a tabletop DVD recorder, but in highest quality mode it will only record an hour of television! What's worse is that my television reception isn't the greatest. Tough situation, eh?

The 500 MB DivX files actually come out about VHS quality, which is comparable to my television reception on WB (the channel I most want to record from). I guess it's not so bad. I will have to give the 1200GB files a try and see how it goes. I will let you know (it'll probably be a while before I can get one downloaded).

Thanks to everyone for all the advice! Feel free to offer more. I will be listening!

-Brian