Optimal Capturing and Encoding Settings Needed

[wnoble]

Hi,

I'm new to this but learning a lot and doing a lot of reading I apprecaite all the "How Too" guides here but I still haven't found what I am looking for. Here goes:

I am capturing movies from a Sat. Dish. All I want is the settings I need (bit-rate, Capture Format, Compression Type, etc.) to capture THE BEST picture (I assume that SVCD) I can in a maximun of a two hour capture so that it fits on two 80 min CD's (no more than two CD's).

Please if you can help I'm looking for detailed info here. I know I should capture in 480x480 but what else should I be using.

I don't think I'm asking a lot, but I haven't been able to find it anywhere. I will use ANY software needed (I have all the freeware listed here plus Permier and VideoStudio).

I will learn new software if I have to, just PLEASE someone tell me ALL the required setting I need (and I mean all the settings ) To get the best picture possible and have a movie fit on 2 CD's. There are two many variables out there for me to try everything.

Oh, one more thing I haven't found any info. about what to do when you capture a 2 hour movie and need to get it onto CDs? How do you split it up and when (after capture or after encoding)?

FYI, I am using the ATI AIW 8500, WINXP Pro, 128 meg. With a P3 866, and 512 of RAM.

[Gazorgan]

You need a faster CPU for awesome capture, but try this.

I use IUVCR, because it will capture in any codec, any resolution. It has a 30 day free trial.

Capture in in Huffyuv or MJPEG. MJPEG has a quality rating...try 90% and work down, depending on whether or not you drop frames. Huffyuv is slightly better, but the files are 2x as big MJPEG. WE are talking about 35 GB for huffuv and 20 GB for Mjpeg for a 2 hour capture. Capture in PCM sound.

Best resolution to capture in is 720x480,640x480, and 480x480 in that order. You use what you can to keep from dropping frames. Dropped frames are bad. You CPU is marginal for 720x480....you will have to play with the capture codecs to see if you can do it. Lower res capture and lower quality on MJPEG until you don't drop frames. A 1-2 minute test is enough to try it.

When your down, open the finished product in VDUB, trim the beginning, end, credits and commercials. You then frameserve it to TMPGenc and encode to SVCD.

Simple.

Check the guides on the left.

[phelix]

Once in TMPGenc, use the following settings:

480x480 mpeg2
4:3 aspect ratio
29.97 fps
2-pass VBR
min bitrate: 300
average bitrate: 2100
max bitrate: 2300 - 2500 depending on what your player can handle
Encode mode: Interlaced
Motion search percision: High

This will give you a predictable 45min of georgous video on a 80min CD. Every 2 hour TV movie I've recorded can be edited down to 90 minutes once you remove the comercials, which fits nicely on 2 dvds

To split the resulting mpeg into two discs, use the merge-n-cut tool in TMPGEnc (menu file->mpegtools).

[keithsebastian]

gazorgan wrote

I use IUVCR, because it will capture in any codec, any resolution. It has a 30 day free trial.

Well, giv VirtualVCR a try. Has all the features that IUVCR has, more stable, neater interface, excellent help on the website, can use virtualdub filters for pre filtering and best of all, it's FREE

[crahak]

I mainly stick to VirtualduVCR and a MJPEG codec @ 95%, 720x480, no complaints

[Buffist]

I'm using UleadVidStud 6 to capture (Huffyuv 704 x 576), cut and edit and the FrameSever to serve TMPGEnc for encoding with really very good results.
BUT: This needs a good processor and a 80 GByte HD...