Trying To Avoid Making Too Many Coasters

[netman77]

Folks, I'll try and keep it short and to the point. I just started ripping my own DVD's this weekend. I followed Sefy's guide and I'm using SmartRipper 2.25, DVD2AVI 1.76, TMPGEnc 12e. I also downloaded Sefy's xSVCD Templates but I haven't had a chance to try them. I've been playing around with trying to create an SVCD for my Raite AVPhile 715 and getting a nice picture but it stutters and has some blockiness. I looked further into VCDHELP and found that my Raite player also supports XVCD and XSVCD. Now I'm reconsidering using XVCD or XSVCD (instead of SVCD). My goal is to get the best picture (and audio) possible on my Raite without creating too many coasters (bad video CD's). My question is then which format should I choose (SVCD, XVCD, XSVCD) and are there any specific parms in any of my software tools that need special attention? I'm hoping that someone out there has a Raite or has some similiar experiance so that I don't have to reinvent the wheel here. Thanks in advance to everyone's help. - Paul.

[bkoyle]

Did you used TMPGEnc to cut your movie? My Movies are Great with Super Video (NTSC) standard.

[netman77]

Yes, I did. I also noticed that Sefy's guide has some older versions of the tools listed on the VCDHELP web page. The links are correct but the versions I have downloaded and installed are:

SmartRipper - 2.34
DVD2AVI - 1.76
TMPGEnc - Beta 12h (0.11.26.110)

I used TMPGEnc with the SuperVideoCD (NTSC) template that came with TMPGEnc. The movie I ripped is "Unbreakable". My TMPGEnc settings are as follows:

Video Tab
Rate control mode: Constant quality (CQ)
> Setting Tab: Quality: 65
Max bitrate: 2520
Min bitrate: 0
Enable Padding (not checked)
P picture spoilage: 0
B picture spoilage: 20
Encode mode: Interleave
Motion estimate search (fast)

Advanced Tab
Video source type: Interleave
Field order: Bottom field first (field B)
Source aspect ratio: 16:9 525 line (NTSC)
Video arrange method: full screen (keep aspect ratio)

Quantize Matrix Tab
Here I have tried checking the Soften block noise checkbox. This did not help to reduce the blockiness. When I did check this box I used a value of 75 for both Intra block and Non-intra block. Maybe I need a higher value here?

FYI, I also downloaded from VCDHELP the XVCD NTSC Sample and XSVCD NTSC Sample files to test these formats on my Raite. Both files played but the XVCD sample file stuttered and the XSVCD sample file had an extreme blockiness and synch/stutter problem. According to the VCDHELP matrix my Raite 715 supports both XVCD (4000 kbits) and XSVCD.

I'm starting to think that maybe I need to start with the VCD format and work up to the SVCD, XVCD, XSVCD format. Any and all help in this regard is very much appreciated. Thanks - Paul.