best encoder

[tops]

want anyone`s opinion on what is best encoder for vcd`s? been using TMPGE but trial has run out and costs $48 to register which is a lot when lot of times cant get vcd to run on standalone dvd machine. Ideally i want free software but dont mind paying if its good program and will work most of the time? any input would be appreciatted?


tops


p.s. or should i stick to tmpge??

[Tommyknocker]

I really hate doing this to one of my favorite programs, but....Psssst: go to the Tools section, look up "TMPGEnc MPEG2 Plugin", tell them "Vinny" sent you. When I leave, do not try to follow me, I am being watched.... 8)

[jetli68]

hi i have been useing tmpegenc for a few years its good but slowwww as hell i tried MainConcept\MPEG Encoder yesterday fot the first time it done a avi 2 mpeg 2 in 2hrs from 700 mb to 2.6 gig and it come out brill and the software is free only one with it puts a little word in the top left corner of the screen but its nothing to worry about try it it is really good and it saves about 4 hours and that got to be good

[bugster]

want anyone`s opinion on what is best encoder for vcd`s? been using TMPGE but trial has run out and costs $48 to register

p.s. or should i stick to tmpge??

Not for VCD. TmpGencs mpeg-1 encoder is freeware. If you want mpeg-2 then you must register when the trial expires. For the price it is a superb piece of software.

[Roy47]

Just go the demo of Mainconcepts Mpeg encoder certainly seems to be good. Fast and no audio sync probs yet

Roy

[harrymj3]

I just tested Main Concept, TMPGEnc and Ulead Movie Factory #1 on the same 28 min huffy avi movie clip to SVCD. They all encoded very well, big difference in time and file size. Main Concept took 70 min and had the smallest file because it encodes in vbr by default. TMPGEnc took 110 min and had a larger file size. Ulead took 170 min and had the largest file size and maybe the best quality, maybe, to close to call. All very good programs, you can get more movie on a disc with Main Concept. That's the scoop, for what it's worth. ........... harrymj3

[jetli68]

just done another movie with main concept 700 meg main took 2hours 30 mins to do came out brill i tried it before with tmpegenc took 6 hrs 30 mins and came out with no sound i have had this prob before with tmpenc
seem to do it on dvdrips of movie but main has done 2 dvdrips from aviand both have com out brill so upto now main is winning hands down

jetli

[ZippyP.]

you can get more movie on a disc with Main Concept.

Sorry, but you're a little off base there. TMPGEnc can also use VBR to squeeze more video into a smaller file size, if using 2-pass that can take double the time compared to CBR.

The only thing determining file size is the bitrate and the length of the clip. A higher bitrate will give a bigger file and usually (to a point) better quality.

It was an interesting comparison but a little unfair, as the settings weren't the same for all three encoders.

[ZippyP.]

i tried it before with tmpegenc took 6 hrs 30 mins and came out with no sound i have had this prob before with tmpenc

Did you create a separate wav file to use as the audio source for TMPGEnc? That, and using an external audio encoder (Toolame) are recommended procedure for handling the audio with TMPGEnc. That might help avoid the problem you mentioned.

If you're happy with the results, despite the watermark in the corner, that's really all that matters. To each his own, but it would drive me nuts.

[Roy47]

I get better results using Tmpgenc with the built in audio, using others seems to give me sync probs. Using mainconcept I can change the audio in a VCD to 48 mhz and recode as a Compatable Mpeg 1 and burn to a DVD using movie factory. Watermark goes if you purchase prog.

[harrymj3]

ZippyP,
I used the default settings for all three encoders I consider that to be a very fair comparison. The settings are tweekable on all three encoders. ....... harrymj3

[SIRCOOKS]

guys i wanna ask yall a question...does main concept handle wav files to encode ...cause when i loaded my wav file into it...it just...said no audio data found....?????...i thouhg when your making vcds that you neeed to extract the sound and put it back in to the file.....so far tmpgenc has been the best for me....if was files do not work in main concept, can some one tell me what does...im dying to try it...holla back

[ZippyP.]

ZippyP,
I used the default settings for all three encoders I consider that to be a very fair comparison. The settings are tweekable on all three encoders. ....... harrymj3

Harrymj3,
Fair enough, but if the settings aren't the same (CBR, VBR, bitrate etc.) then the results will be skewed to which one has better default settings, and not necessarily the one that is the "best" encoder. Once people have some experience encoding I'd be surprised if they stayed with the defaults.

Speed and quality of output are mostly what people are looking for and I think it's great that you did a comparison. Of course "quality" and "best" is always a matter of opinion and, from following the forums, there is a big difference in peoples standards.

Just wondering, which program do you prefer?

[Conquest10]

i think most people just want speed. like the people that use cce and swear that it does better quality encoding than tmpgenc because its faster.

[spiderman2k1]

I think the first version of TMPG is free it should be in tool on this site. I do not think it will work in windows XP.

[harrymj3]

ZippyP,
Well I paid for TMPGEnc and Ulead Movie Factory and my Main Concept is a free demo. As I stated they are all very good programs. Main Concept gives quality very close if not equal to TMPGEnc's CBR setting in considerably less time. I used these 2 programs to encode and Nero to burn. I used Movie Factory to both encode and burn. My opinion, Movie Factory is too slow encoding but gives great results. Main Concept and TMPGEnc both have great quality (with default settings). I don't like TMPGEnc's quality with single pass VBR and 2 pass is way to slow. I would choose TMPGEnc most of the time (cbr) but would use Main Concept when I needed a little more data on a disc (with high quality) and especially for testing. ............ harrymj3

[harrymj3]

ZippyP,
One thing I forgot to mention. TMPGEnc (in my own experiance) sometimes has problems with AVI files when you tweek the settings but usually runs smoothly with the default settings. ......... harrymj3

[Tommyknocker]

Spiderman2k1 wrote:

I think the first version of TMPG is free it should be in tool on this site. I do not think it will work in windows XP.

I respectfully disagree. My first time using TMPGEnc was with the shareware version. It worked so well with my home version of XP, I gladly forked over the $48.00. Never regretted it.

[ZippyP.]

TMPGEnc is free for mpeg1 (VCD) and has a 60 day trial period for mpeg2. It definitely works for XP pro as well! 8)

[tjtoed]

I encoded a home movie captured from DV to AVI with both TMPGenc and main concept and used about the same settings for each and this is what I found:

I ran two tests - one using CBR at 7000 and VBR 2500 - 4500 - 6000

1. For time, main concept was superior. Almost 4 to 5 times faster than TMPGenc.
2. For quality, TMPGenc was noticeably better. The main concept encode was a little grainy, while the TMPGenc encode was near perfect.

I think TMPGenc puts out a little better quality, but takes a long, long time.

I also create the video + audio output file and have yet to have an audio sync problem.

[SIRCOOKS]

the only problem i have is the audio, i cant get it to accept my wav file...help me with this plz

[puertorican138]

I think TMPGEnc is the best MPEG-1 encoder and CCE is the best MPEG-2 encoder.

[SIRCOOKS]

i agree puertorican 138...tmpgenc is better than this crappy main concept converter, besides the speed of it, i like tmpgence set up, everything is right in the front of, where as in main concept...you have to look at a different section......@#$% the program

[jarroyo]

Hey Boricua,

I agree, I like CCE better for MPEG-2. I actually only use MainConcept for comparisions when I am trying to figure out if CCE is messing up or my authoring program is having trouble.

[jetli68]

anyone know how to change the settings in main concept to make the movie smaller? cheers
jetli

[harrymj3]

On the first screen click (details). On the next screen click (advanced). Choose your settings. Click OK. Very easy. ............... harrymj3

[jetli68]

hi i know where the settings are but i dont know what to change them to to make movies samller can anyone help

cheers

[jarroyo]

If you mean smaller in size of the file, then you change either the average Bitrate for VBR or the bitrate for CBR. You can use the bitrate calculator in the tools section to give you an idea of what numbers to use.

Is that what you meant by smaller?