Re: Encoding from Mpeg1 to Mpeg2

[Keithchr]

Hi, Been lurking for a while..now time to start asking.

As far as I can see from these forums it is not possible to appreciably improve the quality of an Mpeg1. The films I download from the net are Mpeg1, I assume ripped from VCD's.
For example:
Film: 643 MB (627 MB), duration: 1:15:33, type: MPG, 1 audio stream(s), quality: 33 %
Video: 593 MB, 1098 Kbps, 25.0 fps, 352*288 (4:3), MPG1 = MPEG 1 (VCD), Supported
Audio : 34 MB, 64 Kbps, 44100 Hz, 1 channels, 0x51 = Mpeg-1 audio Layer 2 [0xc0], Supported.

So here are my questions:

1) What does 33% quality mean as shown above...33% of what?
2) If I re-encode to Mpeg2 will this degrade the quality of the Mpeg1?
3) Is the only benefit to encoding to Mpeg2 that it will allow me to fit several films on one DVD disc?
4) Am I correct in thinking I can't improve the quality of Mpeg1?

I use TpmgEnc 2.5 and VCDEasy.

I appreciate any help you may give to a newbie.

[andyp1]

33% don't know. Does it look alright to you ? That's all that matters.

As for conversion , no , converting to Mpeg 2 is going to allow you to fit less on a disc with no increase in quality.

The best thing to do , because Mpeg1 as an acceptable format for DVD is to just keep your files as Mpeg1 and author a DVD with them.

The only change you need to make is to the audio sampling rate which at the moment is 44.1KHz and you need 48Khz for DVD.

With Mpeg1 at a bitrate of 1150 you can fit approx 7.5 Hrs on a single 4.7GB DVD-R.

You would need an authoring tool like TMPGenc DVD Author which will automatically convert the audio for you and create the DVD structured files you need.
Then you can burn to a DVD-R

Lastly you are unlikely to improve the quality whatever you do.

Hope this helps.

[Keithchr]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have TMPGenc DVD Author. Are you saying that it will automatically convert the audio?

Also. some of my films are avi....does the same apply i.e Is it better to encode these to mpeg1 or 2?

[andyp1]

Yes it will , when you 'Add File' it pops up on screen you can't miss it.

I haven't personally mixed Mpeg1 and Mpeg2 on the same disc , although I see no reason why you can't , just be sure to add differing videos by using the 'Add New Track' option on the left of the screen.

Obviously watch your runtime and bitrates to make sure everything will fit on the disc.