what settings are proper for TMPGEnc for AVI files to SVCD?

[Vasse]

Ok, say I have an AVI file, that is a DVD rip, it is 23.976 fps and widescreen. Now what are the settings that I should use in TMPGEnc to encode the file to mpeg2? Now I know there are the templates, but I'm not sure if they are right.
So if I go to settings I know the stream type should be mpeg2, and size should be 480x480.
Now should the aspect ratio be 4:3 if I'm gonna be watching it on my TV? What should the framerate be? 23.976 or 29.97? If teh frame rate should be 23.976, then for the encode mode, should it be 3:2 pulldown when playback? And if 29.97, then should it be interlaced or non-interlaced? I read somewhere that dvd movies are non-interlaced, so if the framerate was set at 29.97 then should the encode mode be non-interlaced?

[vhelp]

vasse,

Basically, all the templates that came with TMPG are good, BUT you have to
choose the right one for your encoding project.

ie, your's seems to require the SVCD (aka, SuperVideoCD) template.
So, in your case, LOAD the "SuperVideoCD (NTSCFilm).mcf"*** template. That
should get you started. From there, you can experiment on the settings.
Oh, in order to modify any settings in a preset (template) you have to LOAD
the "unlock.mcf" template. From there, you can make any last minute
changes to yur SVCD template.

-vhelp

*** since your clip was processed with 23.976 fps, you have to use those
templates made for the Film encodes. If it were 29.976 fpg, then I'd say
to use the regular SVCD templates.

[Vasse]

I have used the templates, but wasn't sure if I was using the correct one. I used the SVCD NTSC Film template with the frame rate being 23.976 and encode mode at 3:2 pulldown for playback, but it seemed... I guess you would say choppy, or rather not very smooth at certain scenes. Whereas when I used the SVCD NTSC template where the frame rate was at 29.97 fps, it seemed a lot smoother and better, but the original AVI file was 23.976 fps. So this is why I am not sure what settings to use.
And what should I be setting under the advanced tab? Like the video source type, field order and source aspect ratio. This is for an AVI file that is a DVD rip. Anyone know?

[vhelp]

vasse,

just a thought...

I have both the Apex AD-500 and AD-1500 dvd players
that I do my encoding testings on. At times, depending on the rip/encoding
process I use, I get those not-so-smooth palyback on my AD-500, but played
back on my AD-1500, and it's smooth!! I guess it all depends on some
dvd players.
It could very well be that it's your DVD player that is at fault ant not your
rip/enocde process after all. (based on my experience)

Vasse, think only other thing I can suggest here, is to take a bunch of different
encodes on over the a friends house w/ a different dvd player and see if its
the same there. Or, if you haven't already, try:
* powerdvd
* windvd
* cineplayer

I noticed that for some reason, powerdvd will play some of my encoces in
a jerky or non-smooth mannor, but when I play in Cineplayer 1.0, it's smooth.
So, it kind'of all depend on a number of factors, but before you go crazy, try
and role out as much as you can with whatever tools you have on hand.
If youdon't have Cineplayer 1.0, I think WindDVD is based on the Cineplayer
engine (or vis-versa)

-vhelp

[treedog]

Vasse,

Try this.........

Super Video-CD NTSC (MPEG-2 480x480 29.97fps VBR 2520kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps)

Also in the motion search percision try the "very slow highest quality" setting

JCH

[Vasse]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Well for the "not so smooth" mpg I had used the SVCD NTSC Film template and changed a few things under the advanced tab, DC component to 10 instead of 8 and I did high quality motion search. I've done both CBR and VBR, but VBR takes just friggin too long sometimes. If I set it for VBR and high quality settings, it says it would take about 9 hours, hogey fritz!, I can leave it for an overnight thing to do, but to do that and then come back in the morning to find it messed up or wasn't any different, which I have noticed no real difference in quality with using CBR or VBR, and I can't get tooLAME to work with TMPGEnc. It would encode and all but the resulting mpg file won't play, when I check the mpg file, it says it has buffer underrun errors or something like that, lost packets or something like that. Ahhh I've gone through almost 10 CDR now, this is turning into a coaster business for me hehe.

[vhelp]

vesse,

about your encodes...

* R U trying to do both, VCD and SVCD to see difference in quaity. Or, RU trying just
for SVCD??

Would like ta help if I can.

IF, you'd like, I will UPload a small sample for you to D/L and check out on your
dvd player. Ok, if:
* it plays fine on your dvd player, then it's the way you ripped and encoded it.
* it doesn't play well, then it's probably your dvd player.
* else its a combo of both the above.

Let me know if you wanna give it a go!

-vhelp

[Vasse]

Well I am really just trying for SVCD, I just did one VCD cause I thought I was having audio problems, so I just one to see if it was a SVCD or VCD problem, had the same audio problem, but it turned out to be an audio setting in my dvd player.

vhelp,
I will try anything, but like I said, when I encoded with a framerate of 23.976 with the 3:2 pulldown with TMPGEnc, the mpg file played back not as smooth from one where the framerate was encoded at 29.97. I can see the choppiness on both my computer and dvd player after I burned it to disc.

I'm also getting another problem I just noticed, which I posted in another forum section about the length of the file after I burned it to disc. It would only show up to be 40mins after I burned with Nero, even though I cut the mpg file to be 45mins, 55mins, and even 30mins and 20mins segments. I check on my computer and it says the mpg is 40mins. Any ideas about this? The file size fits on an 80min CD, the 50min did, but only 40mins of it played. The 20min segment fits like on half the disc, but still shows 40mins when played back on my dvd player and when I open it up on my computer with the disc in the CD-ROM.

vhelp, thanks for all the help, much appreciated, contact me by email: asiangq@hotmail.com and we'll go from there.

If anyone else can help or has suggestions, please feel free to post, I need all the help I can get.