MOV to MPEG-2 W/ TMPGEnc

[Thunderbrain]

This program won't let me set the resolution nor the audio encoder everytime I want to encode a mov movie into an mpeg-2 file. My source is 640 x 272 and all I get at the end is 352 x 480. I want to get something as close as the source. Maybe my program is missing something. Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

[David K]

TMPEnc will allow you to make it any size you want. But you must close the "wizard" mode and enter it in the Video settings. Start by consulting one of the many guides to this program and go from there.

By the way is what you're getting 352x240 (not 480): that would be the default wizard setting for the VCD setting, which is what the program defaults to if you do not pick anything else.

[Thunderbrain]

Thanks. Now I know how to do it.

[gonzalimator]

That's the resolution for a CVD. Was it set by TMPG or did you set it?

Did you load the 'unlock.mcf'? This will allow you to change the resolution of your output mpg. You can make an mpg that matches the res of your mov if you like. (sorry if you already knew that)

If you want to make a VCD of some type, then you need to resize the source (while you encode) so that the final output res is one that is a recognized standard. (not absolutely necessary-X(S)VCD). If you want it to be for a VCD set the video arrage method to "Center (keep aspect ratio)" and output at 352x240 NTSC or 352x288 PAL or whatever final res you prefer.

Can I assume that you have loaded the MOV reader plugin? I've noticed that TMPG always chooses the wrong frame rate so you have to set it yourself or else the output is messed up (60fps and all funky colours). I have never had a problem with audio or resolution. You're doing the Animatrix aren't you! They never gave me a problem.

hope that helped

[Thunderbrain]

Yeah gonzalimator how you knew. When you did yours did you got similar quality? And how do you load the unlock.mcf? so I can set the output to whatever I want. Thanks for your help.

[gonzalimator]

Yes the quality is the same. I just encode with a high enough bitrate and it looks the same. I also use 2-pass VBR instead of just CBR.

To unlock all the goodies in TMPGEnc, open it and press the LOAD button on the bottom right. Navigate to the Extra folder inside the Template folder of TMPG and Select the 'unlock.mcf', click Open, and that's it. Now all of the bitrate settings and resolution settings are customizable.

I've waited for this last Animatrix release so that I can make a SVCD collection of all four on one disk with a menu. Sweet.

Enjoy

Oh I almost forgot. To be able to predict file sizes or calculate bitrates that will fill a CD perfectly, use a Bitrate Calculator. The one offered on this website is pretty good. https://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm

[Thunderbrain]

I did it like you told me (It me an hour and 20 min though) the quality was good but then I did it using constant bitrate (CBR) instead and I got the same quality and it only took me 30 min. But what was really weird was the fact that when I used the same video resolution (640 x 272) I got a full screen movie and when I used 640 x 304 instead I got a wide screen movie. What do you think? . One more thing can you explain me the difference between interlace and non-interlace mode. Thanks for your help.


Also the last episode just came out.

[gonzalimator]

Hey Thunderbrain,

2-pass always takes approximately twice as long as CBR. It will analyze the source first and that takes as long as encoding. Then it encodes on the second pass using more bits per second on fast motion scenes and less on low motion scenes (Variable Bit Rate=VBR) This is good when you see all those little blocks when there are high-motion scenes; VBR usually will get rid of them if your max bitrate is high enough.

When you encoded 640x304 you really just added the black bars to the mpg (304-272=32 so 16 pixels were added on the top and bottom). I bet if you played them side by side you'd see that the movie is still the same size.

Interlace is for TV and does not look good on a PC (unless you have software that ignores it during playback). Interlacing is how frames are displayed on a TV. NTSC TV is made of 60 fields per second or 30 frames per second. A field is every other horizontal line of a frame. When a film is shown on TV, 30 frames must be made from the original 24 so the film plays smoothly. The extra frames are created by combining adjacent frame's Odd and Even fields. Field A from frame 1 can be combined Field B from frame 2. This process is called 3:2 pulldown (or 2:3, I can never keep it straight) or Telecine. The pattern is usually 3 'whole' frames and 2 interlaced frames.

You shouldn't mess an interlaced output unless your source is interlaced and you want to make an SVCD. Mpeg1 doesn't support it so you can't make a VCD that is interlaced but mpeg2 does so you can with SVCD.

Let me know if you need help with making these clips ready for (S)VCD.

Man, my responses are so long-winded.

Also the last episode just came out.

Got it! 8)