Should I convert DIVX files TO svcd

[hulkholmes]

Is it a good idea to convert a DIVX file to SVCD. The DIVX files that I have are 720x350, 640x240, 640x224. Are those DIVX files good enough for SVCD or should I just convert them to VCD?

[Pro-cras-tination]

Hi, I asked a similar question several days ago - see the thread titled "AVI to MPG - does this sound reasonable?"

According to a few replies I received, AVI files are more compressed than MPG (VCD/SVCD) so you might have to make an SVCD out of it to get the same quality. It didn't matter too much with the files I'm working with but I'm not sure if they're DIVX or not. How do you find out?

How big is the file you're working with? Will making it fit onto one CD be the determining factor in what format you use?

I think the bitrate of the original file is going to be the main factor in determining what kind of file you need to make. If it has a low bitrate and the quality is only fair, make a VCD. If the bitrate is high and the quality is excellent, make a SVCD so the final result is as good as the original.

I'm a newbie so there are probably other factors involved too.

Good luck,

M

[mats.hogberg]

you might have to make an SVCD out of it to get the same quality

Well, you'll never get the same quality, as mpeg compression (at any bit rate within (S)VCD/DVD specs) is lossy - you'll sacrifice some picture quality on the altar of file size.
But as you say, if the AVI looks good, and has a reasonable resolution, encode to SVCD, or possibly CVD. If the AVI doesn't look good, scrap it. A low q AVI encoded to VCD will look even worse, and will probably not be worth the blank CD-R.
If at all possible use the DVD as source for (S)VCD.

/Mats

[Mickey79]

Glory!

I am in a similar situation.
DivX of resolution 576 X 240 .. i made a VCD and it was totally worthless. The picture quality and bitrate of the DivX is good. I had never tried an SVCD before so i didn't bother, but now i think i may need to do that..

What would be the best software to use for this kind of an DivX to SVCD conversion?

Mickey

[Craig Tucker]

Glory!

I am in a similar situation.
DivX of resolution 576 X 240 .. i made a VCD and it was totally worthless. The picture quality and bitrate of the DivX is good.

Then you are doing something wrong. There is no reason why you cannot get a perfectly acceptable VCD from a good quality Divx. What are you using to encode.

[Mickey79]

Glory!

What happens is, because the original divx is 576 X 240 .. and Pal VCD is 352 X 288.. the original resolution is being squeezed like hell in width .. and the hieght barely changing.. this giving a major elongation in content.. faces are too long.. stuff like that. Which doesnt look too good.

The quality was ok in terms of sound and picture. Though i could have used a better CD.

I'm using TMPGEnc for the encoding.

What can be done in such a case.. when the res. are so horrendously different.. and unproportionate. The original is 2.40:1 ..

Mickey

[DVWannaB]

I say DONT convert DivX to MPEG......at least not at this moment. I would wait and see what standards are moving forward and being widely disseminated. At this point in time DivX seems to be picking a little steam as far as compatibility with stand-alone DVD/SVCD/VCD/DivX players are concerned. Microsoft also seems to have jumped in and thrown their their $$$$money$$$$ into the mix to develop and standardize the MPEG-4 format.