DVIX, XVID, SVCD etc.: quality comparison available?

[ISSI]

Hi ev'body!

Here's my newbie question:
I am looking for a detailed comparison on the various formats and their advantages, e.g. what format is (in terms of quality) the best?

I have problems in interpreting the ffmpegX manual and its descriptions of the different formats correctly, for me they are quite vague...

Any help (links tips etc.) is deeply welcomed!

ISSI

[major]

First decide if you want to watch on TV or computer screen. In the first case go for SVCD or CVD if you burn on CDR, or for DVD if you burn on DVDR. In the second case go for XviD or mencoder mpeg-4.

[ISSI]

First decide if you want to watch on TV or computer screen. In the first case go for SVCD or CVD if you burn on CDR, or for DVD if you burn on DVDR. In the second case go for XviD or mencoder mpeg-4.

Okay, I should have told you: the target is TV.

I am not sure if XVID is better or mencoder mpeg-4...

Is there any place to find further info on this toppic? (Another question is: Does it make sense to scale a DVD source to a DVIX movie with more than 720 pixels, let's say 800 or even more?)

Thanks for any help!

[major]

Will you play the movie with a DVD player or with a computer?

[ISSI]

Will you play the movie with a DVD player or with a computer?

I am so sorry: I made a mistake! I wanted to say:
The target is computer. And I want to store on CD-R.

I am not sure if XVID is better or mencoder mpeg-4...

Is there any place (a www-link maybe) to find further info on this toppic?

Another question is:
Does it make sense to scale a DVD source to a DVIX movie with more than 720 pixels, let's say 800 or even more?

Thanks for any help! (...and sorry for the confusion...)

[major]

The target is computer. And I want to store on CD-R. I am not sure if XVID is better or mencoder mpeg-4...

Choose XviD for quick quality encode, or for even better quality you should use mencoder mpeg-4 with all advanced options enabled, though this will be extremely slow to encode.

Another question is:
Does it make sense to scale a DVD source to a DVIX movie with more than 720 pixels, let's say 800 or even more?

For computer playback it does not make any sense to scale to a size bigger than the source size.

[ISSI]

@ Major: Thank you for your kind help!

The target is computer. And I want to store on CD-R. I am not sure if XVID is better or mencoder mpeg-4...

Choose XviD for quick quality encode, or for even better quality you should use mencoder mpeg-4 with all advanced options enabled, though this will be extremely slow to encode.

Really? What about "Use B-frames"? I thought, (because the ffmpegX OPTION description says "B-frames require less data than P-frames") that B-frames are likely to reduce size, but not improve quality... so, am I wrong with this?

Another question is:
Does it make sense to scale a DVD source to a DVIX movie with more than 720 pixels, let's say 800 or even more?

For computer playback it does not make any sense to scale to a size bigger than the source size.

Even with a screen bigger than 720 pixels width? Ain't it better to let the encoder do the upscale, and not the viewing program?

Bye!
ISSI

[major]

What about "Use B-frames"?

The main advantage of B-frames is reducing the encoded file size. However they can also improve quality in the case of moving objects that reveal hidden areas, as they use backward prediction.

with a screen bigger than 720 pixels width? Ain't it better to let the encoder do the upscale, and not the viewing program?

No. You're going to waste disk space with redundant data, and to waste processor power to decompress such redundant data.