DVD encoding

[pdbody]

Question? After observing several hundred dvd's I noticed that the quality and length of the dvd's are greater than what I am able to acheive encoding to dvd-r. So, What "tools" do the "Big Boys" use to encode to mpeg-2?

[bugster]

Its not just the encoding. The pros always have much higher quality source to start with than you or me could hope to achieve. They also have over 9Gb of space to play with on a pressed 2 layer DVD. DVDr is only single layer 4.7G.

[pdbody]

thank's, I am trying to improve my mpeg-2 encoding process. Currently using a sony vaio, p4 2.2 ghz, 1g ram, 1 x 120 7200 rpm hd (os & apps), 1 x 160 7200 rpm drive (capture), ATI TV Wonder (not ve), Intervideo WinDVD Recoder (720-480 mpge 2) (tends to drop frames & cannot track frame rates) Power VCR II (Same as WinDVD Recorder) Sources (VHS, Broadcast, DV media).

Ok, any recommendations on improving my encoding quality,

Desperate, pdbody (currently committed to small dvd project dv-mpeg2)

[bugster]

Concentrate on the quality of your source material, then use the best quality mpeg-2 encoder you can find, either TmpGenc or CCE. Experiment with small clips until you find settings that you like, then expect to wait for a long encode time.

Capture to avi using a lossless or low loss codec (huffyuv or mjpeg) for best quality captures. Do not encode 'on the fly'. Edit and then encode.

For advice on capturing, look for guides or posts by Lordsmurf.

Remember, garbage in = garbage out.

[pdbody]

you recommend capturing to avi, and what applications provide lossless or low loss codec's?

Also, why not capture mpeg-2 using 'on the fly'?

P.S. Lordsmurf has been invaluable, thanks man.

[housepig]

depending on your capture card, capturing mpeg-2 "on the fly" may or may not look as good as capturing an avi and converting after the fact.

with my card, I get lower-quality results if I go straight to mpeg-2, so I capture as avi and encode later.

as for low-loss codecs, check out Huffyuv (free) and PICVideo's MJPEG (cheap). they should work in most any capture app that allows you to choose codecs (Virtualdub, VirtualVCR, iuVCR, etc.)

[macm]

housepig,

what is your card anyway?? If it is not an ATI AIW or Canopus MPEG, go get one, and save your precious encoding time (LIFETIME!!!), these cards delivers outstanding MPEG-2 caps on the fly. No need to spend HOURS or even DAYS on capping to AVI. Capping AVI is the PAST. It is JURASSIC!!! New technologies are out there to help us!! So use it!!!!

[pdbody]

Currently using ATI TV Wonder PCI. How is it different from ATI AIW?

[housepig]

housepig,

what is your card anyway?? If it is not an ATI AIW or Canopus MPEG, go get one, and save your precious encoding time (LIFETIME!!!), these cards delivers outstanding MPEG-2 caps on the fly.

I do all my encodes overnight while I sleep, or during the day while I'm at work, so it's "down time" anyway.

if you want to give me $500 for a Canopus card, or a spare one lying around, I'll pm you my address...

but right now, I have more slack time than money. And I don't want an ATI, for two reasons -

1) all the ATI cards I've dealt with in the past have been screaming bitches to install, and

2) I don't want my capture card and my video card to be the same device.

[macm]

As far as I know, AIW is a Multimedia card, with features like video out, that TV Wonder hasn't. Besides it is also a video card, with real optimizations. That's why it is a "ALL IN WONDER" !!!
But the TV Wonder should be OK, since it can cap in MPEG-2 just right.

[macm]

housepig,

I know, I just said that because I use ATI AIW's since 1997, with no complaints at all. Always did it very well. And, my case is, have no reason to keep my machine on overnight, or during the day while I am away...
It helps me save my hardware anyhow and also drop down my eletricity bill by the end of the month.

[macm]

thank's, I am trying to improve my mpeg-2 encoding process. Currently using a sony vaio, p4 2.2 ghz, 1g ram, 1 x 120 7200 rpm hd (os & apps), 1 x 160 7200 rpm drive (capture), ATI TV Wonder (not ve), Intervideo WinDVD Recoder (720-480 mpge 2) (tends to drop frames & cannot track frame rates) Power VCR II (Same as WinDVD Recorder) Sources (VHS, Broadcast, DV media).

Ok, any recommendations on improving my encoding quality,

Desperate, pdbody (currently committed to small dvd project dv-mpeg2)

why are you capping 720x480? there is no need for that! Try using 352x480 (4000~6000 bitrate) instead, you won't lose anything. You will save space and bitrate. Sometimes even improve quality... Also try it using ATI MMC itself, so it works great and best with ATI cards (after all, it's supposed to do so, isn't it?)
Again, take a look at Lordsmurf guides...