[b]CBR or VBR for DVD Compatibility ?[/b]

[Stepshows]

Hello everyone,

I've been creating DVDs for a few months using the following apps:

Editing - ShowBiz DVD
Encoding - TMPMPG Plus
Authoring - DVD Workshop

Hardware - P-4 2.0 Ghz, ATA100, 120 GB, 7200 RPM, etc.

I've noticed in a few 1 1/2 hour long DVDs, some jerkiness, long pauses, etc. I've been encoding CBR 4000, depending on the total video length. I'm just wondering whether VBR Min 2000, Max 8000 would yield smoother video or am I simply using the wrong apps?

[duhmez]

Are ou transcoding NTSC material to pal with tmpgenc ? This will cause all kinds of nasty jerkiness.

Jsust a thought.

True NTSC to pal conversion is an ugly, ugly process.

[vivisimonvi]

This might not answer your question directly but for some background information for you.

CBR is known to be incompatible with some DVD players. What actually happens is that with the encoder (TMPGEnc specifically), the bitrate drops below it's "constant" that causes a few freezes in the video when played back on some players (I've noticed this with some video sources that are dark/pitch black in some areas).

VBR would be the best option since the bitrate can be read at any given rate, you'll generally achieve the same filesize as CBR at 4000 as long as your AVERAGE VBR bitrate is 4000. I keep the minimum at 0 and the max at 8000, it's best to give the widest range of bitrate flexibility.

[Stepshows]

Thanks for the quick replies. I was only trying to use TMPGEnc to convert ShowBiz DVD's output file from VBR to CBR to reduce the file sizes. Compatibility with set top DVD players is my primary concern.

Another question that comes to mind whether it's best to split my 1 1/2 hour long videos into separate mpg2 files? In other words could larger files (.VOBs) pose more problems for DVD players than smaller files?

Thanks again for the feedback

[duhmez]

Author as normal, the .99 gig autosplits are fine.