what do you use to convert from avi to mpeg?

[dafreak]

Curious to see what the majority uses for encoding.

I use tmpgenc but it can take quite a bit of time. I would like to know what others use so that i can maybe test different software.

[ktnwin]

I use one of these three tools:

1) neoDVD Plus for any AVI file that is less than 90min long, this software converts to MPEG-2 and DVD format in real time (1.2GHz PC). Usually, I demux the VOB files and use IFOEdit to author the DVD with as many chapter points as I want.

2) TMPGEnc for encoding to MPEG-2 when I want to fit a long video to a single DVD-R (between 90min to near 4 hours). I chose full D1 if <= 2 hours and half D1 if longer than that. On my PC, full D1 takes 5X to 6X to convert and half D1 takes 3.5X to convert.

3) Pinnacle Studio to encode/author a DVD that is less than 70 min long. However, I don't use it to encode that often, mainly for editing AVI file.

[donpedro]

Pinnacle Studio 8

[tigerman8u]

Main Concept for straight converts because of it's speed
Tmpgenc Plus if I want or need to do extra stuff

[fmctm1sw]

Curious to see what the majority uses for encoding.

I use tmpgenc but it can take quite a bit of time. I would like to know what others use so that i can maybe test different software.

Try CCE too...

[rkm69]

ProCoder Express

[xmc17]

Main Concept 1.4

[mahinda]

Main Concept 1.4.1

[glenrey]

canopus procoder standard version

[mats.hogberg]

TMPGEnc / Main Concept

/Mats

[dlb]

either main concept 1.4 or avi2svcd encoding with cce.

[jimmalenko]

TMPGEnc. Can't complain with free for the price tag and quality output.

[SatStorm]

TMPGenc plus
I also use mainconcept 1.4.1, but only for realtime mpeg 2 captures

[ronnylov]

Mainconcept encoder 1.4.1 or Canopus Procoder 1.5

[sturmie]

CCE...MainConcept 1.4.1 gave me weird A/V sync errors.

sturmie

[shimrod]

CCE (Cinemacraft Encoder) is the absolute best and is used for professional Mpeg-1 and Mpeg-2 encoding.

The SP (standard) version will only cost you about $1,950.00

[whomacuddy]

Tsunami MPEG ever since 99 when it really did take days to encode stuff (4 hours to encode 20 minutes on a Pentium 233), but the quality and compliance has always been good

[lchiu7]

Mainconcept 1.4.1 mainly. Sometimes use tmpgenc if I want to select bits of the capture to convert. Found I can also do that by using Virtualdub to delete the bits of video I don't want and then frameserve to MC (MC is significantly faster than tmp)

[fritzi93]

Jimmalenko, free? Either you're talking VCDs only or you perchance still have the last freeware beta version on your comp? That's been a while.

[jimmalenko]

Jimmalenko, free? Either you're talking VCDs only or you perchance still have the last freeware beta version on your comp? That's been a while.

Yep, talking VCDs only. The thread says AVI to MPEG and my experience has been with low to medium bitrate DivX AVIs. I made the call that these are not worth putting into MPEG2.

[fritzi93]

Yes, I see your point. Annoying to have to change disks, though. :P

[jimmalenko]

True if you use CDR. I encode to MPEG1 and burn to DVDR. You can go up to 1850kbps @ 352x288 and still have a valid DVD-Video file. No changing CDs and you can fit a couple of movies on each DVD.

Let me reiterate that I only do this with low to medium bitrate AVIs - for DVDs I just shrink using DVDShrink.

[Sugar]

TMPGEnc Plus

[fritzi93]

[quote="jimmalenko"]True if you use CDR. I encode to MPEG1 and burn to DVDR. You can go up to 1850kbps @ 352x288 and still have a valid DVD-Video file. No changing CDs and you can fit a couple of movies on each DVD.

Pardon me, I made an assumption. That's more like it, been meaning to try that, just for fun. And to see what the result looks like. I'm wondering how watchable it would be on an old 25" TV, not one of the new widescreen projection jobs. ( This is of academic interest only, the price for HDTV is just about low enough for an old cheapskate like me. No low bitrate crap then!)

[jimmalenko]

I watch mine on a 27" LG Flatron. I guess whatever floats your boat. IMHO most downloaded DivX AVIs (copyright free of course) are not worth encoding to MPEG2 because the bitrates are ordinary and there is no advantage. I capture VHS porn etc to uncompressed AVI and I would only convert AVI that has a bitrate of greater than 1850 kbps to MPEG2. At the moment I just use Windows Movie Maker because I only want this material for viewing on my PC anyway. I use the High Quality Broadband (Small) template which gives pretty good results.

[fritzi93]

[quote="jimmalenko"] I capture VHS porn etc

[jimmalenko]

I do not remember reading in the rules that porn was unacceptable !

[dwiesel]

I've converted AVI's to MPG using "ULEAD", "Pinnacle", and "TMPGenc"...

...the winner is definitely "TMPGenc" (resulting MPG is much better).