cant control bitrate

[sdm]

my input file is 352x240 .mov (3ivx codec)

I want to encode using the ffmpeg engine so I chose fast DVD.
Hovever, the bitrate 4000 and size 720x480 is overkill (right?)
So I chose bitrate of 2300 and size 352x240 (I've also done this with mpeg2enc and gotten good results)

The problem is, the resulting mpeg2 video file has an average bitrate of 1,134,353 bits/sec ~ 1150 kbits/sec instead of 2300kbps

Maybe 2300 kbps is just too high? (it gives me the blue warning)

Major, is this a bug, or a feature of ffmpeg?

[extract]

my input file is 352x240 .mov (3ivx codec)

I want to encode using the ffmpeg engine so I chose fast DVD.
Hovever, the bitrate 4000 and size 720x480 is overkill (right?)
So I chose bitrate of 2300 and size 352x240 (I've also done this with mpeg2enc and gotten good results)

The problem is, the resulting mpeg2 video file has an average bitrate of 1,134,353 bits/sec ~ 1150 kbits/sec instead of 2300kbps

Maybe 2300 kbps is just too high? (it gives me the blue warning)

Major, is this a bug, or a feature of ffmpeg?

Sounds like you have been choosing the fast VCD instead, it will give you MPEG1 with 1150 kbps and a resolution of 352 x 240. It is not a valid resolution for DVD with MPEG2.

[major]

"fast DVD" and "fast SVCD" profiles will encode in variable bitrate, and if you ask for a bitrate which is unnecessarily high, the rate will automatically adjust to a lower value as needed.

[sdm]

thanks Major.

Extract, no, these are MPEG2 files with a variable bitrate, and 352x240 IS a valid resolution for DVD. I've made several DVDs this way.

I suppose I've been using higher bitrate than necessary before.

[markpith]

"fast DVD" and "fast SVCD" profiles will encode in variable bitrate, and if you ask for a bitrate which is unnecessarily high, the rate will automatically adjust to a lower value as needed.

Does it work the same when the bitrate is red (too low)?
I have some movies I want to encode to low bitrate xvid, so they work on my P900 with SmartMovie player.
The strange thing is, it works like a charm when I use a .avi input instead of a .mpg..

Thanks

P.s. funny; major we've joined www.vcdhelp.com on the same date..

[thoughton]

Does it work the same when the bitrate is red (too low)?
I have some movies I want to encode to low bitrate xvid, so they work on my P900 with SmartMovie player.
The strange thing is, it works like a charm when I use a .avi input instead of a .mpg..

Hrm, with 0.0.9L I am having no problems encoding for SmartMovie from either an avi or an mpg (mostly due to Major's hard work on the L version!).

It's movs that cause me problems (no sound in output file). Also mp4s that have been encoded for packetvideo on a PC encoder - have trouble converting those to smartmovie as well.