I need suggestions for TMPGEnc settings

[dafoe]

I downloaded some old cartoons. The quality is great- aprx 100mb per avi episode.

I want to encode them with TMPGEnc to DVD. I want excellent quality. So I figured before resorting to trial and error I would ask for suggestions. I've never encoded a cartoon before

What bitrate shopuld I use? Any suggestions (or templates) would be appreciated. Time is not a factor- I just want high quality video.

Thanks

[ZippyP.]

How many minutes per episode and what resolution are they? How many do you want on a disk?

[dafoe]

Thanks for the reply.

Each episode is aprx 21 minutes. The eps are 384 x 286. I do a lot of sitcom recording on my HS-2 and I always put 5 episodes per disc- SP quality.

I was thinking about putting 6 episodes on each single layer DVD.

[ZippyP.]

The eps are 384 x 286.

The closest NTSC-DVD resolutions to the above are either 352x240 (1/4 DVD) or 352x480 (1/2 DVD), if you are in a Pal area then they are 352x288 and 352x576. Normally upsizing is not recommended due to blockiness, so the lower res would be your choice. You might want to try a sample of each and decide which you prefer.

For the lower res 1600 kbps video bitrate should be good which would give about 5 1/2 hours on a DVD. Select the the low res template.

For 1/2 DVD res you could us 3,000 kbps which would give you a little over 3 hours on a disk. Select the full resolution DVD template. To change the resolution right click on "size" next to the greyed out resolution box and select unlock, then adjust the resolution.

Encode using CBR, high quality motion search and you should be good.

[dafoe]

Thanks for the tips. I will try them out.