Bitrate Calculator question

[Coop]

I've been capturing and converting AVI to MPEG2 using TMPGenc for a little over two years now. Most of my converted files are just under 2 hours of length or so (between 30-40 GB file sizes) and I've been using the bitrate calculator here with good results:

http://dvd-hq.info/Calculator.html?PHPSESSID=eee703517d369857dc5aa79446d2645b

I've started converting larger file sizes - between 70 and 80 GB or so, and noticed when I use the above referenced calculator that the suggested Min, Max, and Average bitrates are not right - the resulting MPEG looks bad, and my file size isn't optimized for a single layer DVD recordable. This suggests that this calculator doesn't work right for larger sized AVI's.

I like this bitrate calculator alot because it optimizes the output and is easy to use. Does anyone have a better bitrate calc for TMPGenc?

[BSR]

Never used the one you refered to.
I've always used this one and like it.
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=VideoHelp_Bitrate_calculator

But there are some others in:
https://www.videohelp.com/tools?s=1#1

[bunyip]

I've always thought that TMPGEnc does a pretty good job of calculating the bit rate itself - any reason why you don't use these figures?

[BSR]

I've always thought that TMPGEnc does a pretty good job of calculating the bit rate itself - any reason why you don't use these figures?

Isn't it only available in Wizard mode?

[bunyip]

Yes - but that doesn't stop you from changing any settings if you need to prior to encoding.

Or you can just take a note of the bitrate and do a manual set-up if you prefer.

[bugster]

The size of the source file has no effect on the size of the final mpeg. Only the bitrate selected and the running time of the video matter. Nothing else. You must be doing something else long.

If your new source files are as big as you say, and still only 2 or 3 hours long they have low compression, also they may be interlaced. Check them out with gspot or avicodec. If they are interlaced you may be using the wrong field order and/or deinterlacing incorrectly which would result in a poor looking video.

[Coop]

I'm pretty sure it's the calculator

Here are the results of AVIcodec for a file similar to those I have been working with:

Video : 3.12 Gb, 2359 Kbps, 29.970 fps, res. 720*480 (4:3), HFYU = Huffyuv lossless, Supported
File : 78 Gb (1020 Mb), duration 3:09:41, type AVI, 1 audio stream(s), quality 98 %
Audio : 1.89 Gb, 1411 Kbps, 44100 Hz, 2 chan., 0x1 = PCM, Supported

running the calculator I've been using, the average and minimum bitrates it comes up with are very low - and the output is well under 4.37 GB in size. Here's the 2 pass VBR settings it comes up with:

max: 8000 kb/s
avg: 1650 kb/s
min: 650 kb/s

Field order is Bottom field first (field B)

raising the minimum to 1000 and the average to 2600 or 2700 results in better output (for obvious reasons) - and the MPEG size ends up around 4 GB or so.

I'm trying to figure out why the calculator is giving me such low values.

Thanks everyone who has taken time to read and respond

[BSR]

Just tested your settings at that calculator you use.
Are you sure you set the audio format correctly?
Because with PCM audio I get the same settings as you which is correct.
The setting you want to use, 2600 or 2700kb/s, can only be achieved if you use compressed audio like mp2 or AC3.
That calculator seems to work correctly.

[Coop]

Per the AVIcodec results, it's PCM audio (1 stream), so I select the default encoding PCM @ 1536 (customizing at 1411 is adjusts the avg and min numbers slightly higher, but not enough). With lower sized AVI's the trancoded MPEG2 is optimized for single layer authoring and it's looks good. With the larger files, it doesn't.

I capture with Virtual VCR, using the Huffy lossless codec for compression.....

I'll try one of the other calculators going forward.....

[bugster]

. Most of my converted files are just under 2 hours of length or so

.
File : 78 Gb (1020 Mb), duration 3:09:41,

There is your difference, nothing to do with the size of the source file as such, its the length of the video that matters as I already stated.

If you want to get that length of movie on a DVDr in decent quality, either reduce the resolution (try 352*480/576, known as 1/2 D1) or use compressed audio such as mp2 or Ac3. (mp2 is not standard for NTSC region players though many do support it. All support Ac3).

Nothing wrong with the bitrate calculator, your audio is taking up too much space.

[BSR]

Yes, PCM audio for your Huffy capture.
But if you want a higher bitrate for your video on your DVD, you must compress your audio.
TMPGEnc can do this for you under the audio tab.
What Kb/s is it set to. That is what you want to put in the calculator, not 1536(unless you have a short video and plan on keeping the audio PCM.
On the calculator, under audio, change 1536 to custom 192, then you will get correct results.(but you must encode audio to 192.)

EDIT - also everything Bugster said. If you want AC3, ffmpeggui (input *.wav, output *.ac3) is free, just test with your DVD player first to make sure compatible.

[Coop]

BSR - you might have just answered my question - I thought the calculator was looking for input of the AVI not the resultant MPEG2. I'll post back my audio encoding settings for TMPGenc later today.