Help newbie on BASIC TOOLS NEEDED

[alexb76]

Ok, I have gone through the newbie articles, but there's sooooooooo many of them that I totally got confused. I need to know what basic software tools I need for what I wanna do (will list) and nothin else.

Here's what I like to do (and what I think I need):

1. Burn CD/DVDs (Nero?)
2. Encode audio into mp3 and vice versa (winamp/lame?)
3. Encode videos at best mpg4 quality (divX & Virtualdub?)
4. Convert WMV files to DivX/VCD/SVCD format (?)
5. Backup and rip DVDs (?)
6. Fit 9GB DVDs to 4.7 GB DVDs (?)
7. A batching program to re-encode all my downloaded videos (mov/rm/wmv/asf/avi) into desired format divX/xDiv/VCD/SVCD (?)
8. Backup my emails, my docs, essential Windows files into DVD (?)
9. Make sure my DVDs/divX files are playable in Philips DV642 (what settings/media should I use?)

I have some ideas about what to use for each (in paranthesis). I want to minimize the #of software I use and would like something that's half-decent user friendly.

Please let me know if my choices are wrong and please help me with the ones I dont know about... hopefully we can get some agreement on what's good for each purpose.

Thnx

PS. I have Pioneer 106 DVDROM, NEC 3500A, Athlon XP3200 on Asus A7N8x

[BJ_M]

. Burn CD/DVDs (Nero)
2. Encode audio into mp3 and vice versa (besweet)
3. Encode videos at best mpg4 quality (divX or xvid & Virtualdub
or dr. divx)
4. Convert WMV files to VCD/SVCD format (tmpgenc or main concept or or canopus procoder express)
5. Backup and rip DVDs (dvd shrink)
6. Fit 9GB DVDs to 4.7 GB DVDs (dvd shrink)
7. A batching program to re-encode all my downloaded videos (mov/rm/wmv/asf/avi) into desired format divX/xDiv/VCD/SVCD (no idea - procoder 2.0 could do it)
8. Backup my emails, my docs, essential Windows files into DVD (no idea - could just use nero )
9. Make sure my DVDs/divX files are playable in Philips DV642 (what settings/media should I use?) (no idea)

[alexb76]

Thnx a lot. Does tmpgenc convert WMV to other formats? What about mov?

[BJ_M]

tmpgenc only converts to mpg

to convert to quicktime you have a lot of options ..

to convert from quicktime you can use tmpgenc with qt plug in ..

there are other encoders besides tmpgenc , but it is one of the best known

[BJ_M]

you really could do everything on your list with 3 apps

nero
dvd shrink
canopus procoder 2

[nathanaa]

Far better than DVDShrink is the combination of DVDDecrypter+DVDRebuilder. Rip with DVDDecrypter and then transcode with DVDRB, and man are those 9gig movies sweet looking then.

I like DVDShrink, don't get me wrong, but once I started using DVDD & DVDRB, I fell in love with it.

I could see the quality difference right off. A longer learning curve, but worth the couple of days it took me. So, check those out too for backing up your movies.

[alexb76]

Far better than DVDShrink is the combination of DVDDecrypter+DVDRebuilder. Rip with DVDDecrypter and then transcode with DVDRB, and man are those 9gig movies sweet looking then.

I like DVDShrink, don't get me wrong, but once I started using DVDD & DVDRB, I fell in love with it.

I could see the quality difference right off. A longer learning curve, but worth the couple of days it took me. So, check those out too for backing up your movies.

So, you're saying that by using these... my quality would be better?

Now, another question. Would I get a better picture if I do DVDshrink and use mpeg2 on the files, or do a very high bit-rate DivX or Xvid. I dont really care about file size, as long as I get the best video on a single-layer DVD?

Thnx for all the pointers... this forum is GREAT!

[BJ_M]

if you want the best video -- just split it to two disks ..

simple ..


plus the price of disks is so cheap right now (tigerdirect in canada has 10 packs of dvd_r or dvd+r for free today , 14$ for 10 and a 14$ rebate)

[BJ_M]

Far better than DVDShrink is the combination of DVDDecrypter+DVDRebuilder. Rip with DVDDecrypter and then transcode with DVDRB, and man are those 9gig movies sweet looking then.

I like DVDShrink, don't get me wrong, but once I started using DVDD & DVDRB, I fell in love with it.

I could see the quality difference right off. A longer learning curve, but worth the couple of days it took me. So, check those out too for backing up your movies.

yea - well i was trying to make simple for him with the least number of apps .. since procoder does a better job of encoding than dvdrb and will write to vobs .. it is usefull for longer stuff .. plus it writes to divx , wmv or anything else .. dvdshrink for stuff less than 80% shrink or split it over 2 disks .. nero to write and back up ..

[winifreid]

Do you want free? To get the quality from rebuilder, you need CCE which cost about $60. If you don't have a big screen tv, I doubt you will see the difference. I have a 21 inch and use Shrink down to %60 and can't tell the difference from the original. If you use xvid and try to fit a movie onto a dvd and not a CD, you will get very good quality, but will loose the extras and menus. I am not sure that the 642 will play xvid on dvd. A downside to xvid is time, it takes me 7 hours to encode a movie to CD.

[alexb76]

Do you want free? To get the quality from rebuilder, you need CCE which cost about $60. If you don't have a big screen tv, I doubt you will see the difference. I have a 21 inch and use Shrink down to %60 and can't tell the difference from the original. If you use xvid and try to fit a movie onto a dvd and not a CD, you will get very good quality, but will loose the extras and menus. I am not sure that the 642 will play xvid on dvd. A downside to xvid is time, it takes me 7 hours to encode a movie to CD.

Philips plays xVid as well, but as long as some settings are set properly.

So, if I don't care about menus... would a mpeg2 video on 4.7GB look better or the same size video with xVid/DivX?

[sacajaweeda]

How many hours are you wanting to fit on a DVD?

[alexb76]

How many hours are you wanting to fit on a DVD?

About 3 hours plus subtitles and sound.

[sacajaweeda]

If retaining the quality is your main concern and your stand alone will play Divx & Xvid then I wouldn't even bother converting them to MPEG2 for DVD. Every time you convert/encode quality degrades. I've been less than impressed with most of the stuff converted from WMV or MOV that I've seen, but if your target is VCD or SVCD its probably good enough.

Always resize down to a smaller frame size if you have to resize to a target frame size. Keep the bitrate as high as you can. Fewest number of conversions and as always, garbage in = garbage out.

Run test encodes with short sample clips of your source video. Burn them to RW discs and check them out on a TV set to make sure they look satisfactory before you go setting off a long encode job. Nothing worse than waiting for nothing.

Read, read, read, read. Don't be affraid to ask "stupid" questions here. Because there aren't any. Somebody will help if they can. Use the search button. Most of the time your questions have been answered dozens of times over already.

MPEG2 conversion is going to cost you something. None of the decent encoders are free.

Must have software:

VirtualDubMod
A lossless codec like HuffYUV or Pic Video MJPEG codec.
An MPEG2 encoder.

TMPGEnc is a popular one and has lots of useful templates. Fairly noob friendly. Probably your best bet starting out. My personal fav is Cinemacraft Encoder, but it's kind of useless without AviSynth and that's more than most noobs are usually up for.

You will also need an audio program for transcoding formats, especially if you are in NTSC land and needing AC3 for DVD. I like BeSweet v1.4 myself.

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=VideoHelp_Bitrate_calculator

That should top off the meat and potatos part of your video toolbox. Only thing left really is authoring and burning software.

[alexb76]

If retaining the quality is your main concern and your stand alone will play Divx & Xvid then I wouldn't even bother converting them to MPEG2 for DVD. Every time you convert/encode quality degrades. I've been less than impressed with most of the stuff converted from WMV or MOV that I've seen, but if your target is VCD or SVCD its probably good enough.

Always resize down to a smaller frame size if you have to resize to a target frame size. Keep the bitrate as high as you can. Fewest number of conversions and as always, garbage in = garbage out.

Run test encodes with short sample clips of your source video. Burn them to RW discs and check them out on a TV set to make sure they look satisfactory before you go setting off a long encode job. Nothing worse than waiting for nothing.

Read, read, read, read. Don't be affraid to ask "stupid" questions here. Because there aren't any. Somebody will help if they can. Use the search button. Most of the time your questions have been answered dozens of times over already.

MPEG2 conversion is going to cost you something. None of the decent encoders are free.

Must have software:

VirtualDubMod
A lossless codec like HuffYUV or Pic Video MJPEG codec.
An MPEG2 encoder.

TMPGEnc is a popular one and has lots of useful templates. Fairly noob friendly. Probably your best bet starting out. My personal fav is Cinemacraft Encoder, but it's kind of useless without AviSynth and that's more than most noobs are usually up for.

You will also need an audio program for transcoding formats, especially if you are in NTSC land and needing AC3 for DVD. I like BeSweet v1.4 myself.

https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=VideoHelp_Bitrate_calculator

That should top off the meat and potatos part of your video toolbox. Only thing left really is authoring and burning software.

Oh man, that was great help... thanks a LOT. I will do some tests and will see what woks best.

One last question: I looked at most of the articles about encoders, there was one with 50 some pages of PDF file of encoder tests... I got quite confused after that.

What is the rule of thumb of best mpeg4 encoder these days? Here's what I have gathered:

- For low bit-rates: WMV (but my player doesn't play it)
- For higher bit-rates: DivX
- For fast action movies/animations: xVid

Is that an accurate overall impression about the formats? Some reviews favor DivX, some xVid... not sure what's best for what?

Thnx again guys... everyone's been so helpful!

[Brian1971]

NEO DVD is very easy to use and gives very good results for putting a 700mb AVI/mpeg/DivX flic and a 20 minute cartoon on a 4.7 disc.
A cartoon and a movie, just like when I was young,,,

[sacajaweeda]

One last question: I looked at most of the articles about encoders, there was one with 50 some pages of PDF file of encoder tests... I got quite confused after that.

What is the rule of thumb of best mpeg4 encoder these days? Here's what I have gathered:

- For low bit-rates: WMV (but my player doesn't play it)
- For higher bit-rates: DivX
- For fast action movies/animations: xVid

Is that an accurate overall impression about the formats? Some reviews favor DivX, some xVid... not sure what's best for what?

I'm not the one to look to for any help sorting out that best format debate. Lots of opinions out there though. MPEG2/DVD-Video for me mostly. That or the occasional S/VCD project, but even those are few and far between these days. Usually it's DVD, or SVCD for stuff I don't really feel like wasting a DVD blank on, but might later on down the road.