Trying to understand how to encode for the best output

[simps]

Hi there
Im from Brasil, my english is not that good, but i hope i can make this understandable.

I have been playing arround with svcd for about 4 weeks now.
Tks to this great site here, i have been able to encode movies using permanent subtitles to svcds.

I started from zero, and now, after this 4 weeks, i can make and sync subtitles, i have my way arround with virtualdubmod, and tmpgenc, i even managed to extract ac3 audio with goldwave (great program btw), i can now work fine with frameserver etc.

But still, i never managed to understand how to work right with all the encoding options on vdub and tmpgenc, to make the best encode process.

Basicaly i would like someone that undestand about this, to tell me how to encode for the best output results on this tow cases:

1) If i have a .avi file, that i need to make svcd out of it, with perm subs.
if the .avi is 23.976fps should i encode it with ntscfilm option on tmpgenc for best results?

Where is the best place to check the .avi fps rate?

Should i make it interlaced or progressive? what is the best choice?

What if the .avi is 25fps or 29.97fps? does that change anything?

What is 3:2 pulldown? and inverse 3:2 pulldown? when should i use it for better results?

2) if i have a .mpg (mpge2 format) and i need to make a svcd out of it with perm subs.
In this case i am encoding the .mpg to .avi, and then encoding the .avi with tmpgenc for the subs. So i encode the video 2 times.

Is this the proper way to do it?

Because when i try to use tmpgenc to encode the .mpg with subs, the subs wont appear. (i have already set the right priorities on advanced tab).
then i tryed to open the .mpg with virtualdubmod and use the sub filter, and then frameserve it to tmpgenc, but it wont work too. why?

Sorry for the long text, i hope someone can help me with this issues.
Tkx ppl

[]
Simps

[Cobra]

1:

- Yes, match the framerate to the source (your AVI)
- Download GSpot and use that to open the file
- Interlaced
- If you can play PAL 25fps, use it. Conversion will cause a loss in quality.
- 3:2 pulldown converts 23.976fps video to DVD-specification 29.97fps. You do not need to worry about this for SVCD.

2:

- Take the AVI you first encoded and use a subtitle tool to extract the subtitles from your source DVD. Install VobSub. Place the subtitle file in the same folder as the AVI and your subtitles will appear!

Hope this helps!

Cobra

[bugster]

Have to disagree with some points there Cobra.

If your source file is interlaced, keep it interlaced. If your source file is progressive (and if it is divx/xvid chances are it will be) keep it progressive.

3:2 pulldown and 23.97fps source. If your source avi is 23.976fps and you are making SVCD (mpeg-2), the correct way to set up TmpGenc is to set encode mode (on the vide tab) to 3:2 pulldown when playback. Then set framerate to 23.976fps (internally 29.976fps). Tmpgenc has a SVCD (NTSCfilm) template with these settings.

If your source file is 25fps, then you need to encode it as PAL SVCD for best results.

All this assumes of course that your DVD player/TV will play back both PAL and NTSC material.


Sorry, can't help with Subs.

[simps]

Tkx for the quick answers guys.

So let me see is i am understanding this.
If my source is 23.976fps, then i should encode it using ntscfilm settings on tmpgenc, and 3:2 pulldown.

Is that the "telecine" progress?
By doing that, will it make the 23.976fps output 29.97fps?

And if i have the oposit situation.
If i have a 29.97fps .mpg. Should i encode with ntsc settings (29.97fps interlaced or progressive depending on source), or should i use ntsc 29.97fps with INVERSE 3:2 PULLDOWN?

How can i get the best possible output in this second case?
And by using inverse pulldown, will i be doing the inverse telecine progress like making 29.97fps output 23.976???


Am i getting things right?

Tkx again for the quick answers.

Cya,
Simps

[bugster]

Tkx for the quick answers guys.

So let me see is i am understanding this.
If my source is 23.976fps, then i should encode it using ntscfilm settings on tmpgenc, and 3:2 pulldown.

Is that the "telecine" progress?
By doing that, will it make the 23.976fps output 29.97fps?

If you use the SVCD (NTSCfilm) template it sets up things as I described. This does not actually convert the video to 29.976fps, it simply adds some special flags to the video stream that tell your DVD player to repeat certain fields which will give an effective playback rate or 29.97fps. The mpeg is still only 23.97fps.

And if i have the oposit situation.
If i have a 29.97fps .mpg. Should i encode with ntsc settings (29.97fps interlaced or progressive depending on source), or should i use ntsc 29.97fps with INVERSE 3:2 PULLDOWN?

If your source is 29.97fps, I suggest you leave it that way. I am no expert on this, but if you perform an inverse Telecine on material that was not telecine'd in the 1st place, it will look awful. Safest thing is to encode at 29.97fps. There are quite a few threads discussing the reasons behind this, a search may help you find one or two.