What do the Professionals use?

[nmh83_1999]

After trying, with mixed success to rip and encode the perfect VCD I find myself frustrated. I have used every method posted and even created some of my own! However, All of these attempts have downfalls in the form of a blurry picture or macro blocks. When I watch a professional VCD it looks just as good as VHS. I would be very pleased if someone would clue me in on this magic hardware or software I lack. Thanks in advance.

[poopyhead]

the "professionals" u referring to use really, really expensive (~$10,000) hardware cards...

so u gotta stick with the software, if u don't like VCD quality, try doing SVCD...much better quality

[KuskenLars]

All depends on the software...

TMPG Enc with High motion setting (Or highest) gives good quality, you could use Panasonic MPEG1 encoder too...

[poopyhead]

well, i believe panasonic isn't freeware like tmpgenc is...also high (slow) motion setting is prolly most efficient...

[KuskenLars]

True, Panasonic is not freeware, I was just giving examples... =)

[newenglander]

In a Newbie, you can go to panasonics web site and download a FREE demo. it will let you play with it BUT only will allow 30 seconds of play with their logo stamp on it. also try and defrag your hard drive. i had a pic that near end was lil out of wack, redid after defrag and it was ok. just did jurasic park3 came out perfect using ripper.2.40, dvd2avi & tmpge.
PS the plug in has a 30 day trial period.
Best of luck.

[newenglander]

PS NERO 5.5.5.6 was the burner.

[mikk]

panasonic mpeg encoder and tmpgenc don't seem to be able to make mpeg1 that's as good as the professional vcds i've seen (not the crappy pirate ones).

but it comes very close.

could it be because the pros have better source material?

we usually encode stuff that came from a dvd, and dvd is already compressed. even if u think the dvd picture looks 'perfect' when u normally view it, try zooming in close and u'll see that the picture doesn't look that great.

the encoder sees any picture noise as detail that it has to encode, so bits get wasted encoding the mpeg artifacts that were on the original dvd.

perhaps if we had D2 source tapes or whatever the pros use, we could do a batter job.

[Jestorius]

The "professionals" are using more than better source materials, they are using the knowledge they have. They know how to use quantize matrix which I don't.

Has someone a "How to use Quantize Matrix settings" tutorial?

[KoalaBear]

Au contraire, Jestorius.

Professionals know what a quantization matrix is, so they'd be the least likely to attempt to tweak them.

Still, the more you know about MPEG the better. Start with the mathematics of DCT so you'll know how frames are represented internally, and you can parlay that knowledge into an angle from which to approach the psychological research establishing how much of that data can be discarded without visible degradation.

Here are few links to get you started:

• MPEG video compression technique: a brief discussion
• Lossy Compression
• DCT-based Video Quality Evaluation (PDF)
• Activity Selective Image and Video Coding

Note that the book "Quantization Matrices for Dummies" will likely not reach print until after "The idiot's guide to string theory as a quantum model of gravity" is on the NYT bestseller list.

[Jason A]

The pros are using DEDICATED MPEG 1&2 hardware like the Sont RTE-3000 system...or any other system that will have the C-Cube processors built in..

Also, like said before, they are producing it from MASTER STUDIO, FULL RES TAPES.

We're using an already highly compressed MPEG2 video stream.

Their systems also have very fast MIPS processors that can determine the Q factor in real time...

Face it...we don't have $30,000+ laying around.

Jason

P.S. Also, no matter what they claim, CinemaCraft's encoder does not equal hardware based mpeg like they claim..

I have it
I've tried it...
No thanks.

[baker]

you want higher than vhs quailty? Quailty that in fact rivals that of svhs? then you want my dvd2vcd guide. :

http://www.vcdhelp.com/The%20fastest%20and%20easiest%20way%20to%20create%20a%20pal%20V...web%20page.htm

It even has dolby surround sound downmixing to create the ultimate sound.

Baker