AVI Conversion

[rendez2k]

Although I've used SVCD2DVD since almost day 1 for VCDs and SVCDs, I've never used it for AVI conversion - I normally use and trust The FilmMachine. So, I have a few questions....

- What program is used for AVI conversion? Or is it an internal routine?
- Does the two pass option make any/much difference quality wise?
- Is there any option to convert a NTSC avi to PAL? (I notice the PAL->NTSC)
- Are there any plans to allow a choice of external encoder (such as CCE or the excellent free HC encoder?)

Thanks!

[ChrissyBoy]

- What program is used for AVI conversion? Or is it an internal routine?

ffmpeg i.e the libav* libraries at the heart of quenc, divxtodvd etc.. however highly optimised encoding parameters are used.

Does the two pass option make any/much difference quality wise?

Yes but quality is in the eye....

Is there any option to convert a NTSC avi to PAL? (I notice the PAL->NTSC)

No. Mainly due to the fact that losts of people requested PAL to NTSC as in the US many players are NTSC only. In Europe DVD players which play both NTSC & PAL are common place and so no one has requested it!

Are there any plans to allow a choice of external encoder (such as CCE or the excellent free HC encoder?)

Eventually that is a possibility.

Give it a try...

CB

[rendez2k]

OK! I'll give it a try! Is it feasible to add 2 full avi movies and still retain good quality?

I'd also still like to see a NTSC->PAL feature in the future. I always think PAL looks so much nicer! Maybe in the future HC Encoder support etc. would make this easier?

Edit: Added 2 AVI movie this morning (around 4hrs of video). The first one took the size marker past DVD-R and the second past DL size! Is it really OK to compress the movies this much and still retain quality?

[Jikchung]

I think typically if the resulting bitrate is above 3000 and encoded at 'Full D1' you will get good results, this information is visible in the log window during processing.

Keep in mind that this is dependant on the equipment you will be viewing on (regular vs. large screeen TV) and even more dependant on your own personal preferences.

I do believe 2 full length films to one DVD is pushing things a bit, but you should give it a try with a DVDRW and make up your own mind. I have gotten personally acceptable results on TV episodes with bitrates below 3000 and at 'Half D1' resolution.

Oh, one other consideration is the quality/resolution of the original as you will never get better out than what you put in.

[rendez2k]

Well, the final details were 2424kbs encoded at Half-D1 FS TV using low bitrate matrices. The output looks OK, but would using a different matrice have helped? I know very little about matrices, so is there somewhere I can read about them or download others? I take it SVCD2DVD selects the best one when encoding?

Another small issue is that the menu consistently loops approx. every second (so the selection boarders around the images flash). Is this normal?

[somnus]

I've got alot of matrices that can be used for encoding, but not all are for MPEG2. There's a sticky on the main page with a zip of matrices to use. Basically use a matrice that fits with the average bitrate of your movie, in your case 2 full length movies with a bitrate of 2424kbs something like QLB matrice or CCE's Low High would work good. Really you can try whatever you want and decide what looks best to you. As for any one place to learn about matrices there's none that I can find but doom9 has alot of information you just gotta dig for it.