AVI to VCD & DVD MPEGS - Which is the best encoder?

[rock_king_my]

Hi

I've been using TMPGENC 2.5 & TMPGENC XPRESS 3.0 for quite a while to convert AVIs I capture from my WINTV THEATER capture card.

Unfortunately due to my PC's configuration or specs, I can only use the MPEG-4 codecs v1 & V2 to capture AVIs. If I try to do it with other codecs (I think I've tried most of them!) or do it UNCOMPRESS, I drop a LOT of frames!

My specs are:
PENTIUM III
128MB SDRAM
NVIDIA RIVA TNT64 32MB GRAPHICS CARD

I like the TMPGENC software because:
- you can choose where to start & finish the encoding, i.e. not encoding the beginning/ending bits of the AVI file
- you can increase the volume level, i.e. I always like to double the original level (200%)
- it has demux/remux tools (not to sure if video quality will go down if you use them)

I'm considering changing to a different mpeg encoder but most of them don't offer the above benefits. If there are any encoders that can do the above PLUS give better video quality output than TMPGENC, which ones are they?

Should I go for video editing software like ULEAD [Video or Media Studio] or CYBERLINK or INTERVIDEO?

Also, is it true you need a DECENT graphics/video card to make high video quality MPEGs?

CHEERS!

[mats.hogberg]

For VCD I dare say there's nothing better than TMPGEnc.
For DVD mpg, there are better encoders Canopus Procoder usually tops the encoder shootouts. A multimulti pass CCE encode is also not bad. But considering your somewhar lean computer specs - If yoyu're satiosfied with TMPGEnc, and it works OK - stay with it.
Editing software usually delivers worse encodes than dedicated encoders.
Graphics cards have absolutely nothing to do with this.

/Mats

[rock_king_my]

Hi

What about the MPEG-4 v1 & v2 video codecs? Are there anything better to switch to?

Capture AVIs with DivX codec? But which one, they got one for Fast Motion & for Slow Motion .. I think your average AVI contains both kinds of motion!


CHEERS!

[mats.hogberg]

If you at all can capture with your box, without dropping frames - I wouldn't touch that setting. Don't think realtime DivX captures with a PIII is possible.

/Mats