Segment Based Re-Encoding?

[videopoo]

Other than some very expensive hardware encoders, does anyone have an idea if there are some afforable options if one were to re-encode only a portion of a MPEG2 stream?

Thanks
Eric

[manono]

I'm not sure I understand. Is free affordable enough? Then how about HCEnc?

[gadgetguy]

Or QuEnc?

[videopoo]

Will these tools re-encode a portion of an MPEG stream? I often find myself finding parts of a program which needs a higher bitrate. I don't want to re-encode the whole program from scratch - too much time taken up with that.

I know some high end encoders will do this like the Sonic SD-2000 but was wondering if there were any cheaper options. A shot in the dark, I know, but figured I'd ask anyway.

Thanks
Eric

[Cornucopia]

Not that I know of. But, in all honesty, you don't really need to with software encoders.

Most good ones allow 2passVBR. TMPGEnc (not Express) allows one to set/force the BR on a Frame-by-frame or GOP-by-GOP basis:

[Settings | GOP structure | [Force picture type setting] checked, click [setting]; scroll and select frame(s), right click to change setting]

There are probably others (CCE, Hueris) that allow that also.

This gives you the equivalent amount of control; it just has to reencode the whole file, but that's not a big deal these days.

Scott

[manono]

Yes, in CCE, if you find a section where the bitrate is too low, the VBR Bit Allocation window allows you to adjust the bitrate for as much or as little of the video as you like, as small as a GOP. Then run one more pass. It's so fast that another pass takes no time at all.

When you said segmented encoding in the title, well, DVD-RB uses segmented encoding (by cell) and supports a number of encoders, free and commercial. It turns out that you want something a little bit different, the ability to reencode just a small section without disturbing the rest of the video. At least I think that's what you're asking. I don't know of any software encoders that have that ability, but as Cornucopia says, adjusting and running another pass or 2 isn't difficult.