Encoder Alternative

[ironape2]

Okie here is a little backround in what I have been doing.

Ive been ripping DVD's with DVDFab Decryptor HD/DVD Shrink to my hard drive into a single Vob format for the movie. I then used Windows Media Encoder to upconvert the standard uncompressed 720p video to 1280x720p at 3000kbps. While the video has no artifacts and looks really good on my 65in toshiba dlp it takes upwards of 8-12 hours for a single encode.

Is there a comparable solution that would shorten the encode time that has a batching feature? Maybe a different file format with the same or better quality thats playable on a WCE PC using the My Movies addon?

My Movies supports:"My Movies" support the same movie formats as Media Center does, and as an addition, it also supports mounting ISO image files with "Daemon Tools" for playback. These movie formats include ripped DVD's in VIDEO_TS folder format, Media Center recorded TV titles (.dvr-ms and .dvr files), and all video formats with the required codec’s installed, and a file extension registered in Windows registry as being a video file type. Notice that only some of these video formats are supported by Media Center extenders. Also notice that playing content such as DivX, XVid, QuickTime, RealVideo, ect. requires codecs that needs to be installed on your machine, just as these formats do to be played by Media Center.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[bits]

What is it you think you are gaining by re-encoding SD(480p) to 720p (1280x720)? I would think your DLP upscales SD anyways and even if it does not I doubt you are gaining anything with the re-encode.

[ironape2]

You know im not sure really as there is allot of info on these boards to sift through. I figured if it was originally at 720x480p (16:9) that it would have to be stretched to 1280x720 (16:9) and have allot of aritfacts... Is this not the case?

Here is some additional info about my setup.

HTPC is connect to the TV with a DVI to HDMI cable. The TV will only display a signal sent at 720x480, 1280x720, or 1920x1080. The desktop resoultion I use is 1280x720p because my video card wont render anything smaller than 800x600 and I thought anything higher would exaserbate the stretching problem.

im in the middle of an encode but I guess I should try encoding a video at 720x480 2k-3kbps and see how it looks. Ive been using WME for encoding because its natevly supported by most media extenders. Im open to other formats though.

Anyone know if 720x480 will look like crap when displayed at 1280x720?

[bits]

I use a networked media player to view my video on my big screen TV and do not have direct experience with HTPC...so I probably can not help much. I am pretty sure that you should not have to re-encode to wmv or any other format provided you use the right software player...again I do not have direct experience.

I have heard HTPC users like VLC (freeware software video player and more).

[ironape2]

I guess im just going to have to encode a video in 720x480 and see how it looks. I think im also going to try and convert the vob to mpeg 2 at the original resolution and see how that looks also. I really was trying to avoid allot of experimentation as I am sure allot of people have tried with a similar setup.

thanks for all your input.

[MysticE]

I really was trying to avoid allot of experimentation

But that is how you learn and hone your techniques.

[ironape2]

Well I already found something out that has sped up the encoding time. Instead of using vobs, which windows media encoder will use but doesnt really support, I used vob2mpg and used the mpg files instead. Used a 720x480/3kbps profile for windows media encoder and it only took 1h45m to process. I just started a 1280x720/3kbps profile and it estimates 4 hours to process which is much more reasonable.

After its done im going to compare the results on the tv and then use whichever is better. Thanks for all the input you guys have given me over the last couple of days.