how to convert these files to best quality mpeg?

[curt1sw]

Hello,

I have two videos I would like to use in the VideoRedo editor. BOth of these videos though need convert to a high quality mpeg. Can anyone recommend the settings for the SUPER program to conver these?

The first one is an avi file:

General #0
Complete name : H:\bps01e09.avi
File size : 203 MiB
Format : Audio Video Interleave
Overal BitRate : 946 Kbps
PlayTime : 29mn 57s
Writing application : MEncoder 1.0rc1-3.4.2

Video #0
Codec : WMV2
Info : Windows Media Video 8
Bit rate : 803 Kbps
Width : 640
Height : 480
Aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 29.97 fps
(Pixel*Frame) : 0.087

Audio #0
Codec : MPEG1/2 L3
Info : MPEG1 or 2 Audio Layer 3
Bit rate : 130 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 32 KHz


The second one is already an mpeg file (SVCD) but for some reason when I converted it, its long height wise, and skinny width wise as you can see. Are all SVCD's suppossed to look this way? How can I make it so its like a normal fullscreen video??


General #0
Complete name : H:\bps01e18.mpg
File size : 337 MiB
Format : MPEG-2 multiplexer
Overal BitRate : 2323 Kbps
PlayTime : 20mn 18s

Video #0
Codec : MPEG-2 Video
Bit rate : 2273 Kbps
Bit rate mode : VBR
Width : 480
Height : 576
Aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 25 fps
(Pixel*Frame) : 0.329
Delay : 200

[mats.hogberg]

First, SUPER is not a high quality encoder.
Second, neither of your video sources are high quality, so no matter what you do, you can't end up with high quality.
PAL SVCD has a resolution of 480x576, yes, that's correct. Played back properly, it should be resized to 4:3 or 16:9 AR.
If you could state your ultimate goal for this (I'm sure "to use in the VideoRedo editor" isn't the final destination?) maybe we can help you more.
As for the wmv, I'd try to load it in WMM or VirtualDub, then save it out as DV AVI. Then encode the DV AVI into mpg using let's say HCEnc or other high quality mpg encoder.

/Mats

[guns1inger]

You don't need high quality mpeg for those files - they aren't high quality to begin with.

For the first one, convert to NTSC DVD (Full-d1 - 720 x 480) @ 29.97 fps at around 6000 kbps. You could go higher, but the quality won't improve.

For the second one, a proper player would adjust the image to look correct. I am assuming you are using Windows Media Player, which struggles with PAR in mpeg files.

Note : the first is NTSC, the second is PAL. If you are hoping to join them then one of them will have to have the framerate changed.

[curt1sw]

Hello,

Thanks for the replies. Here are my goals:

1. I just need them in mpeg format so I can edit them with VideoReDo. It's the only editor I am comfortable with. My main goal here was to not lose any quality. Sorry for the confusion. I didnt want to lose quality in the conversion!

2. How can I make windows player to play the SVCD correctly? What better video players exist out there for this if it can not?

Thanks!

[curt1sw]

By the way I use SUPER to convert videos.. it is free and seems easy with the GUI.

Thanks!

[mats.hogberg]

Again, I really can't believe you just want to edit them? You're absolutely positive you are not going to do anything with them once you've edited them?

What better video players exist out there

The question is rather "what worse..."? For mpg playback, I'd recommend some DVD player like PowerDVD. MediaPlayer Classic, VLC are also good multi purpose video players.

/Mats

[curt1sw]

I am just removing commercials.. thats all..

Thanks!

[mats.hogberg]

You're not goint to author as DVD or anything like that? Just play them on your computer?

/Mats

[curt1sw]

yep thats all.. just play them on the computer!

Thanks

[mats.hogberg]

Then at least you don't have to worry about frame rates. And the SVCD mpg is fine as is (just go ahaead and edit).
As for the wmv - I'd still o the route over DV and a real mpg encoder. But if you can't let SUPER go - Use the same resolution as the WMV, and a high bitrate - like 5-6000 kbps. That'd retain the quality as much as possible (with SUPER). But take a look at this thread
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic312523.html
and maybe I can make you change your mind.

/Mats

[curt1sw]

Is there some beginner guide somewhere that I can read and understand how to convert videos form one format to another? I want to realize how to convert say an AVI to an mpg and set the variables like bitrate etc right so I dont lose any quality, but also so I dont increase file size anymore than needed.

Thanks!

[mats.hogberg]

Take a look to the left - Convert. There, you can select to and from formats, and get a listing over guides written for that kind of conversion.
But: Generally speaking, each conversion will decrease the quality (unless you convert to a lossless format, which means huge file sizes).