quality problems after conversion

[blubot]

hi, i am using classic ipod160G, converting vids with MPEG-Streamclip (1.2b2) from .mpg to ipod format. after converting and playing back ipod-vid on TV (via composite cables) or directly on the ipod, i have the following quality problems:

* video show lines around edges, blurry and low quality
* audio is not in sync with video...its faster

I am however following the standard conversion setup in MPEG-Streamclip for ipod classic...so i am a bit at loss why this happens. can you pls tell me the the BEST setup

(using PC/Vista)

[Baldrick]

Please give us MORE information,
More details about your source, video resolution, interlaced, etc? Identify the mpg settings with for example mediainfo.
What settings are you using in mpeg streamclip? like video resolution, bitrate, deinterlacing.

And I would try other converters and see if it make any difference like ripbot264, xvid4psp, etc.

[guns1inger]

I know some here don't agree with me, but I use Videora with custom high quality profiles, and get very good quality, no audio sync problems, and good encoding speeds.

Many others recommend Handbrake, although I have never been able to get better than mediocre (and that is being kind) video quality from it.

[blubot]

here is the source info I get using media-info:
General
Complete name : C:\Users\Nils\Videos\Canon Home Video 2006-08\23. MAY08 Home.mpg
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 1.35 GiB
Duration : 30mn 20s
Overal bit rate : 6349 Kbps

Video
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Standard
Duration : 30mn 20s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 5652 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9400 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.907

Audio
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 30mn 18s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 256 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -80ms

Menu
Format : DVD-Video

and now the output after conversion using stream-clip:

eneral
Complete name : C:\Users\Nils\Videos\Ipod vids\23. MAY08 Home.m4v
Format : MPEG-4
Codec ID : M4V
File size : 355 MiB
Duration : 30mn 20s
Overal bit rate : 1636 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2008-05-09 14:23:08
Tagged date : UTC 2008-05-09 15:43:34

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : Baseline@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Codec ID : avc1
Duration : 30mn 20s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 1504 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 30.000 fps
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.163
Stream size : 326 MiB
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2008-05-09 14:23:08
Tagged date : UTC 2008-05-09 15:43:34

Audio
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 30mn 18s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 129 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 28.0 MiB
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2008-05-09 14:23:09
Tagged date : UTC 2008-05-09 15:43:34

[Baldrick]

Your source is interlaced so you must deinterlace it. I'm not sure how to do it in mpeg streamclip though.

I would also try handbrake or videora ipod converter as guns1inger says.

[blubot]

i actually tried videora, same outcome...but probably because i only used "normal" conversion function which does not give all the advanced functions...guns1nger possible to deinterlace it? And will that solve all the problems?

[guns1inger]

Like I said, I use custom HQ profiles and have no problems with interlaced source.

[blubot]

can you pleaase give me an example of an HQ profile for classic ipod with interlaced source...thank you.

[blubot]

Baldrik.guns1nger: I played around w videora, selected some HQ profiles but still the same outcome bad quality, lines around edges when moving pics and sound not in sync. I analysed the vids again with media info here is the result, I am at a loss why and need your help pls:
General
Complete name : C:\Users\Nils\Videos\Ipod vids (Videora)\14. NOV07 Julien.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 584 MiB
Duration : 32mn 14s
Overal bit rate : 2532 Kbps
Movie name : 14. NOV07 Julien
Encoded date : UTC 2008-06-13 01:16:56
Tagged date : UTC 2008-06-13 01:16:56
Writing application : Lavf51.19.0

Video
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Simple@L3
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Codec ID : 20
Duration : 32mn 14s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 2400 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.312
Stream size : 553 MiB
Writing library : XviD 1.1.2 (UTC 2006-11-01)
Encoded date : UTC 2008-06-13 01:16:56
Tagged date : UTC 2008-06-13 01:16:56

Audio
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 32mn 12s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 29.5 MiB
Encoded date : UTC 2008-06-13 01:16:56
Tagged date : UTC 2008-06-13 01:16:56

[guns1inger]

Try Xvid2PSP instead and see if that works better for you. I certainly don't see the issues you are seeing when I encode, but I cant see what you might be doing wrong, either. Can you post a few seconds of the source footage somewhere so I can do a test encode ?

[blubot]

in fact, when playing back the encoded vido on my laptop w quicktime, the quality is ok...the edges around moving objects are not as smooth as the original of course but its not as bad as playing back the same video on the ipdod and having it hooked up to a TV...quite strange that there is such big quality difference...my LCD TV is new so it cannnot be from the TV either...BUT I still hve the problem with sound that is not in sync...
where can i post some footage?

[guns1inger]

How are you playing it on your TV ? What type of connection, from what device ?

[blubot]

am using the av composite cables to hook up my ipod with the tv directly...then just playing back directly from the ipod...

[guns1inger]

Composite tables will automatically introduce some quality issues, such as crawl and noise. If you want better quality, you need to use component cables instead.

[MpegEncoder]

Composite tables will automatically introduce some quality issues, such as crawl and noise. If you want better quality, you need to use component cables instead.

iPods don't have component output.

[guns1inger]

Apple sell component and composite cables for the iPod classic series and current widebody Nanos. They no longer sell s-video for these devices. http://www.apple.com/ipod/accessories/

[Nelson37]

Don't have an Ipod but the framerate change could be causing your audio issue.