Hank's Mpeg-2 Encoder

[chowmein]

If I achieve the same results with both, Windows and Hcenc, but in Hcenc, I have to do extra work, is there any other reason, why I should NOT utilize Windows?

BJ's probably right when he says the WIN mpeg2 encoder does some generic internal processing. With the avisynth/hcenc approach, you have much more control over the pre-processing & tweaking. I'm almost certain that feeding hcenc a tweaked avisynth script will prove it a superior quality method.

But sure, post up your source & 2 alternative outputs & let's see.

[usually_quiet]

@ jagabo & _MrC_ : Thanks for the tips. I will try them the next time I convert an HDTV recording to DVD. In any case, I can't correct the problem with Windows DVD Maker.

[jagabo]

@ jagabo & _MrC_ : Thanks for the tips. I will try them the next time I convert an HDTV recording to DVD. In any case, I can't correct the problem with Windows DVD Maker.

If you can get ffdshow to decode the source videos you can use its AviSynth filter feature to perform the color matrix transform:



I usually use an obvious filter like Invert() when figuring out how to get an application to use ffdshow.

[unclescoob]

[QUOTE=With the avisynth/hcenc approach, you have much more control over the pre-processing & tweaking. [/QUOTE]


I don't care about being a control freak. I just want quality.

[unclescoob]

I'll post these this weekend

[unclescoob]

AHEM.

HEAR YE! YEAR YE! I'D LIKE TO MAKE A VERY SERIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT! *trumpets sound*

This is a very bittersweet day for me, which is why I am going to man up and make a confession. Just like I have the audacity to make negative statements about a product, I am going to give credit where credit is due. (Too bad AlanHK put me on ignore. He would have loved to witness this moment, but oh well. Win some, lose some).

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I FEEL LIKE A COMPLETE *******! *trumpets sound*

I have played around with HcEnc this weekend long enough where I found the right settings, and although they do not look as good as Windows yet, they are very very close. In fact, I would like to announce that HcEnc does a MUCH MUCH better job than Procoder, TEmpeg and CCE. Yes, I said it! Additionally, at this point I am confident enough to state that if I keep tweaking the settings with this video in HcEnc, I am going to obtain excellent results. Even in dark scenes, where I was having the most difficulty with!

THERE, I SAID IT! I ADMIT IT. I WAS WRONG! I feel like Scrooge on Christmas morning! Everyone, come hither! I have seen the light! It works! it works! Oh, I still have a chance. It's Christmas day! You, little boy....what time is it? Where's Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim?? Spread the news!!

[filmboss80]

Hey, you were man enough to consider that you might have made a hasty misjudgment; you gave HC encoder a second look; and you issued a mea culpa. COMPLETE ******** would do no such thing--and probably not even semi-********.

[usually_quiet]

@ jagabo & _MrC_ : Thanks for the tips. I will try them the next time I convert an HDTV recording to DVD. In any case, I can't correct the problem with Windows DVD Maker.

If you can get ffdshow to decode the source videos you can use its AviSynth filter feature to perform the color matrix transform:


[Attachment 8131 - Click to enlarge]

I usually use an obvious filter like Invert() when figuring out how to get an application to use ffdshow.

Thanks, but I'm fine using AVStoDVD for HDTV to DVD conversion. It is simple enough to use and convenient for tweaking. I can live without the spiffy menu templates from Windows DVD Maker.

[unclescoob]

But my question is still not answered:

Please read this first before you proceed: I have done all my video restoration in Virtualdub. My video is obviously saved as an uncompressed .avi with huffyuv. I then feed this to Windows DVD Maker. So here is my question:

If the result in Windows DVD Maker render me a quality that is visually excellent

If I have no urges to "be in control" of encoding settings (you bunch of control freaks!),

If I have no need for menu variety and most importantly..

If I have no need to demux audio from video

IS THERE ANY OTHER VALID, CONCRETE REASON AS TO WHY I SHOULD NOT USE WINDOWS DVD MAKER,WHICH CURRENTLY GIVES ME RESULTS IDENTICAL TO MY CLEANED-UP AVI SOURCE?

[filmboss80]

Look, if it provides the results you want with the ease you prefer, use whatever tool you please. To each his own. The firestorm was started when you compared HCenc to dog shit and denigrated it as a MPEG-2 encoding tool. That's where you stepped out of bounds. Otherwise, do what you'd like.

[unclescoob]

but....it is dog shit.

[unclescoob]

Just Kidding!

Hey, what gives with this ? Where are my smiley options? I only got to do this smiley by pressing the :- ) keys, but where are my smiley options?

Can someone please point me to the smiley options in this poorly-built website please?

[manono]

Just Kidding!

Hey, what gives with this ? Where are my smiley options? I only got to do this smiley by pressing the :- ) keys, but where are my smiley options?

Can someone please point me to the smiley options in this poorly-built website please?

And now he bad-mouths the site that for reasons which escape me continues to allow him to post his drivel?

There are close to 200 smilies available. Hit 'Go Advanced' and then look up to the right of the bold and underlined 'A' to the smiley face. Hold your mouse over it. It says 'Smilies'. Click on it and then on 'Show All Smilies'. Are there enough for you? If you spent less time bitching and moaning and more time looking around and learning (about smilies, about HCEnc) you might not seem such the fool every time you open your mouth.

[unclescoob]

manono, you're such a sweetycakes, you know that? i wish I could just...just....just pinch your little nose and call you all my own!

[unclescoob]

I found them! I found the smileys!

[unclescoob]

This website is built perfectly! I'm an *******, yet again!

[usually_quiet]

But my question is still not answered:

Please read this first before you proceed: I have done all my video restoration in Virtualdub. My video is obviously saved as an uncompressed .avi with huffyuv. I then feed this to Windows DVD Maker. So here is my question:

If the result in Windows DVD Maker render me a quality that is visually excellent

If I have no urges to "be in control" of encoding settings (you bunch of control freaks!),

If I have no need for menu variety and most importantly..

If I have no need to demux audio from video

IS THERE ANY OTHER VALID, CONCRETE REASON AS TO WHY I SHOULD NOT USE WINDOWS DVD MAKER,WHICH CURRENTLY GIVES ME RESULTS IDENTICAL TO MY CLEANED-UP AVI SOURCE?

DVD capacity and burning issues perhaps? Windows DVD Maker only allows up to 150 minutes per single-layer DVD. That is reasonable in terms of maintaining decent quality for the video, but if you wanted to put 151 minutes on one disc, you have no choice but to use a double-layer DVD.

If you do happen to use double-layer DVDs, there is no way for you to control where the layer break goes. When some players hit a layer break there is a brief pause while they switch over to the second layer. Some people find the pause distracting if it occurs in the wrong place.

If these concerns don't apply to you, then I can't think of any more situations where you personally would not want to use Windows DVD Maker.

[unclescoob]

Ok, NOW we're on the nitty gritty of the situation.

No, these concerns do not apply to me. Here's why:

I am working with thirteen 24-minute cartoon episodes. This means that I can burn up to 6 in each disk, keep good quality, and still have 4 minutes remaining in each disk for a public service announcement about not coming to these boards and angering the video gods. I can do three disks, and burn other episodes on the third one, just to not waste some of the space.

So it's settled. AVS to DVD does give me good results, but if I see that Windows gives me even better results, I'm going with that. Hey, you gotta go with what works for you (and believe me, I've tried PLENTY of encoders, burners, all-in-ones, etc...such as Nero, Procoder, Cinemacraft and one that escapes my mind right now. It was very yellow. Oh well). Windows is the only one that looks the best! And I'm a stickler for visual quality (not a control freak over my encoding options). Hey, if you wanna encode it for me and it looks good, that's all that matters!

However, being the reasonable person that I am, I'd like to hear at least 2 more opinions on the issue. So, I want to grant those who have been kind enough to post here the opportunity to comment on what usuallyquiet just said with some final thoughts or concerns. I really would appreciate it.

Going once? Going twice?

[jagabo]

Nobody can give you serious feedback without seeing samples of your source and what each of your encodes produced.

[Nelson37]

Where are the samples you promised?

I would disagree with your new evaluation of HCENC compared to other encoders, but there is really no point. Your ability to evaluate an encoder is demonstrated to be nearly non-existent.

Again, where are the samples? I'd actually prefer that you just shut up, but put up is still an option.

[_Al_]

samples needed,
these discussions could occur and might be tolerated years back, when it was not particularly easy for participants to load video over net and download it,
today it is absolutely useless, pointless, unless participants want to just hear themselves and not to solve it

[Nelson37]

The weekend is over, and no samples posted.

"This individual is a complete waste of your time. He/she/it will NOT provide any useful feedback, also they are apparently COMPLETELY UNABLE to either follow instructions, or follow thru on any statements made. Assisting this individual will result in NOTHING other than frustration and aggravation. My advice is to IGNORE him/her/it, totally and completely. Also, they are absolutely clueless, and have the patience of a 6-year-old."

The above will be posted in every future thread created by the OP.

I have not yet Begun to be a Dick.

[MilesAhead]

Also, there is just NO WAY that Manono comes off as a complete dick more often than I do, and I don't think I am anywhere near 90%.

We dicks gotta stick together, eh?

You often make knowledgeable posts. But the above is something I'd rather not visualize!

[chowmein]

The weekend is over, and no samples posted.

"This individual is a complete waste of your time. He/she/it will NOT provide any useful feedback, also they are apparently COMPLETELY UNABLE to either follow instructions, or follow thru on any statements made. Assisting this individual will result in NOTHING other than frustration and aggravation. My advice is to IGNORE him/her/it, totally and completely. Also, they are absolutely clueless, and have the patience of a 6-year-old."

The above will be posted in every future thread created by the OP.

I have not yet Begun to be a Dick.

Aw c'mon, are we not made of tougher stuff? I think unclescoob's posts are funny, they make me laugh.

[chowmein]

Also, there is just NO WAY that Manono comes off as a complete dick more often than I do, and I don't think I am anywhere near 90%.

We dicks gotta stick together, eh?

You often make knowledgeable posts. But the above is something I'd rather not visualize!

Yes, ermm... unfortunate use of words...?

[ron spencer]

What banal stupidity....

[chowmein]

What banal stupidity....

christ what's with the "Mr Maturity" trip? Lighten up. If you want "banal stupidity", turn on your radio or TV set.

[MilesAhead]

What banal stupidity....

christ what's with the "Mr Maturity" trip? Lighten up. If you want "banal stupidity", turn on your radio or TV set.

When going for stupidity I can see the advantage of the original inspired variety. Banal ain't all it's cracked up to be!

[Killer3737]

Whilst this thread was quite silly maybe someone can save it somewhat. Does anyone know of an up to date HCEnc guide, ie for 0.25/0.26? The only one I can find linked from here is on Doom9 last updated two years ago - http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/hc.htm

I'm looking for something similar which walks me through the settings in the current version. Everything on the Main tab is pretty obvious but the settings1/2/3 tabs I'm not always sure on what i should be selecting. I know the pdf manual on Hank's site describes most of the options but something like that Doom9 guide which tells you what setting you should be using based on your input would be much better.

So, anything like that around?

[Bjs]

If your happy to use windows dvd maker, fine ... it's just limited control.

Id say dont paint oneself into a corner if a little amount of learning is all thats required to get results.

Whether it be purchased or freeware other software opens opportunities ... better tools for correcting issues common to video editing, adding features others lack ... if it means you have to sit down with a manual, a guide, or be hand held through the process, then why not ... after all, one day eventually you'll come across a file which defies all logic and you know you can always come and ask for help here in the forum.