Really bad DivX's using "HD" mode in DivX Plus Converter

[sjdean]

To me even that clip you posted, thanks, is block. I'm having to bump up the kbps to 3000kbps, or for movies, at least 2000kbps. By which point I'm wondering what is the point? The resulting files are half to three quarter the size of the original vobs. For storage I may as well stick with vobs for my xbmc setup and go low bit rate divxnfor my mobile media wishes (my android devices).

I was under the impression DivX was supposed to get roughly the same quality in a much smaller file. Mmmm. Disappointed.

[mike20021969]

To me even that clip you posted, thanks, is block.

Really?
I watched that .mkv numerous times and cant see any blocking.
As the clip is 720x480, are you watching it full screen on your computer?
Doing so could be introducing artifacts.

[sjdean]

Yeah, watching full screen. The blocks aren't too bad, but they're definitely there in the shadows and darker areas, like against the desk and wood panelling in the office. And of course watching it on a 37inch high def tv through xbmc is meh. Maybe I should get something to help with the OCD

[mike20021969]

watching full screen.
And of course watching it on a 37inch high def tv through xbmc is meh.

Then it's no wonder the compressed videos aren't up to scratch.

[sjdean]

Im not even bothered about HiDef. Just want to transfer the movies to DivX using a lower bitrate to save space as I though DivX could compress a lot better. I see lots of people getting what they say is excellent results, virtually near the original, and they're running half the bitrate or less. Where as Im having to create videos of virtually the same size. Perhaps I shouldn't expect much going lossy to lossy.

Oh by the way, I watch full screen on my 19" monitor, and attempt playback too using XBMC through a 37" high def TV. Don't join two bits of different sentences together and pretend I've said something I haven't.

[jagabo]

Did you look at your source? It's full of blocks and other crap. What are you expecting? Divx and h.264 get better compression than MPEG 2 when both are starting with a same source. Every time you compress with a lossy codec you get more losses. So compressing an already overcompressed video with another lossy codec is going to make it look worse, not better. Try reencoding your source with MPEG 2 at the same bitrate as the MKV file and see how much worse it looks. You're starting with crap. Crap in, crap out. If the minor blocking in the dark areas is bothering you the black level on your display is probably incorrect. Calibrate your monitor and they'll be barely visible.

[mike20021969]

Don't join two bits of different sentences together and pretend I've said something I haven't.

I've now edited #34 to make it clearer.

[sjdean]

The source was straight from uncompressed DVD (except for the private video). But whether it's a 4 Mbps average VOB or an 8 Mbps VOB, I still get awful blocking/banding whatever you want to call it. You have to get up close, but it really loses it's clarity.

Now, if DivX isn't designed to handle that, then that's fair enough, but makes a mockery of media streamers unless you just have a load of video that you don't actually care about.

Ta
Simon