Convert mkv to DVD with CCE

[Cady]

I would be very grateful if someone can teach me how to convert mkv to DVD (NTSC).
I want to use CCE (6 passes) as the encoder and I have heard that this is possible with an avs-script.

The method I use today:
1. Convert DTS audio to AC3 6 chan = DD5.1 with PopCorn MKV AudioConverter
2. ConvertXtoDVD 3, settings size 4450 MB, high quality and slow speed (for best result), NTS, audio automatic, no menu or subtitle streams, no DVD burning and others settings as default.
3. PgcDemux to demux the VOB files.
3. DVD Lab Pro to create nice menus, add subtitle streams, etc. and mux it all together.

But I want to improve the video quality by using CCE.
I have searched the web to find an answer but failed.
I have never used CCE before and I don’t know how to make script files.

[jman98]

If your source video is in high definition, this will definitely be a problem for CCE and you will have to use AviSynth to downsize it or CCE will choke and die on your files. Just FYI.

What you need to use is actually called an AviSynth script. This can be time consuming to learn as a newbie. You will need to be willing to spend hours learning to use it and be prepared to have time consuming failures as you learn.

Most of us believe that HCenc, which is free, is just as good as CCE and due to cost a better choice. I've used both in the past and I am fussy about quality and I switched to HCenc because I got tired of CCE not being able to work with high definition video. Please note that some tests have shown that you really don't gain anything by going beyond 2 passes with CCE. The only times I've ever seen any use in 3+ passes with CCE are when you are doing something crazy like trying to jam an entire movie in SVCD format onto one CD-R. I've seen some examples that looked pretty good for SVCD where the average bit rate was very low, maybe 1000 Kbps, but the minimum was set to 0 Kbps and the maximum was set around 2000 Kbps. For DVD there is nothing to gain by using 3 or more passes with CCE. Finally, AVStoDVD can use HCenc. Maybe you will want to take a look at it instead of having to learn to use AviSynth. There's a lot to be said for learning to use AviSynth, but most newbies don't really want to spend the time it takes to do so.

[Cady]

Thank you so much for your reply jman98
I haven't used AVISynth and I don't have any skills in making AVISynth scripts. I was hoping someone already spent hours with try and error to make a script that works. Or is it so that you have to write a new script for every time or can you just adjust a working script? Why is it hard and what knowledge do you need to do it? I have time

I'm going to check out AVStoDVD / HCenc. Maybe that's a better method.
I would be very grateful if you can tell me how you do to get the best result when you convert a mkv to DVD.

[aedipuss]

I would be very grateful if you can tell me how you do to get the best result when you convert a mkv to DVD.

don't do it. get yourself a media player to connect to your tv that plays mkv.

[Cady]

I would be very grateful if you can tell me how you do to get the best result when you convert a mkv to DVD.

don't do it. get yourself a media player to connect to your tv that plays mkv.

Of course that's the best way to look at mkv movies but everyone can't afford to buy a HDTV and/or a mediaplayer and I like to make high quality DVDs to friends in that situation.

[manono]

I'm going to check out AVStoDVD / HCenc. Maybe that's a better method.

If nothing else, you can study the scripts it creates so you can learn how to use AviSynth yourself. And HCEnc is a good encoder, so you're not giving up anything by using it instead of CCE.

[jman98]

It's difficult to learn to use AviSynth because it's powerful. It's not complicated to just do simple resizing and encoding, but if you start trying to change brightness, color levels and things like that, you may find that the examples on the internet aren't very good for your particular needs, which leads to you basically having to just guess what values you need to use until you finally get it right.

[Cady]

It's difficult to learn to use AviSynth because it's powerful. It's not complicated to just do simple resizing and encoding, but if you start trying to change brightness, color levels and things like that, you may find that the examples on the internet aren't very good for your particular needs, which leads to you basically having to just guess what values you need to use until you finally get it right.

Ok I understand, but maybe if I just use a better encoder than the one in ConvertXtoDVD I can get a better video quality. I'm not planning to change brightness etc.
A script and/or options setting in the programs, so I can convert mkv to DVD, rezise, encode and control the size of the output file and it's avarge bitrate may fill my needs.

[jagabo]

Your script might be as simple as:

ffVideoSource("filename.mkv")
BicubicResize(720, 576)

You'll need to download and install the ffmpeg source plugin.

If you upload a short sample of your source someone will probably write a script for you.

[Cady]

Your script might be as simple as:

ffVideoSource("filename.mkv")
BicubicResize(720, 576)

You'll need to download and install the ffmpeg source plugin.

If you upload a short sample of your source someone will probably write a script for you.

Here are two samples from the mkv movie I want to convert to a DVD:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/49v5hf8tuk85/n/SampleDTS_mkv
http://www.filefactory.com/file/57z03462up7r/n/SampleAC3_mkv

[Cady]

I searched the forum before I posted this thread but I couldn't find an answer,
but now I maybe found the way to do this in this thread: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/342926-Video-Encoding

Here are jagabos answers to Datson

4.) If anyone could help me with encoding or transcoding or converting a MKV with CCE.

You have to first get the video into uncompressed form and with a DVD compatible frame size and frame rate. That is best performed by using an AviSynth script. But without knowing the properties of your MKV file nobody can give you a specific script.

Generally, for a NTSC 4:3 or 16:9 source it will be something like:

ffmpegSource2("filename.mkv")
BilinearResize(720, 480)

For a 2.35:1 source:

ffmpegSource2("filename.mkv")
BilinearResize(720, 360)
AddBorders(0, 60, 0, 60)

How fast the video compresses with CCE will depend to some extent on the source and how quickly it decompresses, and on any other processing you may need to perform in AviSynth. But CCE itself will probably be able to compress at about 500 frames per second on your computer (I get over 400 fps on my quad core i5 2500K). So if the decompression and filtering are fast you will be able to compress a 2 hour movie in about 6 minutes. But if your source is a high def h.264 video it will take longer.

Install AviSynth. Get the ffmpegsource plugin and put the files in AviSynth's plugins folder. Install Haali. Make a text file with the extension .AVS. Open that file with a text editor. Enter the lines indicated in the scripts I gave you. Open the script in CCE as if it was a video file. Configure CCE the way you want. Encode.

http://avisynth.org/mediawiki/Main_Page#New_to_AviSynth_-_start_here
http://code.google.com/p/ffmpegsource/

[jagabo]

I thought I replied to you yesterday but must have neglected to hit the final replay button.

Since you live in a PAL area I assume you want a PAL DVD. So the sizing is a little different:

Your sample was 1920x808 so I used AddBorders(0,136,0,136) to bring it up to 1920x1080 then resized down to 720x576. Then added AssumeFPS(25) to conform to PAL frame rate. You'll have to adjust the audio length to match the new video length. *

If you're willing to live with an NTSC DVD you can add borders, resize to 720x480, and leave the frame rate alone (23.976). In that case the audio won't have to change length.

Six passes in CCE won't look appreciably different than two. I don't know how it will compare to ConvertXtoDVD, never used it. And since you're downsizing an HD source and running multiple passes don't expect CCE run as fast as I indicated.

* There is a way to change the frame rate without adjusting the running time, and hence, without changing the audio length. Encode at 720x576 at 23.976 fps (I'm not sure if CCE will let you do that though) then use DgPulldown to add pulldown flags to bring the field rate up to 50. That way you won't have to change the audio length. But you will see two little jerks every second as an additional field is inserted. Some progressive HDTVs may have problems with the cadence.

[Cady]

@jagabo
Thank you so much for your help.
I always convert to NTSC if I have a mkv file as source. Almost every old and all new TV/players can handle NTSC.
I'm testing and testing here
Right now I'm trying to get the right size so there is room left for adding subtitle streams and make nice menys in DVD Lab Pro. I need around 70 mb space for that.

[tebugg]

I thought I replied to you yesterday but must have neglected to hit the final replay button.

Since you live in a PAL area I assume you want a PAL DVD. So the sizing is a little different:

Your sample was 1920x808 so I used AddBorders(0,136,0,136) to bring it up to 1920x1080 then resized down to 720x576. Then added AssumeFPS(25) to conform to PAL frame rate. You'll have to adjust the audio length to match the new video length. *

If you're willing to live with an NTSC DVD you can add borders, resize to 720x480, and leave the frame rate alone (23.976). In that case the audio won't have to change length.

Six passes in CCE won't look appreciably different than two. I don't know how it will compare to ConvertXtoDVD, never used it. And since you're downsizing an HD source and running multiple passes don't expect CCE run as fast as I indicated.

* There is a way to change the frame rate without adjusting the running time, and hence, without changing the audio length. Encode at 720x576 at 23.976 fps (I'm not sure if CCE will let you do that though) then use DgPulldown to add pulldown flags to bring the field rate up to 50. That way you won't have to change the audio length. But you will see two little jerks every second as an additional field is inserted. Some progressive HDTVs may have problems with the cadence.

thank you for you insight jagaboo. i would also like to add i like to use changefps(25.000) instead of assumefps. if you're going to use avisynth to chage the framerate it doesnt change the length of your video therefore you dont have to mess with the audio sync. doing this i havent noticed any jerking when i watch the finished dvd. but i'm with jagaboo, i like to encode to the original framerate then just use dgpulldown to change it to whatever i want. i havent noticed any jerking doing it this way also.

[jagabo]

i would also like to add i like to use changefps(25.000) instead of assumefps.

ChangeFPS() will create jerky video because it duplicates or discards frames to get the desired frame rate. Step through your video frame by frame and you will see the problem. Or find a long medium speed panning shot, you'll see the jerks. 24 to 25 fps will create one little jerk every second.

AssumeFPS() keeps all the frames, it just tells the encoder a different frame rate. Of course, you have to adjust the audio length to match.

[tebugg]

i would also like to add i like to use changefps(25.000) instead of assumefps.

ChangeFPS() will create jerky video because it duplicates or discards frames to get the desired frame rate. Step through your video frame by frame and you will see the problem. Or find a long medium speed panning shot, you'll see the jerks. 24 to 25 fps will create one little jerk every second.

AssumeFPS() keeps all the frames, it just tells the encoder a different frame rate. Of course, you have to adjust the audio length to match.

yes, i didnt say anything about it not creating duplicate or discarding frames to keep the original film length. i just said when played back live (not stepping through the movie specifically trying to find jerks) i havent noticed anything that pops out to me that affects my viewing experience.

[jagabo]

i havent noticed anything that pops out to me that affects my viewing experience.

Like I said, try a long medium speed panning shot, the jerks will be obvious. Of course, it's not noticeable in many other types of shots. And like you, the OP may not care.