What source aspect ratio in TMPGE?

[pwygant]

Starting to better and better at this video editing thing. I was curious on two pints in TMPGE?

1) My source is RAW DV footage (pinnacle studio and exported to AVI). When I drag and drop that file into TMPGE there is a source aspect ration that always goes to 704x480. Should I keep this setting or should I use 1:1 (VGA).

2) Under (expert) options in Video arrange method I usually pick Full screen - Keep aspect ratio. Is there another method that is preferred or does that convert the source with less encoding? (There is center, full screen 2 times etc? What does this mean?)

Thanks...

[banjazzer]

Probably 1:1. The best thing to do is load the video THEN load the template. What is happening is that TMPGenc is taking the resolution from your source video. You don't mention what you are aiming to produce! Presumably VCD or SVCD, and so you load that template after the video.

Whatever Video arrange method method you choose, it most likely should be *keep aspect ratio*. Start with Full screen, and then try Center. It really depends what you want and what you are happy with. 8)

[pwygant]

YES! My final footage vill be NTSC -> SVCD ...

Why should I not use the template?

[banjazzer]

You SHOULD use the template. I am saying if you load the video after the template, the template resolution can get altered.

[pwygant]

Hmm.. Thought I had my grasp over this thing but...

When TMPGE starts, the template is the first thing you see. I choose SVCD (NTSC). It loads all the stuff and I leave it at: Interlace, top field first, and (My question) should I leave it at: 4:3 525 LINE (NTSC 704x480)?

Under other settings I change it to 2 pass VBR and motion search precision to :highest

Then I am readsy to convert to MPEG2 and the bitrate is set at 2520, can not be set higher!

Is this not OK. or should I make my own template for home video footage?

Old geezer trying to learn!

[banjazzer]

It all sounds about right. I don't know if your template is the same as the one I'm looking at, but probably it is. Just make sure the size under video settings stays at 480x480. It should, because it's grayed out in my template.

That should give you good results. After you may want to alter the minimum bitrate and average bitrate. You don't want to increase the max, if you want to stay within SVCD spec. Also enable padding and motion search precision - depending on what it is set at now, and the source material.