Help with converting from VCD to DVDr

[RichyF]

Hi i am having problems. I have a 4 VCD movie (Great quality) that i want to convert to a DVD, i have been using TMPGenc but i the quality i am gettnig out is not as good as the VCD quality. Is there any way i can re-encode it but with no loss in quality. Is there a program which will do this without any hassle?

[bugster]

VCD has a resolution of 352*240 (NTSC) or 352*288 (Pal). DVD has a resolution of 720*480 (NTSC) or 720*576 (Pal). This means that a DVD has more than 4 times the number of pixels per frame than VCD. So in order to ensure the same quality you must use at least 4 times as much bitrate in your re-encode. As VCD has a bitrate of 1150kbits per sec you must re-encode with an average bitrate greater than 4600kbits per sec. Even if you do this, the quality will be no better than the original and is likeley to be worse as you are 'blowing up' all the imperfections in the original.

Basically, if you use TmpGenc to re-encode to DVD standard with an average bitrate of about 5000kbit per sec you might be lucky and get something that looks as good as the original. Increasing the bitrate above this will probably have little or no effect on quality. About the only advantage is that you can fit it all on one disk!

BTW, are you sure its VCD as 4 discs = 320mins, thats one hell of a long movie! It could be SVCD, in which case there is a guide on this site on how to get SVCD format movies onto DVD. Take a look.

[scissors]

VCD has a resolution of 352*240 (NTSC) or 352*288 (Pal). DVD has a resolution of 720*480 (NTSC) or 720*576 (Pal). This means that a DVD has more than 4 times the number of pixels per frame than VCD. So in order to ensure the same quality you must use at least 4 times as much bitrate in your re-encode. As VCD has a bitrate of 1150kbits per sec you must re-encode with an average bitrate greater than 4600kbits per sec. Even if you do this, the quality will be no better than the original and is likeley to be worse as you are 'blowing up' all the imperfections in the original.

Basically, if you use TmpGenc to re-encode to DVD standard with an average bitrate of about 5000kbit per sec you might be lucky and get something that looks as good as the original. Increasing the bitrate above this will probably have little or no effect on quality. About the only advantage is that you can fit it all on one disk!


BTW, are you sure its VCD as 4 discs = 320mins, thats one hell of a long movie! It could be SVCD, in which case there is a guide on this site on how to get SVCD format movies onto DVD. Take a look.

basically you haven't a clue what you are on about.
This is the problem with vcdhelp these days. Too many people offering advice on things they no nothing about. I'm not saying I do, I'm just say YOU haven't got a clue.

To the original poster - demux the video and sound. Just convert the sound to 48KHz in Tmpeg. As long as the croma is 4:2:0 and the Gop is no greater than 15 frames you should be okay to import into spruce. Just rename the the sound file same_name_as_video.mpa

Alternatively - re-encoding as mpeg2 352x288 using CQ 70 2000bps and 48KHz sound produces around a 1gig file (experiment with a minute clip)

this will also import into spruce

[bugster]

scissors, if you had half a brain you would read the posts properly before responding and slagging off someone who is only trying to help.

The original post asked

Is there any way i can re-encode it but with no loss in quality.

and that is what I was trying to answer. If you think I am wrong then say so, there is no need to insult others on this board (unless perhaps they insult you first!).


If I make a post and someone more knowledgable than me is able to point out where the contents of my post are technically incorrect I am only too happy to learn from their greater experience. But when someone like you comes along and simply uses insults to put me down rather than trying to teach me the error of my ways in a polite and friendly manner, then I know I have found someone with an ego problem and whose posts will be ignored from both a technical and personal point from now on.

I just hope you are happy with your 'superior' knowledge.

[scissors]

ha!

new it. A 14 year old.

Look, from your post you stated that dvd res is 720x576 blah blah pixels, blah blah 4x blah blah.

Yeah yeah. EXCEPT - dvd has about 4 different resolutions inc 352x288 SIF mpeg 1 or mpeg2. SO he only has to demux and redo the audio to 48KHz. IF he needs to re-encode the settings I said would be about right.

I never said I was superior. I just said you hadn't a clue. BIG difference.

I DO SO LOVE coming in here these days...

[bugster]

shame you can't spell

new it

and actually I am a little older than that

Fine, so you have corrected me, or added additional information anyway. I still don't see the need to be so insulting.

basically you haven't a clue what you are on about.
This is the problem with vcdhelp these days. Too many people offering advice on things they no nothing about. I'm not saying I do, I'm just say YOU haven't got a clue.

where in my post do I claim to be an expert. I simply offer information and advice to a newbie based on my limited knowledge of the subject. If someone with greater knowledge can improve on what I say I have no problem with that and I never even suggested that your advice was incorrect. What I do take issue with is your knowitall attitude. You admit you don't know everything about video encoding and I dont claim to either (by a long way). When I see someone on here posting what I believe to be factually incorrect information or making simple mistakes I try and correct them politley and point them in the right direction. If we want digital video to continue to grow as a hobby, which we need to do in order to encourage manufacturers and hobbyists to continue to produce new and better tools for us to use, then we need to encourage fellow users and correct errors, not try and frighten them off by insulting their intelligence.

This is the problem with vcdhelp these days.

There is no problem with vcdhelp, only some posters who think they are superior to everybody else.

P.S. You still havn't pointed out any technical errors in my post

[mpb]

Hi i am having problems. I have a 4 VCD movie (Great quality) that i want to convert to a DVD, i have been using TMPGenc but i the quality i am gettnig out is not as good as the VCD quality. Is there any way i can re-encode it but with no loss in quality. Is there a program which will do this without any hassle?

Greetings!

You're in luck. Mpeg-1 at VCD bitrate and resolution is already a valid bitstream for DVD... except the audio. Since your DVD authoring program is likely to remux the audio anyway, just fire up Ulead DVD Movie factory and add the source mpeg to your project. It doesn't get any easier, and no reduction in quality. These bitstreams are so standard I even got DVDit basic edition (the bundled software) to burn a perfect DVD full of them.

To convert first from VCD *.dat file to mpeg, just use your favourite quick utility from the "tools" section on this website... easy breezy

When you are doing caps and such for eventual inclusion into DVD, you will benefit greatly from using DVD resolutions appropriately. Here are what you can use, and what I typically use...

Mpeg 1 352x240/288 (NTSC/PAL) - I only use this if the source already is encoded this way. IT's the best we can do to preserve a video stream that's already taken a quality hit.

Mpeg 2 352x480/576 - I use this for VHS captures. I capture to 640x480 (because it's so easy to do in Vdub with zero frames lost, compared to 704 and 720, which can at times be tricky), deinterlace, and then convert and encode. The resulting file is as clear as any videotape can be. Remember, you can set your bitrate cap at 5000k, because at this resolution it doesn't need to be any higher, and you still get the best quality realistically possible from this capture.

Mpeg 2 704x480/576 - for your laserdiscs and hi'8s, and broacast DSS or TIVO input (or normal cable or broadcast TV right out of the wall).

Mpeg2 720x480/576 - for ripped DVD movies only. Nearly nothing else originates in this resolution, so don't use it unless you find something that does. I dunno... internal PC recordings of video games perhaps? urgh. Basically just ripped DVDs and that's it.

-Mike

[scissors]

shame you can't spell

new it

**** off grammer boy.

and actually I am a little older than that

no you're not.

Fine, so you have corrected me, or added additional information anyway. I still don't see the need to be so insulting.

couldn't just say "i was wrong"

basically you haven't a clue what you are on about.
This is the problem with vcdhelp these days. Too many people offering advice on things they no nothing about. I'm not saying I do, I'm just say YOU haven't got a clue.

where in my post do I claim to be an expert. I simply offer information and advice to a newbie based on my limited knowledge of the subject.


newbie is a word only used by computer nerds with no life who spend more money on pc components than on de-oderants. Smelly.

If someone with greater knowledge

(just about anyone)

can improve on what I say I have no problem with that and I never even suggested that your advice was incorrect.

Cause it wasn't, it was great advice.

What I do take issue with is your knowitall attitude.

but i do know everything.

You admit you don't know everything about video encoding

I've changed my mind.

and I dont claim to either (by a long way).

******* too right

When I see someone on here posting what I believe to be factually incorrect information or making simple mistakes I try and correct them politley and point them in the right direction. If we want digital video to continue to grow as a hobby,

Oh **** off! This site is about making vcd. 90% dvd ripping. twat.

which we need to do in order to encourage manufacturers and hobbyists to continue to produce new and better tools for us to use, then we need to encourage fellow users and correct errors, not try and frighten them off by insulting their intelligence.

Naarrggh. Too many twats like you around.

This is the problem with vcdhelp these days.

There is no problem with vcdhelp, only some posters who think they are superior to everybody else.

Think? Bow before me mortal.

P.S. You still havn't pointed out any technical errors in my post

You're really hurt aren't you?
Now then, what to do? I've totally abused you so you gotta answer. But to do that means you've missed the point that i couldn't give a toss.



oh yeah your breath smells of poo.

[raypar]

scissors: I am a newbie to this hobby and know less than anybody else on this forum.

Now that that's out of the way, I am also old and wise enough to smell an ass hole miles away. And you fit the description. Get off your high horse kid. Life is 10% apptitude, 90% attitude. And by attitude I mean GOOD attitude. If you are not already a kid, you must have had horrible childhood (if you had a childhood). Where you constantly put down (or are you) as a child by your parents?

Remember, you get more flies with honey than with vinager.

FWIW