Please, need someone to critique my conversion method...

[dvdcam]

Hi, there is a wealth of information on this board. The only problem is that most everyone has a different configuration or requirement. I feel I have no choice but to ask the experts if I am going about my conversion in the right way to meet my specific requirements.

What do I want to accomplish?

I want the highest quality svcd's. I'd like my svcd's to be compatible with most dvd players as I'll be sending them to family and friends. If ultra high quality means I can only fit 25 minutes per disk that is ok. I don't care about cramming as much as possible on disk, I just want the best image. Bit rate probably needs to stay at 2500ish or my dvd player might not accept it.

What is my video source?

I have a Hitachi-DVD Cam which records direct mpeg2 video to dvd ram disk. This data is saved in a .vro format which I then convert to a full res dvd quality mpeg.

What is my current method and my issues?

Currently I take the .vro file, use DVD2AVI and save it as a project. I then open that project in TMPGENc and encode it to mpeg2 full dvd. I have to do this otherwise ONLY the 1st scene in the .vro is recognized. Using dvd2avi and tmpgenc I am able to get a, fully working mpeg2 file. I then take that file and convert it to avi format using FLASKMpeg without compression. I then open the avi in Virtualdub, make my edits, then re-save the avi. I then open the avi in TMPGENc and convert it to svcd 480x480 bitrate like 2500, and burn to nero. I have a feeling there is a much better way to do this? I want maximum quality and I don't think I'm getting it. What I notice is that when I for example focus in tight on my baby's face, the quality is hard to believe! It's absolutely crystal clear and razor sharp, but when I zoom out things in the background appear fuzzy when there is even the slightest movement. I wouldn't say it's blocky because it's more like fuzziness, it's like a clear mesh overlaying and distorting the background objects which are out of focus and moving. I do not see this fuzziness when I connect the dvd cam to my tv and play the video straight on. It's not too distracting but I'd like to minimize it if possible.

I hope someone can give me some good input to enhance my methods. I know if I can't get help here, I probably can't get it anywhere! Thanks guys!

[Tommyknocker]

I have two suggestions. Try framserving from Virtual Dub to TMPGEnc, rather than saving in VDub and re-encoding in TMPGEnc. Second, when framserving in TMPGEnc, try these settings

[dvdcam]

Thanks for the advice! I have never tried frameserving. Can you give me a basic walkthrough? Thanks!

[Tommyknocker]

Okay. You have all the filters/codec set in Virtual Dub. Select
File-->Frameserve, name the two files the framserver needs. Do not close Virtual Dub.

Open TMPGEnc. Close the wizard. Select New Project. For Video source load the second frameserve file. Select the Load function, add your (S)VCD or DVD template. Go to Settings and tweak your video there, if you need to. Select Start.

You noticed you only encoded once, rather than twice? Anyway, use this guide in order to do it step by step.

[dvdcam]

sweet! I appreciate your writing all that. I'll try it tonight when I get home from work.

One question about my conversion from the .vro to the mpeg2. I was just thinking, maybe I can convert the .vro directly to avi? So if I open the vro in dvd2avi and save the project, then open the project in tmpgenc, is there an option in tmpgenc that I can convert the dvd2avi project directly to avi? hmmmm. I tried to use dvd2avi to convert the .vro to and avi, but it would not let me do this full frame uncompressed. The vro files are very tricky,,, even though they are mpeg2 just changing .vro to mpg doesn't give you access to all scenes. Anyway...

[Tommyknocker]

If TMPGEnc will accept the project, select File-->Output to File-->AVI File. Select your codec, then select save.

[ronnylov]

There are too many conversions in your process. First you transcode from MPEG2 (vro) to MPEG2 again with TMPGEnc, then you transcode that one to avi, then you transcode the avi to MPEG2 again...

Can't you convert the vro directly to SVCD-compatible MPEG2 with TMPGEnc? If you must convert to avi as intermediate step then you should use a lossless codec like huffyuv, or use frameserving. You should try to compress only once in the final step because each conversion looses quality.