MPEG2 vs. MPEG4

[DivXExpert]

I am so confused, is DivX is supposed to be the best? Which one has better quality???

[vitualis]

You can get better quality with DivX/MPEG-4 compared to MPEG-1/2 for S/VCD for the same bitrate.

The issue is that you won't be able to play your movie on a stand-alone player if you make a DivX movie.

Regards.

[DivXExpert]

So MPEG4 has higher quality for same bitrate, but when you play a SVCD on the TV can you tell the differece?

[vitualis]

Um, you are missing the point.

You can't play DivX on the TV with a stand-alone player so you can't compare it with a SVCD on a TV.

If you want to make something that will play on a TV (i.e., via a stand-alone player), your only choice is VCD or SVCD. (you could use a TV out from your PC, but I think that it is a rather impractical solution).

On the PC, it should be reasonably clear that you can make better quality DivX/MPEG video than MPEG-2 for the same bitrate.

Regards.

[Conquest10]

why do you call yourself DivXExpert if you don't even know that dvd players won't play divx?

[DivXExpert]

I know that DVD players don't play DivX. I was wondering about the quality of SVCD on TV vs. DivX on computer. I know that my VCDs look better when viewed on my TV rather than my PC. So does SVCD on TV look as good as DivX on Computer?

[Anonymous65]

Mpeg-4 is is made for internet streaming at low bit rates. Mpeg-2 is made for high quality video at higher bit rates.

[vitualis]

I was wondering about the quality of SVCD on TV vs. DivX on computer. I know that my VCDs look better when viewed on my TV rather than my PC. So does SVCD on TV look as good as DivX on Computer?

The answer is that you can't really compare TV display with PC display. It really all depends on the quality of your TV (and your monitor too).

It is fair to say that a well made SVCD will come close to looking as good as a DVD on an ordinary TV -- at least, good enough to fool most casual observers.

Regards.

[crahak]

Well, I play all my DivX on TV thru a s-video out on the living room's computer. It is not more impratical than playing them from a set top DVD player, but that's only my opinion. DivX can be streamed, but it is far from being it's sole purpose. Can't wait for a good set top MPEG4 player

[vitualis]

Except you can't press "pause" on a remote when someone wants to go to the bathroom, or press REW to see that funny bit again, etc....

And of course, you now have a cable that goes from your PC to your TV -- either impractically snaking its way across a room or rooms, or your PC is now next your TV!



Regards.

[crahak]

Well, it is nearby the TV, yes, for it also has to be to capture from my DSS, and also serves as a mp3 jukebox. (Never had problems so far). My sound card actually came with a remote. Guess most people don't like the idea, and it makes me wonder why. I hardly ever have to pause movies anyways. Oh well.

[vitualis]

Sounds like you've got a great system...

Most people don't like the idea probably for a number of factors:
(1) They don't like having a PC near the TV/sound system -- interference + noise from fan, etc., (not to mention a waste of power if it's on all the time) + physical size + aethetics
(2) DVD players are cheap, come with a remote, and you could always just author VCDs or SVCDs (for which you can then use the remote + make chapters and menus, etc.)

Regards.

[NeVeRLiFt]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=120334

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=119896

You guys might wanna check those links out before you stick your foot in your mouth.

And everyone I know watches DivX on the TV using TV-out cards. Talk about sweet.

[RabidDog]

.NO i dont, I re-encode divx to svcd and watch those on my standalone dvd. But this only seems possible with div4 and above as when I try this with div3 the resultant file size is gross (X4 the original size).
But yes I watch on tv because of the comfort factor. Also I can lend my movies out.

[ktnwin]

About set-top MPEG4 players:
With proper firmware on the stand-alone DVD players, they can play MEG-4 formats as well.
The question remains in "MPEG-4 licensing fee" and whether DVD manufacturers are willing to add this feature in or not. Then, how much more money can they make by adding in this feature. All are stricty business. Then who is going to create MPEG-4 format movie titles ???

[crahak]

@ktnwin There is MUCH more to it than firmware. There are some threads on this. LOTS of concerns/issues. Anyhow, my computer isn't noisy/ugly or anything. Same here, everyone I know go for DivX and TV out. I can also lend these out. Oh well.

@RabidDog You can reencode anything, not just some movies made with specific DivX Codecs. However, by converting it, you're loosing quality.

Oh well, just another divx/vcd thread it seems.

[vitualis]

That's right. There is a lot more than firmware. I don't know where this myth comes from, but I can guarantee that NO existing stand-alone DVD player can play MPEG-4 (PS2 and XBox excepted since there are essentially a general computer).

A stand-alone DVD player is able to decode MPEG-2 video on the fly thanks to a MPEG-2 decoder chip. No amount of firmware patching is going to magically transform this into a hardware MPEG-4 decoder.

As for TV out, to each his own. The people who do so are hardly your regular consumer and that's the point. The average person won't want to have cables from their PC plugged into their TV + audio system or have a dedicated PC next to their TV. Then again, your regular consumer wouldn't be making DivX video either...

Regards.

[adam]

Well I do believe that Kiss has finally started selling their Mpeg4 DVD player but, just like the xbox and PS2, in many ways the player is more like a small computer than a dvd player. Still, a bona-fide mpeg4/divx hardware dvd player with an actual mpeg4 decoder chip does exist now. In my opinion its too little too late though since, with the amount that the player costs, you could get a decent regular dvd player plus a dvd burner.

In a few years when blue laser technology becomes mainstream mpeg4 is probably only going to be used for what it was originally intended; web based content.

[NeVeRLiFt]

@adam
Do you know if this Mpeg4-DVD player from KISS will play Mpeg4 video off a DVD or only off a CD?
And do you know about any limits to the Resolution, Bitrate and Audio formats it can use?

Thanks in advance for help on this.

[LeeBear]

Yup the Kiss player is too late and pricey, since you can get an Xbox ($200) + mod chip ($30) you can do everything the Kiss player can do (DVD, VCD, SVCD, DiVX), plus the ability to play games

-LeeBear