DVD quilty encoding

[Shash]

For the last year or so, I have been struggling for a true DVD quality product.
So far, I have been getting less than perfect results. Picture is always pixilated,specially when it comes to black colors. What am I doing wrong?

[Thorn]

Since we're not psychic, you'll need to explain what you've been using. Have you tried any of the guides here? Are you encoding to full D1 resolution and a high enough bitrate?

Typically, for good video you need good source material (downloaded divx files aren't the best source) and you need a good encoder. The big three appear to be CCE, TMPGenc, and Mainconcept. TMPGenc is the most popular due the low price and high quality.

Lastly, a poor quality decoder chip in your set-top player will degrade the picture quality.

[Shash]

Thanks Thorn for taking the time. Here is what I am using from the time line of my editing system, I convert my file from Adobe 6.0 (Canopus SE) AVI to MPEG2 elementary using VBR set @ 4500000 bps. as for GOP set @ IBBP 15 pictures. Once conversion is made I build the DVD in Sonic Solutions (DVD IT PE). On my Pioneer AO3 using Brand, name DVD-R's (you name it I used it). I hope that explains some of my problems if any. Thanks again.

[miketree]

Try increasing your bitrate to about 8000 or so.

What is it you are trying to encode? The quality of the result will depend on the quality of your input.

[Shash]

Well I've tried verything from 4000 to 8500 . The input is DV into the card .

[Thorn]

What encoder is premiere using? I know the newest one uses mainconcept, but I don't think 6.0 does. Trying a different encoder may give you an idea of what's going on. (test out TMPGenc, it's at least worth looking at. you'll probably need to export the material as DV from premiere to use in TMPGenc).

I don't know much about GOPs, but I use TMPGenc's default setting at IBBPBBPBBPBBPBBP and 18 frames. Your GOP looks like it would be more demanding on bandwidth because it has I frames so often (they take up the most space).

I don't think DVDit would re-encode compliant material, but make sure it isn't (if it takes 3 hours to compile a DVD, then it could be re-encoding). That would make a HUGE difference (as many ulead users have found out).

Is your DV grainy (mine looks grainy for low-light film... the quality of the optics isn't top notch)? The less clear the original DV image is, the higher the bitrate you may need. However, you should always be able to get something similar to the original footage at 8.5k! Keep trying...

[scissors]

I think thorn just about said it all.
1)What actual plug encoder are you using - and have you thought of avisynth to frame serve to tmpeg?
2)You use the 15 frame Gop which is compliant, but that doesn't mean you can't reference many more frames ahead...
3)Is you authoring software re-encoding... I use spruceup and it basically accepts my componet streams.