SVCD conversion guide

[JamesB69]

I know how to generally encode svcds but what setting should i use in rate control mode for tmpg as i have no idea. Also id be up for any other hints from more experience svcd people out there

[wee haggis]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgencsvcd.htm

[kenmo]

I use constant bitrate of 2500 and audio 128 to 256 for 40 minutes of captured video.

Use the project wizard in Tmpgenc it is very good at giving you the exact bit rate for a 74-80 minute cd-r.

[hwoodwar]

If you slowly move your cursor over to the drop-down arrow on rate mode control it gives you some explanation of what each option does.

I primarily use 2-Pass VBR. 2-Pass VBR goes through and analizes the entire movie, and then inteligently assigns a higher birate to the areas that need a higher bitrate for better quality (such as dark, and/or fast-action scenes. Also areas that can get by with a lower than average bitrate it uses a lower value. In DVD2SVCD I just set 2-Pass VBR and let the program(s) assign the values automatically.

By the way, 2-Pass VBR takes the longest time to encode, than any of the other rate mode control methods, this is largely because it goes through the whole movie twice.

For the most part I do not do "manual" SVCD encoding. However, I do, do plenty of manual encoding to CVD (or technically it may be classified as XCVD, or XSVCD, as I do set the maximum video bitrate higher than the standard for CVD/SVCD.) The settings I use most frequently are minimum 1000 kbits/sec, average 2000-2500 kbits/sec (so much of the video is within the CVD/SVCD specification) and a maximum of 3500-4000 kbits/sec. Most of the time this gives me a good-excellant 45-50 minute CVD (from a good quality source.) At times I have gone as low as 1700 kbits/sec average and maintained a good to excellant quality video. I use the above settings because all of my three DVD players can handle up to at least 5000 kbits/sec with CVDs and SVCDs and I do not intend on sharing my CDs. In my own tests I've done better with 2-Pass VBR (best resolution, with most available play time) than any other rate mode control.

Presumably, you want to remain inside the SVCD specification. I would suggest trying 2-Pass VBR minimum 500, average 1700-2000 and a maximum of 2520, do some tests and see how you like it.

I also, set motion search precision to high.