Encoding Problems

[Maverlck32]

I'm not sure if this is too advanced to be in the newbie section but I'll post anyways. The problem I've having is that when I try to convert an AVI (xvid @ 23.976fps) to SVCD (2-Pass VBR @ 1950kb max, 1850 avg, 300 min with Tmpgenc) the picture is significantly dark, especially at the top and bottom of the screen. Also, when there's a lot of movement in any of the scenes when playing on my DVD Player, it's jerky. Other movies I've converted using the same method have also turned out dark, but this is the only one that came out jerky as well. Also, I use Virtualdub to extract the audio to .wav first, then use the audio when encoding in Tmpg. Is there a better way to encode the audio to get better quality? If anyone can answer any of these questions I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

[Vejita-sama]

First did you check 2:3 pulldown in TMPGenc? If not that could be part of the problem. A 23.976fps source sould be telecided to 29.97fps to play properly on most DVD players.

TMPGenc's audio encoding could be better. You might want to try tooLame instead. You can run tooLame from within TMPGenc (see the faq to the left).

[Maverlck32]

Will this fix the problem I'm having with darkness and you mean 3:2 pulldown right?

[Stonemann]

assuming its an interlaced sourced avi (most likely is) you will need to do the following ....

1. goto the advanced tab and place the check in for "inverse telecline". This will return it to 23.976 fps progressive source, when the encode starts, BEFORE it actualy encodes the film.

2. on the video tab make sure you select "3:2 pulldown during playback" for the encode mode. This will add the 3:2 pulldown flag but can only be properly applied to a progressive source as I mentioned earlier. The inverse telecline will have taken care of that prior to the encode

3. select 23.976 fps (29.976 internal) as your FPS. This option will not be available until 3:2 pulldown is selected from the encode mode section


4. double check to make sure you are setup for "non-interlaced progressive" as the video-source under the advanced tab. Dont worry cus the source WILL be non-interlaced progressive once the inverse telecline from step 1 finishes

5. As a personal note I recommend changing your max bitrate to 2400'ish. Leave the rest where you have them if you need to, but youll be happier with a higher max setting. This has nothing to do with your problem just a personal tip from me to you

6. start encoding ...

This will take care of your jittery playback problems ...now on to how to fix your video levels ....

1. place a check in "custom color correction" under the advanced tab

2. click "Add" and it wil insert a new RGB blank filter setting

3. change the type from RGB to "basic settings"

4. click "show histogram"

5. select "manual" and "YCbCr" both and slide the slider about 65 percent up or until you get a good height. This does not affect video levls it only affects the height of the graph and how you view it. So adjust it til it is a comfortable height to you.

6.while watching the top graph ( the greyed one) pick a outdoor well lit scene in the movie

7. now adjust the brightness and contrast so that the graph fills in as much of the width on both sides as is possible WITHOUT passing so far into the side as to start climbing up the graphs outer wall. If you do that you will be choking out either white or black depending on which side you are on. To have the graph fill as much as possible but not actualy touch the sides enough to lift is a perfect contrast/brightness level.

8. Scroll through other parts of the movie to make sure you are finding the best possible setting for the entire move that does not cut off any blacks or whites in any scenes where it isnt called for

9. accept the filter and encode your avi


good luck and hope this helps

[Maverlck32]

thanks! That helped a lot

[Maverlck32]

I also found that I had to go to Advanced>Source Aspect Ratio and change it to 16:9 NTSC in order for the picture to look right. Otherwise it's stretched vertically.