DivX to MPEG: what field order ?

Nounours18200 · Post by **Nounours18200** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:24 am

I know that we should use "Upper field first" when encoding Analog sources, "lower field first" when encoding digital sources, etc...

But when I have a DivX video that I want to re-encode in MPEG (to make a DVD that will be seen on a TV), what should I use: Frame, Upper field first or Lower field first ?

Thanks

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:26 pm

As fdar as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter because you do not want to look at it again

Seriously though, I don't know but it's easy enough to find out. Do a small project render and look at it. If it is jerky with movement, change the field order. If it is still jerky, do as I did, forget about converting highly compressed video for DVD. Simple.

Nounours18200 · Post by **Nounours18200** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:29 pm

As fdar as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter because you do not want to look at it again

I do want to look at it again: this is the reason for which I want to make a DVD...

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:39 pm

Nounours,
I had not yet tried converting Divx to Mpeg but it works very well!
Since I had a 2.5 minute Divx HD clip (1920x1080, Frame-Based, VBR 8Mbps) I dropped it directly into the VS10+ timeline, selected SHARE / Create Video File / Custom / Options - Mpeg2 compression, 9.8Mbps VBR 720x480. Frame-Based. This is max DVD quality.

The transcoding took only 10 minutes, with Divx 6.4 codec for a speed score of 4X. The resulting mpeg played with excellent quality in WMP and MPC. I did not burn a DVD. I did put the transcoded mpeg back in the VS10+ timeline, let VS read the properties:
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 16:9
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 9800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:42 pm

Here is another surprise: I actually edited Divx HD (1920x1080 Frame-based) with VS 10+, using the updated 6.4 Divx Pro codec. Prior attempts at editing Divx had resulted in VS crashes or freezes. You need patience because playback of the edited file frequently stalls and then jumps ahead.

I placed the 2.5 min. Divx HDclip in the Edit timeline and manually set the Project Properties to match. Then made a simple cut, inserted a Flying Flip transition, made another cut, had to suffer through the VS "feature" that deletes the transition when you cut, deleted the middle, and reinserted the transition. Then smart rendered the project to the same exact properties in 12.5 minutes (speed score 5x).

The resulting Divx HD file played perfectly through the edit sections, using Media Player Classic.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:25 pm

DivX Xvid and MPEG4 are all frame based.
Although there are now DivX standalone players on the market, the format was designed for use on a computer and for sharing over the internet.

John, interesting to read about the results of your editing.

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 8:21 pm

Yes, I also am amazed and pleased that editing Divx HD actually works - there must have been a bug in theDivx codec that was fixed in 6.4 because I am using the original released VX10+ (no updates).

I'm willing to bet that Ulead could fix the Divx HD playback (halting problem) if they put their minds to it and do a good job with the (leaked) support of the H.264 family of codecs in version 11.

Ulead: send me a copy of the version 11 beta!

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:25 am

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:09 pm

MD,
I can't install the x.264 v. 604 (x264.exe) - a window appears on the monitor briefly and disappears...

Evidently your install went OK (although your speed score of 60x is "not impressive"

). Did you have any difficulty installing?

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:56 am

paulw · Post by **paulw** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:14 am

Nounours18200 wrote:I know that we should use "Upper field first" when encoding Analog sources, "lower field first" when encoding digital sources, etc...

But when I have a DivX video that I want to re-encode in MPEG (to make a DVD that will be seen on a TV), what should I use: Frame, Upper field first or Lower field first ?

Thanks

In Procoder the default is "Lower" which is what i use. Always works with DivX and Xvid

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 3:38 pm

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 4:55 pm

MD,
I will try your suggestions with Super as a front-end...

But maybe H.264 is still in the geek stage of development. I gave up command line programming long ago in favor of GUIs. Video editing is difficult enough, without adding terrible user interfaces to the mix.

I (we all) need to be able to use Video Studio as a front-end for the H.264 codec in order for it to be usable by the whole user community. We have to be able to see H.264 as a choice in the Create Video dialog screens and be able to control its properties graphically. Edit: I just installed the demo version of Main Concept's H.264 v2 codec and VS10+ can't even find it in the Custom Create Video setup.

Re your 8-10 hour downconversion: Your experience demonstrates that there may be a problem in the Ulead Mpeg Now Encoder's down-conversion logic for interlaced HDV. I use deinterlacing as a workaround, which solves the problem but reduces vertical resolution somewhat. Does your downconverted file display comb-effect distortion?

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:48 pm

jchunter · Post by **jchunter** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:38 pm

MD,
I was aware that Pana was putting all its eggs in the solid-state memory basket but had not heard that they actually announced. When I first heard about their (rumored) plan, I thought they were going to use very highly compressed Mpeg4, which would have required HUGE processing power inside the camcorder to compress the image in real time (1x). At that time, I was needing 20x to transcode to 8Mbps.

The difference is AVCHD, which is only slightly more compressed (14 - 18 Mbps) than Mpeg2 HDV (25Mbps) but less compression means larger files, so the solid state memory on those camcorders is going to be more expensive and smaller than some people need. If they are squeezing 60 minutes of video into 4GB, they are squeezing the bitrate even more and may suffer compression artifacts.

Here is a link to another take on Panasonic's announcement http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Pa ... DC-DX1.htm

Re using intermediate codecs: I think that direct conversions / transcodings result in better preservation of picture quality (e.g., Mpeg2 HDV-->Divx HD has no measureable loss of resolution and smooth playback). The more times you decompress and recompress, the greater the chance for reduction in picture quality or a cockpit error.

Re H.264 support in Video Studio 11: Sony and Pana have forced the issue by releasing camcorders that record in AVCHD. Ulead has got to respond in their next release.

Alludo USER to USER Web Board

DivX to MPEG: what field order ?

DivX to MPEG: what field order ?

Re: DivX to MPEG: what field order ?