MPEG-2 compression

[ruggy1]

I recently converted a nice digitally recorded video to DVD, ie 13.5GB down to 4.2GB using VS5. I thought the final result was OK but my friend thought it was inferior. I used the codec embedded in VS5. My question is, are all MPEG-2 compression codecs the same, or can I get a better final DVD product using another compression method. If so, how do I use this with VS5?
Thanks

[DVDDoug]

I recently converted a nice digitally recorded video to DVD, ie 13.5GB down to 4.2GB using VS5.

Assuming this was about an hour of AVI/DV, you should be able to get good quality. (If you try to squeeze more than 2 hours onto a single-layer DVD, you will probably start to notice the quality degradation.)

My question is, are all MPEG-2 compression codecs the same...

NO! MPEG is lossy compression... Data is thrown-away during compression. Better encoders are "smarter" about which data is thrown-away. Professionals use professional high-quality multi-pass encoders. Somebody here has reported that Pinnacle has a better encoder. (I've never used Pinnacle.)

There are some tweaks you can make. The most important factor is bitrate. A higher bitrate means that less data is being thrown-away.

And, there is an option for variable-bitrate two-pass encoding, and there is a quality-slider. If you set the quality slider to 100%, Movie Factory will take more time to encode, but it will try to be "smarter". (I've forgotten how you get to these adjustments, and I don't have Movie Factory installed on this system. )

The DVD standard does not set a fixed level of compression -

Higher bitrate = higher quality = bigger file size = lower compression = less playing time.

Lower bitrate = lower quality = smaller file size = higher compression = more playing time.

A good "rule-of-thumb" is 90 minutes per DVD. You can get that with a 6000k bitrate and Dolby AC3 audio. This bitrate is typical of commercal DVDs. (The DVD spec allows video bitrates up to about 9,800k, and up to about 10,000k combined audio & video.)

When you squeeze more than 2 hours on a (single-layer) DVD, you will start to see the video-quality degrade. You'll have to judge for yourself... There are lots of variables including the quality of the source video, the quality of your TV, and how critical you are.

Using compressed audio allows more room for more video or higher-quality video. If you live in the USA (or another NTSC country), your player must play LPCM (uncompressed) and Dolby AC3 audio. If you live in a PAL country, your player must play LPCM, AC3, and MPEG-2 audio.

A Bitrate Calculator may help.

[ruggy1]

Thanks, and I do use 100% quality and 9000 bit rate for 1 hour DVDs. I suppose my question was really about any other MPEG-2 compressors that I could buy or use and incorporate into MF or VS, while still using NF or VS.

[DVDDoug]

If you pre-incode your MPEG with a 3rd-party encoder, there is a check-box that says Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs.

Thanks, and I do use 100% quality and 9000 bit rate for 1 hour DVDs.

I don't work with high-quality video that much, so I'm not sure, but I would expect that to give you "commercial DVD quality". (Maybe somebody else will weigh-in on that.) The pros have better encoders, but most DVDs are encoded at lower bitrates.

I wonder if your bitrate is too high... It's been reported that some DVD players have trouble with "burned" DVDs with bitrates higher than 7500 or 8000.

[etech6355]

Actually MovieFactory 6+ with patch#2 installed does an excellent job of encoding HD to SD video. HD to HD, HD to other formats, especially avchd/h264 video, very nice encodes.
I think they are some of the best I've seen from any version of MF to date.

You can use other programs to encode your videos, like Doug says, MF6+ will not re-encode them if they are compliant.

When I do convert my HD to SD via software I use Dolby Audio and 9500-9800 Variable Bit Rate, Upper Field First (source = Sony HC3 ) for my conversions. They come out looking nice.
When using MF it's important to set "Quality=BEST" under Preferences and set the compression tab to 100% for the encoder settings. The 100% compression gives the best motion and quality..

[skier-hughes]

Canopus Procoder 3
Sorenson squeeze
The two best encoders that won't break the bank, but still around the £300 mark.

I don't think the pinnacle encoder is any better than the latest Ulead one, though Adobe may have a very slight edge with the encoder in premiere elements.

These though won't integrate, as far as I know with VS, they'd need to be used seperately.