Converting from XviD to Mpeg-2: Quality deterioration? Why?

[numbaz]

I used QuEnc "Extreme Slow" option at 5.2M Bitrate to convert from XviD to m2v, and yet quality turned out to be pretty bad. Is there a way to apply filters to m2v to enhance the quality of video? or should I startover and rewrite the avisynth script (adding in the filters), then re-encode the avi file? I really hate to take the latter option since it takes about six hours of running time.

If I don't have any other option but to re-encode, what kind of plugin smooth out the "picture breaking"? (I'm not sure what to call it.)

Thank you! :thanks:

- Click to Enlarge

Original Resized Screenshots
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/8243/comparison25pq.th.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=comparison25pq.jpg)

The Section of Screenshots zoomed by 200%
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/1597/comparison10mh.th.jpg (http://img198.imageshack.us/my.php?image=comparison10mh.jpg)
As you see, XviD version is smoother around the edges.

[buzzqw]

there are sure filters that could bring a better picture (and btw post a sample image of xvid and mpeg2 risulting)... (and better waiting for some avisynth expert)

but a question rise: how good is original picture ? how width/height compared with final mpeg ?

and just a note : you can even apply a cbr encoding at 9000 in quenc but mpeg will never be better than original :sorry: (without filters :p )

BHH

[numbaz]

Why can't I insert an image to my post? Anyway, I've attached a comparison pic.

[CWR03]

Use imageshack.us to upload an image for hosting, then when you copy and paste the forum link it provides, the image will be displayed immediately.

[numbaz]

Thanks, CWR03

[neuron2]

I'm still not seeing any pictures.

[CWR03]

I see them.

numbaz, it's possible that the difference you see is due to the smoothing of your XviD DirectShow filter. Try disabling it and view your original content again - you can usually accomplish this easily by setting your video card to "No hardware accelleration." If it then looks the same, you'll need to apply a smoothing or "soften" filter to your .m2v during recode.

[numbaz]

I went to Neuron02's webpage and downloaded Msmooth and Msharpen filters. Using both at the same time wouldn't be a problem, would it? Should I keep the default setting on both?

It's really difficult to understand some of the technical terms.
I guess. trial-and-error is the only way to learn new things.

BTW, Thank you CWR03, Thank you Neuron02 for the plugins.

[CWR03]

Um, "smooth" and "sharpen" would probably counteract one another, or worse. "Smoothing" is what the filters do to lessen the appearance of pixels during XviD playback. If you confirm what I said above, you'll see that it's smoothing you want.

Edit: I re-read what I said above and realized it could be misinterpreted - if you disable XviD smoothing the way I described and the XviD looks the same as the .m2v conversion, you'll want to use Msmooth.

[numbaz]

Okay.. Done. Now, I'll have to wait another 6 hours For QuEnc to spit out the result.
Does the process always take that long?

I'm Using Cel 2.0, 512M. (Built out of Scraps people threw away.)