DVD Encoding with mencoder - quality

[shevegen]

Got a DVD. the vob size was:
5.2 Gig.

My command was:

mencoder -ovc xvid -oac mp3lame -xvidencopts autoaspect: pass=2:bitrate=1120:chroma_me:me_quality=6 -aid 129 -o target.avi source.vob

This is the same I used for pass 1 and pass 2 (except for pass 1 i changed pass= 2 to pass=1 of course, and that I did not add a blank char
after : i just do it here now in the forum, because else a stupid smiley would appear.... like so :p)

This reduced the file size to 1.2 Gig but I am wondering whether I am giving away too much data? ANy other way to optimize the result?

The target file size is ok although i would not mind if it would be a tiny bit smaller. Or, if the quality would go a bit up (this is the same for me, I use it for archiving)

[nm]

Well, you could use better XviD settings. I'm not an expert on those, but I'm sure you could find detailed information in the Doom9 XviD forum. At least higher vhq values, qpel and b-frames seem worth experimenting with.

Alternatively you could consider encoding with x264, which will give you a lot more quality at those bitrates.

Is your source progressive PAL? Otherwise you'll probably want to do IVTC on it first. Or deinterlace if it happens to be interlaced.

[shevegen]

Well its more a general question... if i know that these settings are fine, then its ok for me. I have done all thats possible. :)
Interlacing or deinterlacing shouldnt be an issue, the rest of the commandline is whats important.

I have sticked to xvid for the last 3 years.
I dont mind to try x264 but you see the problem will be similar for me - i dont really know if the settings I choose are fine or not.
The end result still has certain weak spots here and there, especially
on areas with a lot of black colour as background area (which appears to be very blocky and rectangular-grayish, if you know what i mean..)

[shevegen]

I guess what I am asking is, what do you guys use when you encode a DVD into an xvid avi?

[KpeX]

For that bitrate I'd definitely scale down from DVD resolution a bit...maybe 240-304 px vertical.