DivX versus DVD Rebuilder (Procoder, CCE, HC...)

[jamewoong]

I have a series with 5 episodes (DVD9) and encode it to DVD5 by using DVD Rebuilder with Procoder.

Each episode is about 850 MB. The quality is okay, but if we look closely, the image looks blocky or pixelated.

One of my friend make DivX from it and each episode is only 450 MB (half size than mine). He can insert up to 6-8 episodes by DVD. The quality is better than my compression. If we increase its size to 850MB, the quality will be on the top with 5 episodes/DVD.

How come this is possible? So, DivX technology is the best?

[jdobbs]

DivX is a version of standard MPEG-4. Yes -- it compresses better than MPEG-2. But, on the other hand, it isn't a part of the DVD Standard. Even better than standard MPEG-4 is MPEG-4 part 10 (also referred to as AVC or H.264). AVC is used in HD DVD...

But, for creating a standard DVD you have to use either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2.

[RickA]

What I would do in a case like this would be to split the 5episodes across 2 dvd's. Put 3 on one disc and 2 on another. That way you should not have to use any compression at all. Burnable media is affordable enough to use two discs in a situation like this to keep the fidelity of the original content. If 3 eps on a disc are a little on the big side then run them thru DVD-RB.

There are plenty of good programs you can use to reauthor a disc with. Dvdshrink in reauthor mode if you do not need to have menus or TMPGEnc DVD Author if you do, to name just a few. Doing it this way keeps you within the dvd standards as jdobbs has pointed out.

Cheers

[Innuendo]

If you really like the results from Divx better and are open to spending a little money, buy a DVD player that can play Divx format files or better yet, a modded Xbox.

It works wonderfully over here.