Two encoder groups compared

[Pater Noster]

Alrighty then :)

As you might know, several encoding groups are active in the DBZ scene. One group, also known as AHQ are known for delivering good quality encodes, although at a fairly big size.

Another encoding group, Saiyan.nl tries to produce the same quality, perhaps even better, but at a smaller file size. Of course these are for our own pleasure and not meant for illegal copying.

I hereby ask you to take a look of 2 encoding samples and give your comments about these encodes.

Saiyan.nl encode (http://home.conceptsfa.nl/~pater/saiyan-nl%20sample.avi) (Total file size of ep: +/-175 MB)

AHQ encode (http://home.conceptsfa.nl/~pater/ahq%20sample.avi) (Total file size op ep: +/- 200 MB)

I myself belong to the Saiyan.nl Encode group :).

[Valky]

Actually both looked very good and it's hard to find difference (althought I din't bother to adjust my decoder-filter anyhow),
but something little bit harder to encode would have made some more competition and difference in result.

Like some underwater scenes in U-571 etc..

Somehow, I have always considered anime and cartoons to be quite easy and simple to encoder, cause the details are not so important in these ones. Just my opinion, but...still an opinion :)

[diji1]

I have always considered anime and cartoons to be quite easy and simple to encode ...

... well, i think they're a bit of a challenge actually - there's a lot of work and experimentation to get the "perfect" settings for many anime dvd's, just as much as regular films if not more ...

anyhow PN, i actually thought that the saiyan encode looked better meself ( thumbs up ;), a little sharper perhaps. as above though, they both seemed of pretty decent quality, so i guess you win on filesize grounds. i wonder if you could put up some frames from the dvd and the 2 sample avi in order to get another comparison ?

[Pater Noster]

Well, here are three screenshots from an ep.

DVD source:

http://home.conceptsfa.nl/~pater/images/bont.jpg

Saiyan.nl Encode:

http://home.conceptsfa.nl/~pater/images/bont2.jpg

AHQ Encode:

http://home.conceptsfa.nl/~pater/images/bont1.jpg

[b0b0b0b]

I like the ahq. To me it seems: it has softer edges and less artifacting around the edges; and their clouds are less blocky.

I don't know what they look like in motion.

[gldblade]

Why aren't the frames the same? The source has the guy smiling, while he isn't in the other two. In the two encodes being compared, one is farther to the left than the other. Just take a look at the clouds. (Also, the aspect ratio in both is a bit off...)

I like the AHQ one also. Though it's a bit bright, especially compared to the source.

[Pater Noster]

Ok ok, it was a bit of hasty work, I updated the pics now and they should look the same now.

About that aspect ratio, I guess we both went for the 4:3 ratio.