Credits Encoding Quality ?

[iparout]

Hi there...

I have a very naibe question to ask but eventhough I read the FAQ and searched the forum, I couldn't find an answer, so here it goes :

When I choose to encode credits seperately in Gordian Knot, I set a value of 20 in the Encode Credits at Average Quality box. What I want to know is what's the connection between the value in the box and the credits encoding quality ? i.e. if I increase the value, will the credits be encoded at a worse quality or a better quality ?

Thanks in advance.

[manono]

Hi-

It's a percentage of their full size, so you increase the percentage, you increase the quality and the file size.

[iparout]

Aha, I get it... Thanks..

BTW, just outta curiosity, what value do you use for encoding the credits fellas ?

[HellSpawn]

I usually encode myend credits at 31.This way the credits get very compressed which saves space for the avi,thus offering me a higher bitate.After all who ever watches the end credits?:)

[manono]

Hi-

I think I have to apologize to you iparout-I thought you were speaking of the credits in the Stats File Editor Box for DivX 3.11. Now I realize you were speaking of DivX 5.02. In that case, the lower the number (here they mean the Quant), the better the quality, and the higher the file size. I usually use 10, so they don't look so bad. But probably most are like HellSpawn and use 31 (the highest), to make them as small as possible and allow more bits for the main part of the movie. Sorry man.

[diji1]

2 more tips : if they are white writing on black use the coring at maximum ( makes all nonwhite areas black ). run any credits through a smoother such as temporal smoother, i usually use strength of 6.

[Mac Sidewinder]

I include the credits and make them readable (but compressed alot more than the avi). My question is to those who say, "compress the crap out of them, cause who reads them anyway". Why even include them if you can't read them? Cut them off and save the bitrate for the avi. Just wondering.

Mac

[manono]

diji1-

Good tip, but I've never done it and don't know how. I assume you use the Trim command to treat the credits separately in the .avs (correct me if I'm wrong), but is coring a plugin filter, or something in DivX 5.02 (which I've never noticed), or something unique to GKnot's automatic 2-pass (which I've never used)? Can you elaborate?

[Fox Mulder]

I think it's a VD filter you can find on Donald Graft's page.

[manono]

Thanks Fox Mulder-I'll go check it out.

[HellSpawn]

Hi,I don't know if it matters but I would like to answer to the question why not cut the end creditd completely.Well usually there is a very nice song at the end of the movie along with the end credits so if you cut them you will lose that as well.Thanks:D

[theReal]

iparout - the number is the quantizer for Divx 5's quality based encoding. Quant 20 encodes b/w credits in a really good quality - too good (and too big) for my taste. I usually use quant 27 or 28, that makes the credits really small, but they are still readable and in acceptable quality. Quant 31 is very ugly, IMO it's not worth the 2 or 3MB that you can save compared to quant 27/28.

[iparout]

Ok manono... Thanks for the tip anyways, man...

And also thanks everyone for helping me out here...

[vorbis]

also one question kinda of on topic. since you're using 2 pass anyway, would the code adjust the bitrate itself for the credits. I thought that was the whole point of variable bitrate.

[theReal]

would the code adjust the bitrate itself for the credits

The codec adjusts itself, that's right - but unfortunately in the wrong direction... the constantly moving text makes the codec increase the bitrate in 2-pass mode. If you're using Xvid, you can tell the codec where the credits start (you also have to do that manually) and it adjusts itself correctly, but not Divx 5.

[cult]

once more xvid is a winner,even for the credits part.It also lets u encode not only ending credits but and opening credits-and in b&w if u want to save some bitrate...

[theReal]

I guess that feature can't be implemented in Divx5 because it would make people think the codec can be used for illegal copies of copyrighted movies...
I mean, how many of your self-made homevideos have minute-long end credits that you want to encode in b/w and bad quality? ;)

[mgoetz]

I usually use the value 12 encoding my credits. Perhaps you wonder why not using a higher compression level. Of course the credits file size is bigger and you don't reach the bitrate of level 20 but there are some reasons for this value:

- As a movie fan the credits are in my optinion a part of the movie (I always enjoy them in the cinema as well - mostly i'm the last person leaving it....) so they should be in equalent quality.
- Often the font is small - with a compression of 20 you cannot read several passages any more
- some movies have got outtakes or anything else in the credits - making the choice wether to compress them with low bitrate or leaving them part of the normal movie very difficult.

[theReal]

If there's outtakes in the credits (along with the text, split-screen), then I don't encode them seperately. Also, for credits that have some nice fonts and maybe graphical effects, I also use a better quality than quant 27.

[Mac Sidewinder]

@theReal - exactly. I always include credits but base their quality on their content.

Mac

[Space@pe]

I´ve tried only 2 encode the movie and trim the ending credits but somehow i mess up...can anybody tell what option 2 choose in the trim option in gordian knot.

Is it "movie only" or "credits only"?It f.... up wenn I select the "credits only" option:( ...please help!

[manono]

Hi and welcome to the forums-

Now let me get this straight. You want to encode just the movie, without any credits at all, is that right? First, I don't recommend that. You encode the credits at a high enough quant and they take up very little space. In the interest of completeness, the end credits should be there. But since you asked:

Open the .d2v and move the slider near to where the end credits begin. Then use the arrows to find the first frame of the end credits. You already know how to do that, right? Then inside the Save And Encode, under Trim, you tick "Movie Only".

You can check if you did it right by opening up the .avs you created. If the end credits begin at frame 100000, then there should be a line in the .avs saying Trim(0,100000).

[superflex]

why not just encode the whole movie end credits and all for a higher bit rate. for instance i encode all my movies about 40megabytes over. that way i can use higher bitrate the cut the end credits to 700meg. i do all my movies this way. if you only encode at 700meg including end credits you cant select a higher bitrate. so try it this way to see if it works for you

[Space@pe]

Thx guys..I needed that:D