Potential bug with file length and cut point, 110b1b

[ux-3]

Just for curiosity, I have encoded an episode of ST TNG to a XSVCD with VCD resolution. I set the CD size to 400 MB (intention: get two episodes per disc later with VCDeasy) First I tried to create an xVCD. Then I tried a SVCD with VCD resolution. In both cases, DVD2SVCD authored two CDs. In the second case, the second CD was holding the enormous amount of just 0.5 MB of Mpeg2 stream.

My point is, that it shouldn't. I append the log, so perhaps it is me, who made the mistake. More likely, some numbers are a little off, so that the mpg doesn't fit the CD, though it should. Might be easy to fix. Please note that the log contains both runs (the VCD and the SVCD).
Sidenote: The SVCD looks _much_ better at that bitrate, despite being at the same resolution.


WNASPI32.DLL 4.6.0.1021
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 20:59:45
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2VCD ver. 1.1.0 build 1b
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 20:59:48
- Free on drive D: 10793.34 mb
- Internal rip
--------------------------------------------------------
Preparing vobfiles to be ripped:
- F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob
- F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_2.vob

Ripping: F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob
Ripping: F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_2.vob
Ripping finished. Speed: 4052

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:07:20
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[D:\vcd\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[D:\vcd\VTS_01_1.vob,D:\vcd\VTS_01_2.vob]
Framerate: 25000
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:08:17
- Free on drive D: 9008.38 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: 0 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:09:59
- Free on drive D: 8948.38 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "D:\VCD\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" -logfile "D:\VCD\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s )
Audio conversion of D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:14:05
- Free on drive D: 8908.31 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 415614864
AudioSectors: 42573356
VideoPAPO: 5778612
ScanOffsetBytes: 0
SeqAligningBytes: 0
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 367262892.00
Seconds: 2625.24
CalcMPEGStream: 367262892.00
Frames: 65506
CDSize: 400.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 395.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 65506
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 25
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: CBR
Avg. Bitrate: 1119
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (No borders, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SV~1\MPEG2DEC\MPEG2DEC.DLL")
mpeg2source("D:\VCD\DVD2AV~1.D2V")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\SimpleResize\SimpleResize.dll")
SimpleResize(352,288)
----AVS End----

Closing program
CCE Max Speed: 2.480
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:32:52
- Free on drive D: 8542.69 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:32:54
- Free on drive D: 8542.69 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:32:56
- Free on drive D: 8542.69 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:32:59
- Free on drive D: 8542.69 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 2
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 2 seconds
Cut point: 395 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File.mpg"
Multiplexing and cutting finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:33:59
- Free on drive D: 8107.69 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
2377.280 seconds D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing: D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
240.560 seconds D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
Analyzing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:34:07
- Free on drive D: 8107.63 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 8

CD image #1: CD_Image_File_CD1.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "D:\VCD\VCDXBU~1.XML"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:35:01
- Free on drive D: 7706.03 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 8

CD image #2: CD_Image_File_CD2.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD2.cue" --bin-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD2.bin" "D:\VCD\VCDXBU~2.XML"
CD-Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 21:35:11
- Free on drive D: 7663.88 mb
- SVCD Creation finished!
--------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 22:06:47
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2VCD ver. 1.1.0 build 1b
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 22:08:05
- Free on drive D: 7663.88 mb
- Crash Recovery
- Restarting from: Video encoding
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 22:08:09
- Free on drive D: 7663.88 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 415614864
AudioSectors: 42573356
VideoPAPO: 5778612
ScanOffsetBytes: 78607
SeqAligningBytes: 4995924
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 362188360.53
Seconds: 2625.24
CalcMPEGStream: 362188360.53
Frames: 65506
CDSize: 400.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 395.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 65506
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 2
Image Quality: 25
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2400
Avg. Bitrate: 1103
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (No borders, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SV~1\MPEG2DEC\MPEG2DEC.DLL")
mpeg2source("D:\VCD\DVD2AV~1.D2V")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\SimpleResize\SimpleResize.dll")
SimpleResize(352,288)
----AVS End----

Closing program
CCE Max Speed: 2.470
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:03:40
- Free on drive D: 8103.84 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:03:42
- Free on drive D: 8103.84 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:03:44
- Free on drive D: 8103.84 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:03:47
- Free on drive D: 8103.84 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 2
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 2 seconds
Cut point: 395 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File.mpg"
Multiplexing and cutting finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:05:19
- Free on drive D: 7708.56 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
2613.696 seconds D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing: D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
4.416 seconds D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
Analyzing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:05:36
- Free on drive D: 7708.56 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 7

CD image #1: Try0_CD_Image_File_CD1.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\VCD\Try0_CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="D:\VCD\Try0_CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "D:\VCD\VCDXBU~1.XML"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:06:34
- Free on drive D: 7307.72 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 1

CD image #2: Try0_CD_Image_File_CD2.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\VCD\Try0_CD_Image_File_CD2.cue" --bin-file="D:\VCD\Try0_CD_Image_File_CD2.bin" "D:\VCD\VCDXBU~2.XML"
CD-Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 11.12.02 23:06:37
- Free on drive D: 7305.75 mb
- SVCD Creation finished!
--------------------------------------------------------

[chainsaw135]

Does this still happen to you in the latest version?

[markrb]

You also used CCE for Mpeg-1. I would have used TMPG for that and then compared the results. Since TMPG is considered better for Mpeg-1 video then CCE is. I am curious to see what you think if you use TMPG for this since I make a few VCD's and could make XVCD or XSVCD with Mpeg-2 easily enough since my players don't care.

Mark

[ux-3]

@chainsaw: I guess that test would only make sense if started from scratch... Will try tonight.

@markrb: I only used it in my first run. The quality was poor doing cbr, and I remembered the unsolved problem muxing mpg1 vbr - didn't we talk about it just a while ago. So if you scroll down further in the log, you'll see that I redid it in mpg2, 2pass vbr. Quality is surprisingly good, even at PC.

In my past, I did a few VCDs using TMPGenc, but find that xsvcds with vcd or cvd resolution a better choice. Since I was specifically doing this to see if I could code only one field (interlace), I used vcd resolution. Not bad!

While waiting for my dvd burner, I might just waste my time on kvcd or other "nonsense" - there is no substitute for curiosity!

[chainsaw135]

@ux-3 dvd burner:D thats a nice toy i might be getting one in a month or 2. Curiosity is a great thing knowledge is power so you can't lose from learning more even if it's something you wont use much of:)

[ux-3]

New encode is done. Same problem with build c from scratch. Take a look at the log. The creation of the second CD took only four seconds, its binary is only 2 meg big. Again, I think this is a bug, or at least unsatisfactory behavior on the verge of specifications. I am not complaining, just trying to point out things that don't work as planed. Perhaps it causes trouple elsewere too. Also, chapter bug is still in effect, only 7 chapters are in chapterfile.ini
Please give me a feedback, if I should have made a mistake instead.

WNASPI32.DLL 4.6.0.1021
--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 20:39:06
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.1.0 build 1c
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 20:39:09
- Free on drive D: 7302.00 mb
- Internal rip
--------------------------------------------------------
Preparing vobfiles to be ripped:
- F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob
- F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_2.vob

Ripping: F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_1.vob
Ripping: F:\VIDEO_TS\VTS_01_2.vob
Ripping finished. Speed: 4052

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 20:46:41
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[D:\vcd\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[D:\vcd\VTS_01_1.vob,D:\vcd\VTS_01_2.vob]
Framerate: 25000
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 20:47:38
- Free on drive D: 7302.00 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: 0 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 20:49:19
- Free on drive D: 7302.00 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "D:\VCD\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" -logfile "D:\VCD\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -s surround -g max ) -2lame( -e -b 128 -m s )
Audio conversion of D:\vcd\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 20:53:21
- Free on drive D: 7302.00 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 415614864
AudioSectors: 42573356
VideoPAPO: 5778612
ScanOffsetBytes: 78607
SeqAligningBytes: 4995924
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 1.00
PureMPEGStream: 362188360.53
Seconds: 2625.24
CalcMPEGStream: 362188360.53
Frames: 65506
CDSize: 400.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 395.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 65506
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 2
Image Quality: 25
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2400
Avg. Bitrate: 1103
Aspect Ratio: 4:3 (No borders, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SV~1\MPEG2DEC\MPEG2DEC.DLL")
mpeg2source("D:\VCD\DVD2AV~1.D2V")
LoadPlugin("C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\SimpleResize\SimpleResize.dll")
SimpleResize(352,288)
----AVS End----

Closing program
CCE Max Speed: 2.490
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:47:46
- Free on drive D: 7697.28 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:47:48
- Free on drive D: 7697.28 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:47:50
- Free on drive D: 7697.28 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:47:52
- Free on drive D: 7697.28 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 2
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 2 seconds
Cut point: 395 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File.mpg"
Multiplexing and cutting finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:49:21
- Free on drive D: 7302.00 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
2613.696 seconds D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing: D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
4.416 seconds D:\vcd\bbMPEG_Muxed_File01.mpg
Analyzing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:49:38
- Free on drive D: 7302.00 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 7

CD image #1: CD_Image_File_CD1.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "D:\VCD\VCDXBU~1.XML"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:50:33
- Free on drive D: 7302.69 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 1

CD image #2: CD_Image_File_CD2.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Programme\DVD2SVCD110\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD2.cue" --bin-file="D:\VCD\CD_Image_File_CD2.bin" "D:\VCD\VCDXBU~2.XML"
CD-Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 12.12.02 21:50:37
- Free on drive D: 7342.84 mb
- SVCD Creation finished!
--------------------------------------------------------

[chainsaw135]

The chapter bug is going to be fixed in the next release, dvd2svcd knows about that. Have you tried using vstrip instead of internal routines when doing this movie?

[ux-3]

No, I have done the episode before, and when doing a "normal" svcd, it fits to disc (TNG of course...). Only when I specified 400 MB CD (using vcd resolution in mpeg 2or 1) it is a few kb oversize. To me that looks like an error in a program, perhaps a linear interpolation for some quantity which in fact isn't perfectly linear.

I personally don't have a problem with it, since I only tried to create a 400 MB MPG2, so that I could put two episodes to disc (in theory - in practice I won't bother). I could remux by hand, and if the file is too big, I would correct the settings to a 398 disc. I won't though - I just kill time waiting for DVD.

As a curious sidenote: The more imminent the arrival of a high quality medium (DVD) is, the more compromising I get with quality. I will even look into the kika stuff, which should be history with DVD. So what?

Still, something ist wrong with DVD2SVCD at settings this far of expected parameters.

[GreenDrazi]

Since you are going to build the disc with VCDEasy anyways, under "CD Image", select "Don't Make Images" and you will get a 400 mg mpg file.
If the resultant mpeg file is still (slightly) too large, then change the cd size to 395 or something else lower than 400.
I would venture to guess that DVD2SVCD is just estimating the total project size a little off due to the smaller cd size - i.e., less room for error.

[GreenDrazi]

Forgot to add in last post - you can tweak what the actual final cd-image size is in either the .d2s file or the DVD2SVCD.INI. I can't remember which because I haven't done this in awhile.
I believe it was the bbMPEGCDSize= value.

[ux-3]

Hello again...
I don't really want to do this. I was just taking a look at how it would look like. So I only wanted one episode on a half full CD - the rest is purely academic, how one would do this. And I noticed that DVD2SVCD wasn't doing things as it should. Which could be called a bug, although at the fringe of possible user expected input. But if it were my software, I would like to find the cause and make sure it doesn't have effects in other less odd situations. So I reported it. I am not doing TNG in VCD - no way :D

If I remember correctly, your suggested bbmpeg tweak won't work. In the bbmeg folder, there is a file which holds the settings, you have to change those. They were not updated enroute when I tried last.

Sidenote: Didn't I write in my previous post in this thread (almost) exactly what you suggested as a way around the problem? 395 or 398?

I personally think that VCD resolution produces proportionalyly slightly more muxing overhead, so that a linear aproximation uses either the wrong slope or axis intercept, but thats just a wild guess.

[markrb]

I love to play and try new things myself and have come across a couple of interesting issues this way.

When doing a XVCD you need to adjust the Force Mux rate manually. The only way is to keep trying new values until the overflow errors go away and it's a very close point to where you get them.
As a hint if I have a 1500Kbit video my mux rate is around 4420. If the video is around 1350 then the mux rate is around 4140. These are for CBR. I don't know the rates for VBR since I have never done an Mpeg-1 VBR before.

Mark

[ux-3]

You mentioned this before. This is why I now play with xsvcd with vcd resolution. Here, no muxing problem occurs, just too big a file for the cut point.

[markrb]

Yep found that out myself, but now I am testing if at low bitrates what actually looks better mpeg-1 or mpeg-2. There is a discussion on this going on in the general forum.
So far it seems people feel that at lower bitrates Mpeg-1 actually works better, but this is doing CBR and not VBR.

Mark

[ux-3]

In a german forum, there was a similar discussion. Actually, some short content-identical samples were compared. The consensus was, that mp2 tops mp1 using vbr. When it comes to dvd2svcd, you don't even have a choice, unless you´re up to the muxing-guessing game. And since you will create an xsvcd, you can add more audio. I once saw a movie (shrek) done as classical VCD (actually, it was my first encode). Horrible! I have later redone it in on a single CD as SVCD, much better... Whatever that proves...