AVI to DVD, bit rate question.

davidmoore · 12th September 2009, 01:33

I have an AVI encoded with Mpeg-4 at ~1000kbps. I want to burn it as a DVD-Video which is Mpeg-2. I don't want to up encode the video because I want to fit as many videos as possible on a single dvd as I can. What bit-rate should I encode the AVI to when putting it on the DVD? Mpeg-4 at ~1000kbps the same as Mpeg-2 at ~1000kbps?

Inspector.Gadget · 12th September 2009, 02:00

No. MPEG-4 ASP is more efficient than MPEG-2. You will need to increase the bitrate to achieve acceptable quality. What that entails is up to you: test and find out. What MPEG-2 encoder are you using?

CWR03 · 12th September 2009, 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidmoore

I don't want to up encode the video because I want to fit as many videos as possible on a single dvd as I can.

As Inspector.Gadget mentioned, you have to "up encode." The only way to determine what bitrate will work for you is to do a few tests at several fixed bitrates and see with what loss of quality you will be satisfied. Typical DVD is 4500-6500kbps, roughly two hours to a standard single-layer disk. Four hours will look bad; 8 hours will look horrible.

detmek · 14th September 2009, 08:35

I managed to put 4 1/2 hours video on single layer DVD with acceptable quality but I had to reduce resolution of video to 1/2 DVD, 352x576.

Ghitulescu · 14th September 2009, 13:45

VCD is a perfect valid choice for DVD (the GOP for VCD is larger than what the DVD specifications allow, but this pose no real problems in practice). It's the most space-oriented format for DVD

since you can pack some 5 movies in about VHS quality on 1 DVDR.

r0lZ · 15th September 2009, 10:10

Hum, the VCD format uses MPEG1, and that means constant bit rate. The rapidly moving scenes, the parts with abrupt lighting changes and the fades do not compress well at all in MPEG1, and the result is usually horrible. I prefer to use the DVD-Video Half D1 resolution, compressed in MPEG2, as detmek has suggested.

Ghitulescu · 15th September 2009, 13:37

That's true - however the OP wanted to have as many movies on one DVDR in DVD-Video format. You can't beat VCD in terms of space and compatibility.

Blue_MiSfit · 21st September 2009, 04:32

I'd imagine half D1 MPEG-2 would look a lot better... but I never bother, since DVD-Rs are so cheap anyway...

~MiSfit

12th September 2009, 01:33	#1 \| Link
davidmoore Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 30	AVI to DVD, bit rate question. I have an AVI encoded with Mpeg-4 at ~1000kbps. I want to burn it as a DVD-Video which is Mpeg-2. I don't want to up encode the video because I want to fit as many videos as possible on a single dvd as I can. What bit-rate should I encode the AVI to when putting it on the DVD? Mpeg-4 at ~1000kbps the same as Mpeg-2 at ~1000kbps?

15th September 2009, 10:10	#6 \| Link
r0lZ PgcEdit daemon Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 7,469	Hum, the VCD format uses MPEG1, and that means constant bit rate. The rapidly moving scenes, the parts with abrupt lighting changes and the fades do not compress well at all in MPEG1, and the result is usually horrible. I prefer to use the DVD-Video Half D1 resolution, compressed in MPEG2, as detmek has suggested. __________________ r0lZ PgcEdit homepage (hosted by VideoHelp) BD3D2MK3D A tool to convert 3D blu-rays to SBS, T&B or FS MKV

21st September 2009, 04:32	#8 \| Link
Blue_MiSfit Derek Prestegard IRL Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,989	I'd imagine half D1 MPEG-2 would look a lot better... but I never bother, since DVD-Rs are so cheap anyway... ~MiSfit __________________ These are all my personal statements, not those of my employer :)

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12th September 2009, 02:00	#2 \| Link
Inspector.Gadget Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,618	No. MPEG-4 ASP is more efficient than MPEG-2. You will need to increase the bitrate to achieve acceptable quality. What that entails is up to you: test and find out. What MPEG-2 encoder are you using?

14th September 2009, 08:35	#4 \| Link
detmek Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 463	I managed to put 4 1/2 hours video on single layer DVD with acceptable quality but I had to reduce resolution of video to 1/2 DVD, 352x576.

14th September 2009, 13:45	#5 \| Link
Ghitulescu Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 5,769	VCD is a perfect valid choice for DVD (the GOP for VCD is larger than what the DVD specifications allow, but this pose no real problems in practice). It's the most space-oriented format for DVD since you can pack some 5 movies in about VHS quality on 1 DVDR.

15th September 2009, 13:37	#7 \| Link
Ghitulescu Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 5,769	That's true - however the OP wanted to have as many movies on one DVDR in DVD-Video format. You can't beat VCD in terms of space and compatibility.