REQ: Good settings to convert mpeg1 352x288 to divx

[john blox]

REQ: Good settings to convert mpeg1 352x288 to divx

I sometimes get hold of movies/video clips on p2p that are in mpeg1 / video-cd format. I'd like to queues them up for conversion with minimal loss in virtual dub using 4.11-(either 1 or 2 pass), but wonder if there is any info an recommended settings. The quality of these is not great so its more as a space saving exercise. Some of the movies stretch over 2 cd's which seems insane for a lowish res movie.

I understand there's no point changing the resolution but what about the kb/psec to allocate for video and mp3 settings for the audio.

TIA

[Corrado]

I recently converted some VCD PAL movies to DivX4.11:

Size:Unchanged
Bitrate:750kbs
Audio:96kbs CBR MP3

The result was quite good, but not at the same level of the source, so you might want to increase bitrate a little bit (try a short clip and see).

Audio wasn't an issue since they were home made video from a DV camcorder, but in your case consider that 96kbs might be too low. Reducing to 128kbs VBR will free up much space (VCD is CBR 256kbs) without loosing too much quality.

Corrado

[ChristianHJW]

.. using either 'precise bicubic' or 'sharp bicubic' resize filter you may even consider to resize to something like 480 * xxx.

I am waiting now for people jumping in on me sayin ' ..useless, uselss..' but i dont care. Just try it. And to those others : try to learn how precise bicubic resizing filter is working and what it can do ...

[ProfDrMorph]

VCD is CBR 256kbs
224kbit/s ;). I recommend going for 96 or 128 kbit/s MP3 ( whether CBR or VBR ( ABR ) is your decision. CBR has better compatibility and VBR better quality ).

Video bitrate should be around 500kbit/s. I make 2-pass VBR encodes of the Enterprise episodes I download from DALnet als VCD and the quality is like the source. If you look VERY close at it ( so that you'll damage your eyes ;) ) you MAY notice a difference in SOME scenes.